676th Bombardment Squadron

Last updated

676th Bombardment Squadron
444bg-678bs-44-70108-sweet-thing.jpg
Active1943-1946
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Heavy bomber
Nickname(s)The Reluctant Dragon[ citation needed ]
Engagements American Theater of World War II
China Burma India Theater
Pacific Theater of Operations
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Insignia
676th Bombardment Squadron Emblem [lower-alpha 2] [1] 676th Bombardment Squadron - Emblem.png

The 676th Bombardment Squadron is a former unit of the United States Army Air Forces, last assigned to the 444th Bombardment Group at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona.

Contents

During World War II, the squadron was part of the first Boeing B-29 Superfortress group formed for the 58th Bombardment Wing, and served in the China Burma India Theater and Pacific Ocean Theater as part of Twentieth Air Force. The squadron's aircraft engaged in very heavy bombardment operations against Japan. The squadron received the Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat operations on three occasions. When the unit was inactivated on 1 October 1946, its B-29 aircraft and personnel were reassigned to the 63d Bombardment Squadron.

History

Training for combat

The squadron was first activated as the 676th Bombardment Squadron on 1 March 1943 at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, one of the original squadrons of the 444th Bombardment Group. [1] The 444th was assigned to the first B-29 Superfortress wing, the 58th Bombardment Wing. After a period of organization at Davis-Monthan the squadron moved to Great Bend Army Air Field, Kansas. for training, initially flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, Consolidated B-24 Liberators and Martin B-26 Marauders. [2] The group engaged in training on the new aircraft and its mission of long range precision bombing. At Great Bend, the squadron received early model B-29s and prototype YB-29s, however aircraft were still undergoing development and were frequently modified by Boeing technicians in the field while the squadron was undergoing training in Kansas. In November 1943 The 444th reorganized as a very heavy group and added the 5th Bombardment Maintenance Squadron, which was paired with the 676th to maintain its B-29s. [3]

China Burma India Theater

In early April 1944, the squadron left the United States and deployed to a former Liberator base at Charra Airfield, India. The first airplane of the 444th group landed at Charra on 11 April 1944. Due to the lack of revetments at Charra the squadron's airplanes were parked wingtip to wingtip on the field's shorter runway. Charra served only as a maintenance and staging base. Its runways were too short for a B-29 to take off fully loaded. While the squadron was stationed there, all missions were flown from the bases of the other bombardment groups of the 58th Bombardment Wing. [4]

From India, the 676th planned to fly missions against Japan from advanced airfields in China. However, all the supplies of fuel, bombs and spare parts needed to support operations from the forward bases in China had to be flown from India over The Hump. For this role, one aircraft from the squadron was stripped of combat equipment and used as a flying tanker. Each aircraft carried seven tons of fuel, but the amount that was delivered to China depended on weather, including headwinds and aircraft icing which increased the fuel consumption of the "tankers." [5]

The squadron flew its first combat mission on 5 June 1944 against the Makasan railroad yards at Bangkok, Thailand. Ten days later the 676th participated in the first American air attack on the Japanese home islands since the 1942 Doolittle raid, staging through Chinese bases on a nighttime raid against the iron and steel works at Yawata, Japan. [6] It returned to Yawata on 20 August on a daytime raid for which the unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. [1] Operating from bases in India and at times staging through fields in China, the unit struck transportation centers, naval installations, aircraft plants and other targets in Burma, China, Thailand, Japan and Formosa. [2]

On 12 October 1944 the group reorganized. The 679th Bombardment Squadron and the four bombardment maintenance squadrons were disbanded and their personnel and equipment were transferred to 676th and the other squadrons of the group. [1] [3] As the new year started, Japanese advances forced withdrawal from the Chinese forward operating bases. Unable to continue attacks on Japan, the unit continued attacking targets in Southeast Asia. [2]

