Japanese capitulation in August ended training activities; the squadron was demobilized and inactivated in October. Strategic Air Command The squadron was reactivated in 1946 under Strategic Air Command. It was equipped with B-29 Superfortresses and participated in numerous exercises, operational readiness inspections, and overseas deployments. One of these deployments involved the squadron's mission in West Germany and Berlin (then in East Germany) in July 1947. Just a month later, the unit was in Guam and Japan. It became part of SAC nuclear deterrent force. The squadron began upgrading to the new Boeing B-50 Superfortress, an advanced version of the B-29 in 1949. 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 interceptors in the skies of North Korea signaled the end of the propeller-driven B-50 as a first-line strategic bomber. The squadron received Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet bombers in 1955 and despite initial difficulties, the Stratojet became the mainstay of the medium-bombing strength of SAC all throughout the 1950s, deployed frequently to North Africa and England for Reflex exercises. The squadron began sending its B-47s to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in 1959 when the aircraft was deemed no longer capable of penetrating Soviet airspace. In 1960 the squadron was reassigned to the 4137th Strategic Wing, being re-equipped with Boeing B-52G Stratofortress intercontinental heavy bombers. It moved to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia by SAC to disperse its heavy bomber force. It conducted worldwide strategic-bombardment training missions and provided nuclear deterrent. It was inactivated in 1963 when SAC inactivated its strategic wings, replacing them with permanent Air Force wings. The squadron was inactivated, with aircraft, personnel, and equipment being transferred to the 781st Bombardment Squadron. Lineage Constituted as the "342d Bombardment Squadron" (Heavy) on 28 January 1942 Activated on 3 February 1942 Redesignated "342d Bombardment Squadron", Heavy on 6 March 1944 Inactivated on 29 October 1945 Redesignated "342d Bombardment Squadron", Very Heavy on 15 July 1946 Activated on 4 August 1946 Redesignated "342d Bombardment Squadron", Medium on 28 May 1948 Redesignated "342d Bombardment Squadron", Heavy on 1 October 1959 Discontinued and inactivated on 1 February 1963 Assignments 97th Bombardment Group, 3 February 1942 – 29 October 1945 97th Bombardment Group, 4 August 1946 97th Bombardment Wing, 16