731st Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 731st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the 452d Bombardment Group, stationed at Iwakuni Air Base, Japan
. It was inactivated on 25 June 1951
for training, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Deployed to the European Theater of Operations
(ETO) in January 1944, being assigned to Eighth Air Force
in England
. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
, becoming one of the most highly decorated squadron of the Air Offensive. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations until the German Capitulation in May 1945. Returned to the United States and prepared for B-29 transition training, however Japanese Capitulation in August led to unit's inactivation in November.
Reactivated in the reserves in 1947 as a B-26 Invader light bomber squadron, assigned to Long Beach AAF, California. Moved to George AFB in 1950 when Long Beach was closed. Wad deployed to Japan
in August 1950 for combat duty during the Korean War
, engaged in night bombardment missions over both North and South Korea. Inactivated in June 1951 with assets being reassigned to active-duty units.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last was assigned to the 452d Bombardment Group, stationed at Iwakuni Air Base, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It was inactivated on 25 June 1951
History
Established in mid-1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron; assigned to II Bomber CommandII Bomber Command
The II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
for training, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Deployed to the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
(ETO) in January 1944, being assigned to Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, becoming one of the most highly decorated squadron of the Air Offensive. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations until the German Capitulation in May 1945. Returned to the United States and prepared for B-29 transition training, however Japanese Capitulation in August led to unit's inactivation in November.
Reactivated in the reserves in 1947 as a B-26 Invader light bomber squadron, assigned to Long Beach AAF, California. Moved to George AFB in 1950 when Long Beach was closed. Wad deployed to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in August 1950 for combat duty during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, engaged in night bombardment missions over both North and South Korea. Inactivated in June 1951 with assets being reassigned to active-duty units.
Lineage
- Constituted 731st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943
- Activated on 1 Jun 1943
- Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945
- Redesignated 731st Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 13 May 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 12 Jul 1947
- Redesignated 731st Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 27 Jun 1949
- Redesignated 731st bombardment Squadron (Light, Night Attack) on 1 Aug 1950
- Ordered to active service on 10 Aug 1950
- Inactivated on 25 Jun 1951
Assignments
- 452d Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1943-28 Aug 1945; 12 Jul 1947-25 Jun 1951
- Attached to 3d Bombardment Group, Nov 1950-25 Jun 1951
Stations
- Geiger Field, Washington, 1 June 1943
- Rapid City Army Air Base, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, c. 13 June 1943 - Pendleton Field, OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, 10 October 1943 - Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, c. 4 November-December 1943
- RAF Deopham GreenRAF Deopham GreenRAF Deopham Green is a former Second World War airfield in England. The field is located near Deopham Green 2 miles north of Attleborough in Norfolk.- USAAF use:...
(AAF-142), England, c. 8 January 1944-6 August 1945 - Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, c. 12–28 August 1945 - Long Beach AAFld (later, Long Beach Muni Aprt), CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 19 April 1947 - George AFB, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 10 August-October 1950 - Iwakuni Air Base, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, 17 November 1950-25 Jun 1951
Aircraft
- B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943-1945
- B-26 Invader, 1950-1951
- C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, (used for flare missions), 1951