834th Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 834th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the 486th Bombardment Group, stationed at Drew Field, Florida
. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
. It was part of the 486th Bombardment Group along with the 823d, 825th and 826th Squadrons.
In March 1944, after several months of training, the squadron was deployed to the European Theater of Operations
(ETO), being assigned to Eighth Air Force
in England
. From its base at RAF Sudbury
, the squadron began flying long-range strategic bombing missions over Nazi Germany and occupied Europe, attacking enemy military and industrial targets primarily in Germany.
The squadron became known as the "Zodiac Squadron" from the pictures of the zodiac figures painted on their noses. A commercial artist named Brinkman, from Chicago
, was responsible for the pin-up nose art
of the B-24 Liberator
s.
In November 1944 unit re-equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and reassigned from 2d to 4th Bombardment Division. It continued strategic bombardment attacks on enemy targets until German capitulation in May 1945.
Personnel were largely demobilized during the summer of 1945; small cadre from the squadron returned to the United States assigned to Drew Field, Florida. It was scheduled for re-equipping and re-manning as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy Bomb squadron for deployment to Western Pacific. However, the Japanese capitulation in August 1945 led to the squadron's inactivation 7 November 1945.
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 486th Bombardment Group, stationed at Drew Field, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
History
The squadron was established as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber squadron 14 September 1943 and trained under the Second Air ForceSecond 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....
. It was part of the 486th Bombardment Group along with the 823d, 825th and 826th Squadrons.
In March 1944, after several months of training, the squadron was 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), 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...
. From its base at RAF Sudbury
RAF Sudbury
RAF Sudbury is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located between the villages Acton, Great Waldingfield and Chilton, around 2 miles east of Sudbury in Suffolk.-USAAF use:...
, the squadron began flying long-range strategic bombing missions over Nazi Germany and occupied Europe, attacking enemy military and industrial targets primarily in Germany.
The squadron became known as the "Zodiac Squadron" from the pictures of the zodiac figures painted on their noses. A commercial artist named Brinkman, from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, was responsible for the pin-up nose art
Nose art
Nose art is a decorative painting or design on the fuselage of a military aircraft, usually located near the nose, and is a form of aircraft graffiti....
of the 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...
s.
In November 1944 unit re-equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and reassigned from 2d to 4th Bombardment Division. It continued strategic bombardment attacks on enemy targets until German capitulation in May 1945.
Personnel were largely demobilized during the summer of 1945; small cadre from the squadron returned to the United States assigned to Drew Field, Florida. It was scheduled for re-equipping and re-manning as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy Bomb squadron for deployment to Western Pacific. However, the Japanese capitulation in August 1945 led to the squadron's inactivation 7 November 1945.
Stations
- McCook Army AirfieldMcCook Army AirfieldMcCook Army Airfield was activated on 1 April 1943. It is located nine miles northwest of McCook, a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States and is southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. It was constructed in 1943...
, 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....
, 20 September 1943 - 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...
, 9 November 1943-9 March 1944 - RAF SudburyRAF SudburyRAF Sudbury is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located between the villages Acton, Great Waldingfield and Chilton, around 2 miles east of Sudbury in Suffolk.-USAAF use:...
, EnglandEnglandEngland 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...
, 5 April 1944-August 1945 - Drew Field, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, 3 September-7 November 1945.