that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate Air Force controlled units, which could carry a lineage and history. As a result, the 416th Bombardment Wing replaced the 4039th Strategic Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York. The changes to the wing meant that the squadron was organized in February 1963, and took over the mission, personnel and equipment of the 75th Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously inactivated. One half of the squadron's Boeing B-52G Stratofortress aircraft were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. The squadron continued the mission of strategic bombardment training to meet SAC commitments. In June 1968, squadron aircrews began deploying to support Operation Arc Light and Linebacker missions in Southeast Asia. These deployments continued until 1975. The squadron began preparing for a conventional warfare role in 1988, although it maintained B-52s on nuclear alert until September 1991. the squadron deployed crews and aircraft to Prince Abdullah Air Base, Saudi Arabia, during Operation Desert Shield from August 1990, then deployed B-52s to Moron Air Base, Spain; RAF Fairford, England; and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, from which they flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm from January until April 1991. The squadron was inactivated in 1995 as Griffiss closed following the recommendation of the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Lineage Constituted as the 668th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 25 January 1943 Redesignated 668th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 20 August 1943 Activated on 5 February 1943 Inactivated on 11 October 1945 Redesignated the 668th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and activated on 15 November 1962 (not organized) Organized on 1 February 1963 Redesignated 668th Bomb Squadron on 1 September 1991 Inactivated on 1 January 1995 Assignments 416th Bombardment Group, 5 February 1943 – 11 October 1945 Strategic Air Command, 15 November 1962 (not organized) 416th Bombardment Wing, 1 February 1963 416th Operations Group, 1 September 1991 – 1 January 1995 Stations Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, 5 February 1943 Lake Charles Army Air Field, Louisiana, 4 June 1943 Laurel Army Air Field, Mississippi, 1 November 1943 – 1 January 1944 RAF Wethersfield (AAF-170), England, 2 February 1944 Melun Airfield (A-55), France, 25 September 1944 Laon/Athies Airfield (A-69), France, 10 February 1945 Cormeilles en Vexin Airfield (A-59), France, c. 25 May 1945 Laon/Athies Airfield (A-69), France, 27 July–13 September 1945 Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, 10–11 October