680th Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 680th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the 504th Bombardment Group
, stationed at Clark Field, Luzon
, Philippines Commonwealth. It was inactivated on 15 June 1946.
squadrons to see combat in the Central Pacific Area (CPA). The squadron trained under Second Air Force
, not assigned to any combat group; being attached on 15 June 1945 to the 504th Bomb Group on Tinian
. The 680th was equipped with later-model B-29As, with only minor differences than the original B-29 model built by Boeing with some revised engine nacelles and pneumatically-operated bomb-bay doors which could be snapped shut in less than a second. Its arrival boosted the 504th to its full authorization of three bombardment squadrons.
Upon arrival at Tinian, the squadron engaged in combat operations over Japan
, flying strategic bombardment missions attacking Japanese military and industrial targets; also later engaging in night incendiary raids, flying at night and at low altitude to strike area targets in Japan.
After the Japanese capitulation in August 1945 it dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners, participated in show-of-force missions, and flew over Japan to evaluate damage inflicted by bombardment operations.
Moved to the Philippines
in March 1946. Inactivated at Clark Field on Luzon on June 15, 1946; its low-hour aircraft flown to storage depots in the United States.
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 504th Bombardment Group
504th Bombardment Group
The 504th Bombardment Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It was inactivated on 15 June 1946....
, stationed at Clark Field, Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippines Commonwealth. It was inactivated on 15 June 1946.
History
The squadron was activated in November 1944, one of the last B-29 SuperfortressB-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...
squadrons to see combat in the Central Pacific Area (CPA). The squadron trained under Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, not assigned to any combat group; being attached on 15 June 1945 to the 504th Bomb Group on Tinian
Tinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
. The 680th was equipped with later-model B-29As, with only minor differences than the original B-29 model built by Boeing with some revised engine nacelles and pneumatically-operated bomb-bay doors which could be snapped shut in less than a second. Its arrival boosted the 504th to its full authorization of three bombardment squadrons.
Upon arrival at Tinian, the squadron engaged in combat operations over 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...
, flying strategic bombardment missions attacking Japanese military and industrial targets; also later engaging in night incendiary raids, flying at night and at low altitude to strike area targets in Japan.
After the Japanese capitulation in August 1945 it dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners, participated in show-of-force missions, and flew over Japan to evaluate damage inflicted by bombardment operations.
Moved to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in March 1946. Inactivated at Clark Field on Luzon on June 15, 1946; its low-hour aircraft flown to storage depots in the United States.
Lineage
- Constituted 680th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 25 November 1944
- Activated on 4 December 1944
- Inactivated on 15 June 1946
Assignments
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 4 December 1944 - 504th Bombardment Group504th Bombardment GroupThe 504th Bombardment Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It was inactivated on 15 June 1946....
: attached, 15 June 1945; assigned 14 November 1945-15 June 1946.
Stations
- Alamogordo Army Airfield, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, 4 December 1944-10 May 1945 - North FieldNorth Field (Tinian)North Field is a former World War II airfield on Tinian in the Mariana Islands. Abandoned after the war, today North Field is a tourist attraction....
, TinianTinianTinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
, Mariana IslandsMariana IslandsThe Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
, 15 June 1945 - Clark Field, LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippines Commonwealth, 13 March -15 June 1946