98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG)

Background
On December 2, 1941 constituted as the 98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On December 16, 1941 activated in the 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) at Hickam Field on Oahu.

Wartime History
On July 21, 1942 the air echelon begins operating from Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield and Bomber 1.

On July 24, 1942 arrives Nadi Airfield on Viti Levu Island in Fiji.

On August 7, 1942 lost is B-17E "Kai-O-Keleiwa" 41-9224  pilot Loder (MIA) on a search mission.

On August 11, 1942 moves to Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo in New Hebrides (Vanuatu).

On September 12, 1942 six B-17E Flying Fortresses (four from 98th BS plus two from 431s BS) took off on a bombing mission against a Japanese task force that was reported to include an aircraft carrier. In fact, no carrier was there. Returning in bad weather and low on fuel, three ditched (possibly after midnight in early morning hours of September 13, 1942). Ditched is B-17E 41-2404 pilot 1st Lt James P. Van Haur from 431s BS ditched out of fuel, two died in life raft on September 18, 1943 the rest were rescued seven days later.

On September 13, 1942 lost is B-17E "Typhoon McGoon" due to unknown circumstances.

On September 29, 1942 lost is B-17E "Blue Goose" 41-2616  pilot 1st Lt. Frank T. "Fritz" Waskowitz on a bombing mission against Tonolei Harbor off Bougainville and intercepted by Zeros and went around on a second bomb run and was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in the sea.

During November 1942 the entire squadron moves to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.

On December 28, 1942 lost is B-17E "Ole Sh'asta" 41-2428  pilot Harp MIA on a mission over the northern Solomon Islands.

On December 1, 1942 lost is B-17F "Omar Khayyam / The Plastered Bastard" 41-24534  pilot Captain Willis E. Jacobs (MIA) lost on photo reconnaissance and search mission over southern Bougainville and intercepted by Zeros and hit by one in a collision and crashed over New Georgia.

On December 5, 1942 moves to Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo.

On April 8, 1943 moves to Mokuleia Field on Oahu.

On November 11, 1943 moves to Funafuti Airfield. On November 13, 1943 first combat mission on their second tour of duty.

On January 20, 1944 moves to Tarawa Airfield.

On April 3, 1944 moves to Kwajalein Airfield.

On May 4, 1944 lost is B-24J "Heaven Can Wait Don Ameche" 42-73496 pilot 1st Lt. Arthur W. Suojanen (MIA) on a bombing mission against Ponape.

On October 21, 1944 moves to Guam until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On October 20, 1948 begins a movement from Guam to the United States. On April 30, 1946 redesignated as 98th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). On September 18, 1947 becomes part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On October 20, 1948 inactivated. On December 1, 1948 redesignated 98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and reactivated in the 11th Bombardment Group at Carswell AFB in Texas. On June 16, 1952 became part of the 11th Bomb Wing (11th BW). On December 10, 1957 assigned to the 4123rd Strategic Wing. On March 1, 1959 moves to Clinton-Sherman AFB in Oklahoma. On February 1, 1963 inactivated and discontinued as a squadron.

References
Grey Geese Calling A History of the 11th Bombardment Group Heavy (H) in the Pacific, 1940-1945 (1981) details the 11th BG
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 326 (98th Bombardment) [PDF pages 338]