13th Bomb Squadron
The 13th Bomb Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 509th Operations Group, Air Force Global Strike Command, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The squadron is equipped with the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber.
| 13th Bomb Squadron | |
|---|---|
B-2 Spirit of the 509th Operations Group | |
| Active | 1917–1919 1917–1924; 1928–1929; 1929–1968; 1969–1973; 2003–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Bombardment |
| Part of | Air Force Global Strike Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri |
| Nickname(s) | The Devil's Own Grim Reapers |
| Motto(s) | Fear the Reaper |
| Colors | Red and black |
| Mascot(s) | Oscar |
| Tail Code | "WM" |
| Engagements |
|
| Decorations |
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Yanez |
| Notable commanders | Captain Charles Biddle Lieutenant Colonel Rob Fortney Lieutenant Colonel Robert McCormick Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Bussiere |
| Insignia | |
| 13th Bomb Squadron emblem | |
| 13th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 14 February 1924) | |
| 13th Aero Squadron emblem (approved by AEF 18 November 1918) | |
| 104th Aero Squadron emblem (approved by AEF 18 November 1918) | |
The 13th is one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, first being organized as the 13th Aero Squadron' on 14 June 1917 at Camp Kelly (later Kelly Field), Texas. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during World War I as a pursuit squadron. The unit was demobilized after the war in 1919. On 16 October 1936, the squadron was consolidated with the 104th Aero Squadron, another AEF combat squadron on the Western Front, which was organized on 25 August 1917.
Reorganized in 1921 as part of the permanent United States Army Air Service, the squadron became part of Fifth Air Force in the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II flying North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. During the Cold War, it fought in the Korean War and Vietnam War as a Martin B-57 Canberra tactical bomber squadron.