340th Weapons Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 Boeing B-52 taking off from Barksdale AFB | |
| Active | 1942-1945; 1946-1992; 2003-present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Advanced B-52 Stratofortress Training |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana |
| Motto(s) | Parati Tunc Simus (Latin for 'Let Us Then Be Prepared')[1] |
| Engagements | World War II
 1991 Gulf War (Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation of Kuwait)[1] |
| Decorations |  Distinguished Unit Citation (2x)  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (7x) |
| Insignia | |
| 340th Weapons Squadron emblem[a][1] |  |
| 340th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][2] |  |
| 340th Bombardment Squadron emblem (World War II)[3] |  |
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The 340th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the USAF Weapons School. It is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The 340th is assigned to the 57th Wing, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The mission of the squadron is to provide Boeing B-52 Stratofortress instructional flying.
The squadron was activated on as the 340th Bombardment Squadron. a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress squadron, assigned to the 97th Bombardment Group. After brief training in the United States with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft, it was one of the first heavy bomber squadrons to deploy to the European Theater of Operations. At the end of the year, following Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany from the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions. Following V-E Day, it was inactivated in Italy.
The squadron was again activated as an element of Strategic Air Command in 1946. It flew a series of Boeing bombers in the strategic deterrent role until inactivating. During the Vietnam War, B-52 crews from the squadron participated in the Linebacker offensives over the skies of North Vietnam. In August 1990 the 340th deployed aircrews for Operation Desert Storm.
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