Pacific Theater

In the spring of 1945 the 444th and the other groups of the 58th Wing moved to Tinian in the Marianas in order to continue operations against Japan. The group and squadron participated in the bombing of strategic objectives, strategic mining of the Inland Sea of Japan and in incendiary attacks on urban areas for the duration of the war. The 676th received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for attacking oil storage facilities at Oshima, bombing an aircraft plant near Kobe, and dropping incendiaries on Nagoya in May 1945. The squadron struck light metal industries at Osaka in July 1945, receiving a third Distinguished Unit Citation for this action. [2] The squadrons's final mission was flown against Hikari, Japan on 14 August 1945, the day before the Japanese surrender. [7]

Strategic Air Command

The 676th returned to the United States and Merced Army Air Field, California in November 1945 where it became part of Fourth Air Force of Continental Air Forces (CAF). CAF became Strategic Air Command (SAC) in March 1946 and the 676th was one of the first bombardment units assigned to SAC. In May the squadron moved back to Davis-Monthan Field, where it was integrated with the host 248th AAF Base Unit. [8] The 676th inactivated on 1 October 1946 [1] and its personnel and aircraft were reassigned to units of the 43d Bombardment Group, [9] [10] which was activated at Davis-Monthan on that day as part of the re-established Eighth Air Force. [11]

Lineage

Activated on 1 March 1943
Redesignated 676th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (B-29) on 26 April 1943
Redesignated 676th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 20 November 1943
Inactivated on 1 October 1946 [12]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Distinguished Unit Citation20 August 1944Yawata, Japan [1]
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Distinguished Unit Citation10–14 May 1945Japan [1]
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Distinguished Unit Citation24 July 1945Osaka, Japan [1]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
World War II - American Campaign Streamer (Plain).png American Theater of World War II|1 March 1943 – 12 March 1944 [1]
Streamer APC.PNG India-Burma13 April 1944–April 1945 [1]
Streamer APC.PNG Central Burma29 January 1945–April 1945 [1]
Streamer APC.PNG Air Offensive, Japan13 April 1944 – 2 September 1945 [1]
Streamer APC.PNG China Defensive13 April 1944 – 4 May 1945 [1]
Streamer APC.PNG Western Pacific17 April 1945 – 2 September 1945 [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">499th Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 499th Air Refueling Wing is an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) unit that was last active at Westover AFB, Massachusetts in June 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">58th Air Division</span> Inactive unit of the US Air Force

The 58th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, based at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. It was inactivated on 1 February 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">444th Air Expeditionary Wing</span> Provisional unit of United States Air Force

The 444th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as needed. It was last activated in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">462d Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 462d Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate as needed to meet operational requirements. Its last assignment was at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">502d Bombardment Group</span> World War II Army Air Forces unit

The 502d Bombardment Group was a World War II Army Air Forces (AAF) strategic bombardment organization. The unit was one of the last few combat groups formed by the AAF, activating on 1 June 1944. After nearly a year training with Boeing B-29 Superfortress, it moved to Guam in April 1945. It flew its first combat mission on 30 June 1945 and its first strike on the Japanese home islands in July. It was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for attacks on the Japanese oil industry between 5 August and 15 August 1945. After V-J Day it flew show of force missions and evacuated prisoners of war. It remained in the Pacific until it was inactivated on 15 April 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">63rd Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 63d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit that was last assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, where it was inactivated on 31 January 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">64th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 64th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit that was last assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, where it was inactivated on 31 January 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">65th Special Operations Squadron</span> Military unit

The 65th Special Operations Squadron is an Air Force Special Operations Command unit which flies the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The squadron was first activated as the 65th Bombardment Squadron in January 1941, one of the original squadrons of the 43rd Bombardment Group. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron participated in antisubmarine patrols until January 1942, when it moved to Australia and the Southwest Pacific Theater. It moved forward with US forces through New Guinea and the Philippines, moving to Ie Shima shortly before V-J Day for operations against Japan. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for combat operations. During this period, a crew from the 65th became the most decorated aircrew in United States history, when their B-17 fought off twenty Japanese fighters during a photo reconnaissance mission. The squadron was inactivated in the Philippines in April 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dudhkundi Airfield</span> Airfield in India

