Command closed Foster a year later and the squadron was inactivated in November 1958. Strategic Air Command In February 1963, The 450th Bombardment Wing was organized at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, where it assumed the aircraft, personnel and equipment of the discontinued 4136th Strategic Wing. The 4136th was a Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing, which could not carry a permanent history or lineage, and Strategic Air Command (SAC) wanted to replace it with a permanent unit. As part of this reorganization, the 720th was redesignated the 720th Bombardment Squadron, was activated, and assumed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 525th Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously inactivated. One half of the squadron's Boeing B-52H Stratofortresses were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. In addition, the squadron trained for strategic bombardment missions. Beginning in June 1968, the squadron provided aircrews to support Operation Arc Light, SAC operations in Southeast Asia. In July 1968 when SAC ended its bomber operations at Travis Air Force Base, California, the 5th Bombardment Wing moved to Minot to replace the 450th Wing. In connection with this move, the personnel and equipment of the 720th were transferred to the 23d Bombardment Squadron, which moved on paper with the 5th Wing from Travis, and the 720th was inactivated. Lineage Constituted as the 720th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 April 1943 Activated on 1 May 1943 Redesignated 720th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 1944 Redesignated 720th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 23 May 1945 Inactivated on 15 October 1945 Redesignated 720th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 29 October 1953 Activated on 25 December 1953 Inactivated on 8 August 1955 Redesignated 720th Fighter-Day Squadron on 13 November 1957 Activated on 11 December 1957 Redesignated 720th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958 Inactivated on 18 December 1958 Redesignated 720th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy and activated on 15 November 1962 (not organized) Organized on 1 February 1963 Inactivated on 25 July 1968 Assignments 450th Bombardment Group, 1 May 1943 – 15 October 1945 11th Air Division, 25 December 1953 – 8 August 1955 450th Fighter-Day Wing (later 450th Tactical Fighter Wing), 11 December 1957 – 18 December 1958 Strategic Air Command, 15 November 1962 (not organized) 450th Bombardment Wing, 1 February 1963 – 25 July 1968 Stations Gowen Field, Idaho, 1 May 1943 Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico, 21