8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG)

Background
The U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS) served in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) of the Pacific War during World War II.

Wartime History
The squadron went overseas to Australia and arrives Brisbane with A-24 Dive Bombers. On March 17, 1942 moves to Charters Towers Airfield. On March 31, 1942 the squadron moves to Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On April 1, 1942 at 6:00am six A-24 Dive bombers from 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS) took off from 7 Mile Drome at 6:00am escorted by RAAF P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron on a dive bombing mission against Japanese shipping off Lae. This was the squadron's first combat mission. After take off, A-24 41-15798 pilot 2nd Lt. Henry G. Swartz experienced mechanical issues and aborts. The rest of the formation experiences bad weather and diverts to bomb Salamaua Airfield (Logui) and experience only light anti-aircraft fire.

On April 7, 1942 nine A-24s escorted by six P-40E Kittyhawks from RAAF No. 75 Squadron attack Lae. Lost is A-24 41-15798 pilot 2nd Lt. Henry G. Swartz (MIA).

On April 13, 1942 seven A-24s escorted by eight P-40E Kittyhawks from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 75 Squadron attack Lae.

On May 25, 1943 redesignated 8th Bombardment Squadron (Light).

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Captain Floyd "Buck" Rogers (March 1942–)
Major Raymond H. Wilkins (September 14, 1943–November 2, 1943) †

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 45-46 (8th Bombardment) [PDF pages 57-58]
Harvest of the Grim Reapers The Illustrated History of the 3rd and 27th Bomb Groups During World War II Volume I: Prewar to December 1942 (2021) by Lawrence J. Hickey, Edward M. Rogers with Osamu Tagaya and Madison D. Jonas