Dudhkundi Airfield is an abandoned airfield in India, located 12 miles (19.2 km) SE of Jhargram, in the Jhargram district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Intelligence Support Squadron</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 10th Intelligence Support Squadron is an intelligence unit located at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">375th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 375th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 308th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">716th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 716th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 449th Bombardment Wing at Kincheloe Air Force Base, Michigan, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">679th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 679th Bombardment Squadron is a disbanded unit of the United States Army Air Forces (AAF). It was last assigned to the 444th Bombardment Group at Dudhkundi Airfield, India where it was disbanded on 12 October 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">677th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 677th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. It was last assigned to the 444th Bombardment Group at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">877th Bombardment Squadron</span> Bombing

The 877th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. It was activated in November 1943, equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers, and assigned to the 499th Bombardment Group. After training in the United States, it deployed to Saipan, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Japan, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations. After V-J Day, it returned to the United States, where it was inactivated at March Field, California on 16 February 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">878th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 878th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. It was activated in November 1943, equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers, and assigned to the 499th Bombardment Group. After training in the United States, it deployed to Saipan, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Japan, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations. After V-J Day, it returned to the United States, where it was inactivated at March Field, California on 16 February 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">879th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 879th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. It was activated in November 1943, equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers, and assigned to the 499th Bombardment Group. After training in the United States, it deployed to Saipan, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Japan, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations. After V-J Day, it returned to the United States, where it was inactivated at March Field, California on 16 February 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">303rd Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 303rd Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 499th Air Refueling Wing at Kindley AFB, Bermuda, where it was inactivated on 15 June 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">421st Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 421st Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 41st Air Division at Yokota Air Base, Japan, where it was inactivated on 18 February 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">870th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 870th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. It was assigned to the 497th Bombardment Group, and was last stationed at MacDill Field, Florida where it was inactivated on 31 March 1946. The squadron was activated in late 1943. After training in the United States, it moved to Saipan in the Central Pacific Area, where it served in the strategic bombing campaign against Japan with Twentieth Air Force, flying Boeing B-29 Superfortress aircraft, where it earned two Distinguished Unit Citations. Following V-J Day, the squadron returned to the United States and briefly became part of Strategic Air Command before inactivating.

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. Aircraft is Boeing B-29-80-BW Superfortress, serial 44-70108 Sweet Thing. This airplane was reclaimed on 21 July 1954. In 1956, it was transferred to the United States Navy, which used it as a target at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Baugher, Joe (10 May 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 25 May 2023. It set a speed record from Hawaii to California on its return to the United States.[ citation needed ]
  2. Approved 27 June 1945. Description: Over and through a yellow disc, the caricatured character "The Reluctant Dragon", light and dark green, winged light blue, in flight toward dexter, over a small, light blue cloud formation in base supporting three black aerial bombs, and hurling a small, black bomb with the left forepaw, while holding a like bomb in the right forepaw.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 702-703
  2. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 318–319
  3. 1 2 "Abstract, History 5th Bombardment Maintenance Squadron". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  4. Pictorial History, pp. 32–33
  5. Pictorial History, p. 85
  6. Pictorial History, p. 86
  7. Pictorial History, p. 128
  8. "Abstract, Vol. I History of Davis-Monthan Field May 1946". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  9. "Abstract, History Davis-Monthan Field October-November 1946". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  10. Pictorial History, p. 164
  11. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 100
  12. 1 2 3 4 Lineage, assignments, stations, aircraft in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 702-703, except April 1943 redesignation, seeRobertson, Patsy (6 April 2010). "Factsheet 444 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2019.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency