402d Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 402d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 502d Bombardment Group. It was last stationed at Northwest Field
, Guam
, and was inactivated on 15 April 1946.
, Utah
, equipped with a mixture of early-model B-17C/D Flying Fortress and B-25 Mitchell
s; assigned to the GHQ Air Force Northwest Air District at Geiger Field, Washington where the squadron flew training missions and also reconnaissance missions along the Northwest Pacific Coast. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, became first an Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, later converting to a B-24 Liberator
Replacement Training Unit (RTU).
Inactivated in April 1944 with the phaseout of heavy bomber training, reactivated and redesignated as a B-29 Superfortress
Very Heavy bomb squadron and reassigned to Kansas for training on the B-29. Initially assigned to the 402d Bombardment Squadron, however personnel and aircraft shortages led to the squadron's inactivation, with its assets redistributed to other squadrons in the 402d Bomb Group.
Reactivated about a month later and assigned to the 502d Bombardment Group with new personnel and equipment and prepared for overseas deployment. In early 1945 the squadron deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations
(PTO) and was assigned to the XXI Bomber Command
on Guam
. Conducted very long range strategic bombardment raids over Japan beginning in April 1945, bombing military and industrial targets in Japan and participated in incendiary raids on urban areas until the Japanese Capitulation in August. Also supported the Allied invasion of Okinawa by attacking airfields that served as bases for kamikaze pilots.
Returned to the United States in early 1946 for inactivation.
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. It was last assigned to the 502d Bombardment Group. It was last stationed at Northwest Field
Northwest Field (Guam)
Northwest Field is a former World War II airfield on Guam in the Mariana Islands. It was closed in 1949 and is unused.-History:Northwest Field was constructed in 1944–45 near Ritidian Point on the northwest end of the island of Guam as a base for Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortresses to carry...
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, and was inactivated on 15 April 1946.
History
Established in November 1940 as a long-range Reconnaissance squadron organized at Fort DouglasFort Douglas, Utah
Camp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, equipped with a mixture of early-model B-17C/D Flying Fortress and B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
s; assigned to the GHQ Air Force Northwest Air District at Geiger Field, Washington where the squadron flew training missions and also reconnaissance missions along the Northwest Pacific Coast. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, became first an Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, later converting to a B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
Replacement Training Unit (RTU).
Inactivated in April 1944 with the phaseout of heavy bomber training, reactivated and redesignated as a B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
Very Heavy bomb squadron and reassigned to Kansas for training on the B-29. Initially assigned to the 402d Bombardment Squadron, however personnel and aircraft shortages led to the squadron's inactivation, with its assets redistributed to other squadrons in the 402d Bomb Group.
Reactivated about a month later and assigned to the 502d Bombardment Group with new personnel and equipment and prepared for overseas deployment. In early 1945 the squadron deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
(PTO) and was assigned to the XXI Bomber Command
XXI Bomber Command
The XXI Bomber Command was a unit of the Twentieth Air Force in Guam for strategic bombing during World War II.- Lineage:* Constituted as XXI Bomber Command on 1 Mar 1944, and activated the same day.-Assignments:...
on Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. Conducted very long range strategic bombardment raids over Japan beginning in April 1945, bombing military and industrial targets in Japan and participated in incendiary raids on urban areas until the Japanese Capitulation in August. Also supported the Allied invasion of Okinawa by attacking airfields that served as bases for kamikaze pilots.
Returned to the United States in early 1946 for inactivation.
Lineage
- Constituted 12th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940
- Activated on 15 Jan 1941.
- Redesignated: 402d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942
- Redesignated: 402d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 28 Mar 1944
- Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944
- Activated on 1 Apr 1944.
- Inactivated on 10 May 1944
- Activated on 1 Jun 1944
- Inactivated on 15 Apr 1946
Assignments
- 39th Bombardment Group, attached on 15 Jan 1941, and assigned 25 Feb-1 Apr 1944; 1 Apr-10 May 1944
- Associated with: 1st Photographic Group1st Photographic GroupThe 1st Photographic Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, stationed at Buckley Field, Colorado. It was inactivated on 5 October 1944.-History:...
, 10 Jun 1941-22 Apr 1942 (training)- 502d Bombardment Group502d Bombardment GroupThe 502d Bombardment Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. The unit was inactivated on 15 April 1946....
, 1 Jun 1944-15 Apr 1946
- 502d Bombardment Group
Stations
- Fort DouglasFort Douglas, UtahCamp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...
, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, 15 Jan 1941 - Geiger Field, Washington, 2 Jul 1941
- Davis-Monthan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 5 Feb 1942-1 Apr 1944 - Dalhart Army Air Field, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, 5 Jun 1944 - Grand Island Army AirfieldGrand Island Army AirfieldGrand Island Army Airfield was a United States Army Air Forces airfield which operated from 1942 to 1946. After its closure, the base was reopened as Central Nebraska Regional Airport.-History:...
, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 26 Sep 1944-7 Apr 1945 - Northwest FieldNorthwest Field (Guam)Northwest Field is a former World War II airfield on Guam in the Mariana Islands. It was closed in 1949 and is unused.-History:Northwest Field was constructed in 1944–45 near Ritidian Point on the northwest end of the island of Guam as a base for Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortresses to carry...
, GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, 12 May 1945-15 Apr 1946
Aircraft
- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, 1941 - B-17 Flying Fortress, 1941-1942
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1942-1944 - B-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, 1944-1946