404th Bombardment Squadron (404th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG)

Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as the 14th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy). On January 15, 1941 activated at Miami Municipal Airport in Florida. On June 11, 1941 moves MacDill Field in Florida.

Wartime History
On February 7, 1942 moves to Barksdale Field in Louisiana and performs anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. On April 22, 1942 redesignated 404th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). In June 1942 ceases patrols and the air echelon prepares to move to Alaska.

On July 12, 1942 the air echelon was attached to the 28th Composite Group (28th CG) and began operating from Ladd Army Airfield in Alaska. On July 18, 1942 moves to Nome Airfield in Alaska. On July 25, 1942 moves Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma. On August 24, 1942 moves Umnak Airfield. On September 21, 1942 officially assigned to the 28th Composite Group (28th CG).

On September 11, 1943 the squadron took off from Attu Airfleid on a bombing mission led by Major Gash against Kashiwabara staging area on the northeast tip of Paramushiru island in the Kurle Islands. Lost is B-24D Liberator 41-23890 pilot Major Frank T. Gash (MIA)

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) page 494 (404th Bombardment) [PDF pages 506]