453d Electronic Warfare Squadron

The 453d Electronic Warfare Squadron detects changes to worldwide electromagnetic warfare threat to support reprogramming of countermeasures. It provides spectrum warfare products to the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing and other entities. It designs and develops engineering systems to improve mission planning and debrief capabilities and analysis products to meet operational requirements. The squadron builds and maintains an automated threat change detection system. It updates electronic warfare intelligence data analysis tools and dissemination methods to meet the needs of air force weapon systems. It provides operational training and test capabilities in a realistic contested, degraded, and operationally-limited (CDO) environment. It prepares for, builds, and maintains a multi-security level operational reconnaissance electronic warfare database for multiple users and develops, deploys, and sustains a threat change detection continuity of operations system. ==Organization==

The 453rd Squadron is composed of an Analysis Flight, a Software Development Flight, a Cyber Defense Operations Flight, a Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis Engineering Flight, and a Plans and Programs division. The squadron is composed of active duty, reserve, national guard, Department of the Air Force civilians, and contractor personnel. ==History==

World War II Organization and training in the United States The squadron was first activated as the 453d Bombardment Squadron at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina on 4 August 1942 as one of the four original squadrons of the 323d Bombardment Group. After Phase I training at MacDill Field, Florida with Martin B-26 Marauders, the squadron trained for combat at Myrtle Beach Bombing Range, South Carolina until late April 1943, when the ground echelon departed Myrtle Beach for England, sailing on the on 5 May. The air echelon of the squadron had moved to Baer Field, Indiana in February. At Baer, it received new B-26Cs, then proceeded to the United Kingdom via the South Atlantic ferry route by June. Combat in Europe The squadron arrived at its first combat station, RAF Horham, in May 1943. In June 1943, the squadron, along with all other B-26 units in England, moved to Essex, an area where it was planned to build up a tactical air force for the forthcoming invasion of Europe, with the 454th arriving at RAF Earls Colne on 14 June. It began operations with Eighth Air Force in July 1943 as part of the first medium altitude raid on the European continent by B-26s. The squadron flew a mix of trainers and Douglas A-26 Invaders. The unit was manned at only 25% of its normal strength. All reserve combat units were mobilized for the Korean war. The squadron was mobilized on 10 March 1951. Its personnel and aircraft were used as fillers for other organizations and the squadron was inactivated a week later. Fighter operations The squadron was redesignated the 453d Fighter-Bomber Squadron and activated at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana on 8 August 1955, when the Air Force reopened the base, a former World War II Navy training station. The squadron was initially equipped with North American F-86 Sabres, but soon began upgrading to the supersonic North American F-100 Super Sabre the following year. However, the squadron, along with all other elements of the 323d Fighter-Bomber Wing was inactivated on 1 September 1957, when Tactical Air Command transferred Bunker Hill to Strategic Air Command. Flying training The squadron was reformed as the 453d Flying Training Squadron at Mather Air Force Base California in 1973. Electronic warfare The squadron was redesignated the 453d Electronic Warfare Squadron and activated at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas on 1 August 2000 as a component of the 318th Information Operations Group, It was formed from the AF Special Communications Center of Excellence's EW Effectiveness Analysis Mission (Comfy Coat). In July 2020, Detachment 1 of the squadron, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, was discontinued and its mission and personnel were transferred to the 39th Electronic Warfare Squadron, which was simultaneously activated. ==Lineage==

• Constituted as the 453d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942 : Activated on 4 August 1942 : Redesignated 453d Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. 9 October 1944 : Inactivated on 14 December 1945 : Redesignated 453d Bombardment Squadron, Light on 10 May 1949 : Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949 : Ordered to active service on 10 March 1951 : Inactivated on 17 March 1951 : Redesignated 453d Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 9 May 1955 : Activated on 8 August 1955 : Inactivated on 1 September 1957 : Redesignated 453d Flying Training Squadron on 28 July 1972 : Activated on 1 April 1973 : Inactivated on 31 May 1993 : Redesignated 453d Electronic Warfare Squadron on 17 July 2000 : Activated 1 August 2000 12 May 1943 • RAF Earls Colne, England (Station 358), 14 June 1943 • RAF Beaulieu, England (Station 408), 21 July 1944 • Lessay Airfield (A-20), France, 26 August 1944 • Chartres Airfield, France (A-40) also (Station 190), 21 September 1944 • Laon-Athies Airfield (A-69), France 13 October 1944 • Denain-Prouvy Airfield (A-83) also (B-74), France, 9 February 1945 • Gablingen Airfield (R-77), Germany, 15 May 1945 • Landsberg Airfield (R-78), Germany, c. 13 September 1945 • Haunstetten, Germany, 12 July 1945 • Clastres, France (A-71), c. 1 October 1945 – December 1945 • Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, 13 December 1945 – 14 December 1945 • Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 27 June 1949 – 17 March 1951 (deployed at Eglin Air Force Base Auxiliary Field No. 2, Florida, 11–25 June 1950) • Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana, 8 August 1955 – 1 September 1957 • Mather Air Force Base, California, 1 April 1973 – 31 May 1993 • Kelly Air Force Base (later Kelly Field Annex, Lackland Air Force Base; Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland), Texas, 1 August 2000 – present Aircraft • Martin B-26 Marauder 1942–1945 • Douglas B-26 Invader, 1949–1951 • North American T-6 Texan, by 1949–1951 • Convair T-29 Flying Classroom 1973–1975 • Boeing T-43 Bobcat 1975–1993 Awards and campaigns ==References==