369th Bombardment Squadron

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The 369th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 306th Bombardment Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It was first activated in 1942 and trained in the United States before becoming one of the first squadrons to join the European war effort, flying B-17 Flying Fortresses. The squadron deployed to England and began combat in October 1942, taking part in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It attacked factories, rail yards, shipyards, and other targets, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations for its performance, including during Big Week in 1944. The squadron supported ground operations such as the Normandy breakout, Market Garden, Rhine crossings, and the Battle of the Bulge.

After Victory in Europe Day, the squadron remained in Europe for occupation duties and helped map parts of Europe and North Africa. It moved to Istres, France in 1946 and was inactivated later that year. It was reactivated in 1947 as a Strategic Air Command unit, initially flying the B-29 and later upgrading to the B-50 in 1950. In 1951, the squadron began flying the jet-powered B-47 Stratojet, which became the main aircraft for the unit during the 1950s. The squadron was inactivated in 1963 as the B-47 and the SAC medium bomber force were reduced.