Deployed to Third Air Force after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, engaged in antisubmarine patrols over the southeast Atlantic coastline. Returned to California in late December flying antisubmarine warfare patrols and training replacement crews with Lockheed A-29 Hudsons. It continued to perform this duty until October 1943, when the squadron was moved to Hawaii to join Seventh Air Force.
Trained with early Consolidated LB-30 Liberators and North American B-25 Mitchells in Hawaii until November, then re-equipped with Very Long Range Consolidated B-24 Liberators and deployed to the Central Pacific in November 1943 to take part in the island hopping campaign. Moved to Funafuti Airfield, Nanumea in the Gilbert Islands. Mounted bombing raids against enemy installations on those islands. It also raided airfields in the Marshall Islands to help prevent the launching of Japanese planes against the amphibious assault on Tarawa.
Staging through the recently captured Tarawa and Makin Islands, the squadron attacked several atolls in the Marshalls, including Kwajalein. Between November 14, 1943, and April 1, 1944, the squadron carried out bombing missions over the Marshall Islands and participated in the actual invasion of Kwajalein in February 1944.
As the war moved closer to Japan, the squadron attacked Truk. The 38th also bombed Wake Island, Guam, Saipan, and harassed other islands in the Caroline and Mariana Islands, bypassed by American amphibious forces.
In August 1944, the squadron moved to East Field (Saipan) in the Mariana Islands. During the next six months, the 38th conducted intensive bombing strikes against airfields and shipping at Bonin and Volcano Islands, Iwo Jima, ChiChi Jima, and Yap. Its final bombing mission was at Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, the same day three Marine divisions invaded the island.
In March 1945, the 38th returned to Hawaii on the popular but mistaken rumor that it was to be reequipped with Consolidated B-32 Dominators. Instead, many of the crews and planes were reassigned to the 11th Bombardment Group and subsequently served with it. The remaining elements waited out the war conducting training sorties and routine patrols. Inactivated on 20 March 1946.
Lineageedit
Constituted as the 38th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 November 1940
Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated 38th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c.1944
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Watkins, Robert A. (2013). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force In World War II. Vol. V, Pacific Theater of Operations. Atglen,PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-4346-9.
February 21, 2024
38th, bombardment, squadron, inactive, united, states, force, unit, last, assignment, with, 30th, bombardment, group, based, kahuku, army, airfield, hawaii, territory, inactivated, march, 1946, liberators, 27th, kwajalein, june, 1944active1940, 1946country, un. The 38th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit Its last assignment was with the 30th Bombardment Group based at Kahuku Army Airfield Hawaii Territory It was inactivated on March 20 1946 38th Bombardment SquadronB 24 Liberators of the 27th and 38th Bombardment Squadrons at Kwajalein in June 1944Active1940 1946Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleheavy bomberEngagementsAmerican Theater of OperationsPacific Theater 1 Insignia38th Bombardment Squadron emblem note 1 1 38th Bombardment Squadron emblem early 2 Aircraft flownBomberSee Aircraft below Contents 1 History 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyHistory editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Established as a Fourth Air Force bombardment squadron in November 1940 as part of the USAAC s buildup of forces after the outbreak of World War II in Europe equipped with Douglas B 18 Bolos and early Boeing YB 17 Flying Fortress prototypes Deployed to Third Air Force after the Attack on Pearl Harbor engaged in antisubmarine patrols over the southeast Atlantic coastline Returned to California in late December flying antisubmarine warfare patrols and training replacement crews with Lockheed A 29 Hudsons It continued to perform this duty until October 1943 when the squadron was moved to Hawaii to join Seventh Air Force Trained with early Consolidated LB 30 Liberators and North American B 25 Mitchells in Hawaii until November then re equipped with Very Long Range Consolidated B 24 Liberators and deployed to the Central Pacific in November 1943 to take part in the island hopping campaign Moved to Funafuti Airfield Nanumea in the Gilbert Islands Mounted bombing raids against enemy installations on those islands It also raided airfields in the Marshall Islands to help prevent the launching of Japanese planes against the amphibious assault on Tarawa Staging through the recently captured Tarawa and Makin Islands the squadron attacked several atolls in the Marshalls including Kwajalein Between November 14 1943 and April 1 1944 the squadron carried out bombing missions over the Marshall Islands and participated in the actual invasion of Kwajalein in February 1944 As the war moved closer to Japan the squadron attacked Truk The 38th also bombed Wake Island Guam Saipan and harassed other islands in the Caroline and Mariana Islands bypassed by American amphibious forces In August 1944 the squadron moved to East Field Saipan in the Mariana Islands During the next six months the 38th conducted intensive bombing strikes against airfields and shipping at Bonin and Volcano Islands Iwo Jima ChiChi Jima and Yap Its final bombing mission was at Iwo Jima on February 19 1945 the same day three Marine divisions invaded the island In March 1945 the 38th returned to Hawaii on the popular but mistaken rumor that it was to be reequipped with Consolidated B 32 Dominators Instead many of the crews and planes were reassigned to the 11th Bombardment Group and subsequently served with it The remaining elements waited out the war conducting training sorties and routine patrols Inactivated on 20 March 1946 Lineage editConstituted as the 38th Bombardment Squadron Heavy on 20 November 1940Activated on 15 January 1941 Redesignated 38th Bombardment Squadron Heavy c 1944 Inactivated on 20 March 1946 1 Assignments edit 30th Bombardment Group 15 January 1941 20 March 1946 1 Stations edit March Field California 15 January 1941 New Orleans Army Air Base Louisiana 3 June 1941 detachment operated from Hunter Field Georgia 8 14 December 1941 Muroc Army Air Field California 24 December 1941 March Field California 9 February 1942 28 September 1943 Kahuku Army Air Field Hawaii 20 October 1943 Funafuti Airfield Nanumea Gilbert Islands 12 November 1943 operated from Makin Airfield Gilbert Islands after 26 February 1944 Kwajalein Airfield Marshall Islands 13 March 1944 operated from Makin Airfield Gilbert Islands until 22 March 1944 East Field Saipan Mariana Islands 4 August 1944 Wheeler Field Hawaii 17 March 1945 Kahuku Army Air Field Hawaii 21 September 1945 20 March 1946 1 Aircraft edit Boeing YB 17 Flying Fortress 1941 Douglas B 18 Bolo 1941 1942 Consolidated LB 30 Liberator 1942 Lockheed A 29 Hudson 1942 North American B 25 Mitchell 1942 Consolidated B 24 Liberator 1942 1946 1 References editNotes edit Explanatory notes Approved 28 April 1945 Citations a b c d e f Maurer Combat Squadrons p 179 Watkins p 76 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 LCCN 61060979 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 LCCN 70605402 OCLC 72556 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Watkins Robert A 2013 Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U S Army Air Force In World War II Vol V Pacific Theater of Operations Atglen PA Shiffer Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 0 7643 4346 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 38th Bombardment Squadron amp oldid 1205352460, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
