822nd Bombardment Squadron (822nd BS) "The Black Panthers"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG)

Background
On March 29, 1943 constituted as 822nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On April 20, 1943 activated in the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) in Australia. Nicknamed "The Black Panthers".

Wartime History
On June 20, 1943 moves to Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On November 15, 1943 the squadron flew a bombing mission (Mission 318-G) against Wewak. At roughly 10:00am while circling in the vicinity of Dumpu at 10,000', intercepted by fifteen Zeros [sic Ki-43 Oscars] that were intercepted by P-40N Warhawks from 35th FS. Accidentally fired on by a P-40N Warhawk and damaged was B-25G Mitchell 42-64848 piloted by 1st Lt. Al L. Behrens that force landed at Nadzab Airfied.

On November 22, 1943 the squadron flew bombing mission (Mission 325-H) against Gasmata Airfield and Linderhafen Plantation. Lost is B-25G Mitchell 42-64846 pilot 1st Lt. Clifford A. Jaebker hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed on Arwin Island.

On January 16, 1944 the squadron flew a barge sweep (Mission 16-B) between Cape Croisilles to Cape Gourd on the north coast of New Guinea. Seven B-25s from the squadron were intercepted by Ki-43 Oscars from 59th Hiko Sentai (59th Flying Regiment). Lost is B-25G Mitchell 42-64827 pilot 1st Lt Ralph E. Freek (MIA).

On January 21, 1944 lost is B-25G Mitchell 42-64807 pilot Captain David C. Bryant Jr. (MIA) on a flight bound for Dobodura and went Missing In Action (MIA) over Kokoda.

On March 8, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield.

On April 12, 1944 lost is B-25G Mitchell 42-64835  pilot 1st Lt Math L. English (MIA) on a low level strafing mission against Hollandia and returning suffered an engine failure and successfully force landed intact in kunai grass roughly fifty miles south-southeast of Wewak. The entire crew remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

On August 25, 1944 moves to Biak. On November 6, 1944 moves to Morotai. On January 29, 1945 moves to Lingayen Airfield on Luzon in the Philippines. On July 24, 1945 moves to Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On November 22, 1945 moves to Itazuke Airfield on Kyūshū Island in Japan. On April 12, 1946 inactivated. On November 12, 1952 redesignated 822nd Bombardment Squadron (Light) in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On January 1, 1953 reactivated. On June 17, 1954 approved a new emblem of a falcon with red bells atop a black fist wearing a glove inside a blue disc. On October 1, 1955 redesignated 822d Bombardment Squadron (Tactical) at Laon Air Base in France. On December 8, 1957 assigned to the 38th Bombardment Wing (38th BW). On June 18, 1958 redesignated 822d Tactical Missile Squadron in the 587th Tactical Missile Group at Sembach Air Base in Germany. On September 25, 1962 assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation: New Britain December 24-26, 1943, New Guinea June 16-17, 1944, Leyte November 10, 1944
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award April 1, 1956–March 1, 1958, April 1, 1959–January 30, 1961
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) page 769-770 (822nd Bombardment) [PDF page 781-782]
Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) 38th Bombardment Group definitive group history published by the 38th BG Association