| 564th Missile Squadron | |
|---|---|
 LGM-30G Minuteman III test launch at Vandenberg AFB, California | |
| Active | 1943-1945; 1947–1949; 1958–1964; 1966–2008 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Intercontinental ballistic missile |
| Nickname(s) | Deuce[1] |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| 564th Missile Squadron emblem[a][2] |  |
| Patch with 1967 564th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem[b][2] |  |
| Patcvh with 1959 564th Strategic Missile Squadron emblem[c][3] |  |
| 564th Bombardment Squadron emblem[4] |  |
| World War II fuselage marking[4] | YO |
The 564th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 341st Operations Group at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where it was inactivated on 19 August 2008.
The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 564th Bombardment Squadron, when after training in the United States, it deployed to England and participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Shortly after its arrival in Europe, the squadron sent a detachment to Libya. From this location, the detachment participated in Operation Tidal Wave, the low level attack on oil refineries near Ploesti, for which the squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated in September 1945. The squadron was active from 1947 to 1949 in the reserve, but does not appear to have been fully equipped or manned.
The squadron was reactivated in July 1958 as the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron. On 1 December 1958, it was the first Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile squadron to go on nuclear alert status. It was inactivated in 1964 with the phase out of the SM-65D Atlas missile.
On 1 April 1966, the 564th was reactivated with the LGM-30F Minuteman II missile, and in 1975 was upgraded to the LGM-30G Minuteman III. It was inactivated when the United States reduced its land based missile force.
- ^ Mullett, Valerie (25 August 2008). "564th Missile Squadron officially inactivated". 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b No byline. "Factsheet 564th Missile Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 23 October 2004. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
- ^ Maurer 1982, pp. 662–663.
- ^ a b Watkins 2008, pp. 78–79.
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