The commander of the 330th Combat Training Squadron is an Air Force position held by a lieutenant colonel. The 330 CTS is responsible for organizing, equipping, and ensuring the combat capability of all pipeline Airman on the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, in a competitive and challenging training environment.
History
World War II
Established in early 1942 initially as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator reconnaissance squadron, flying antisubmarine patrols. Later trained under Third Air Force in Florida. Completed training in late 1942; deploying to European Theater of Operations as one of the initial heavy bomber squadrons assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, September 1942. Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe. Deployed to IX Bomber Command in Egypt in December 1942; operating from airfields in Libya and Tunisia. Raided enemy military and industrial targets in Italy and in the southern Balkans, including the Nazi-controlled oilfields at Ploiești, Romania, receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation for its gallantry in that raid. Also flew tactical bombing raids against Afrika Korps defensive positions in Tunisia; supporting British Eighth Army forces in their advance to Tunis, in September and October 1943. Returned to England with disestablishment of IX Bomber Command in North Africa. From England, resumed long-range strategic bombardment raids on Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, attacking enemy military and industrial targets as part of the United States' air offensive. The squadron was one of the most highly decorated units in the Eighth Air Force, continuing offensive attacks until the German capitulation in May 1945. Returned to the United States in June 1945; being re-manned and re-equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers. Trained for deployment to the Central Pacific Area to carry out very long range strategic bombing raids over Japan. Japanese capitulation in August canceled plans for deployment, instead became Continental Air Command B-29 squadron.
Cold War
During the Cold War, the squadron was equipped with new weapons systems as they became available, performing strategic bombardment training with the B-50 Superfortress, an advanced version of the B-29 in 1950. The B-50 gave the unit the capability to carry heavy loads of conventional weapons faster and farther as well as being designed for atomic bomb missions if necessary. By 1951, the emergence of the Soviet Mig-15 interceptor in the skies of North Korea signaled the end of the propeller-driven B-50 as a first-line strategic bomber. Received Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet bombers in 1954, and in 1955 began receiving early model of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. Inactivated in 1963 due to retirement of the B-52B and also budget restrictions.
Crew training
Reactivated in 1988 as the 330th Combat Flight Instructor Squadron. The squadron received aircraft from the inactivating 320th Bombardment Wing at Mather Air Force Base. In 1992 after the de activation of SAC, the 330FTS aligned under the 398th Operations Group at Castle Air Force Base, California and continued training KC-135 crew members to become flight instructor. The squadron inactivated in 1994 after the end of the Cold War and the reduction of the B-52 fleet. Reactivated in 2002 at Robins Air Force Base as an advanced training unit for the E-8 Joint STARS aircraft. Transferred to the Georgia Air National Guard when the Guard became the primary operator of the JSTARS. Returned to the regular Air Force in 2011 as the 461st Air Control Wing assumed the JSTARS mission.
Lineage
Constituted as the 330th Bombardment Squadron on 28 January 1942
