21st Bombardment Squadron (21st BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 30th Bombardment Group (30th BG)

Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as the 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On January 15, 1941 activated in the 30th Bombardment Group (30th BG) at March Field operating the B-18 Bolo. On May 22, 1941 moves to New Orleans, Louisiana. The squadron motif was a bumble bee nicknamed "Wee Willie" charging forward and holding a red bomb with both hands above his head inside a white circle.

Wartime History
Between December 8, 1941 until December 14, 1941 a detachment operates from Savannah, Georgia. On December 26, 1941 moves to Muroc. On January 9, 1942 placed under the control of the 28th Composite Group (28th CG) / 28th Bombardment Group (28th BG) in the 11th Air Force (11th AF). On February 11, 1942 moves to March Field. The squadron flew anti-submarine patrols off the west coast of the United States with detachments operating from San Diego May 10, 1942 until June 16, 1942 and McChord Field May 28, 1942 until June 7, 1942 and Hamilton Field May 28, 1942 until June 7, 1942.

On June 11, 1942 the air echelon begins operating from Umnak Airfield in the Aleutian Island Chain (Aleutian Islands) in Alaska. That same day the squadron flies the first 11th Air Force (11th AF) bombing mission against Japanese shipping in Kiska Harbor off Kiska. Lost is B-24D Liberator 41-1088 pilot Captain Jack F. Todd (MIA).

On June 12, 1942 the squadron flies another bombing mission against Japanese shipping in Kiska Harbor off Kiska. Lost is B-24D Liberator 41-1090 pilot George Rogers (survived).

On June 18, 1942 four B-24 from the squadron took off from Cold Bay Airfield on a bombing mission against Japanese shipping in Kiska Harbor off Kiska. Lost is lost B-24A Liberator 40-2359 pilot Captain Ira Wintermute (survived, two MIA).

On September 3, 1942 the rest of the squadron moves to Umnak Airfield. The squadron also operates from Adak September 21, 1942 until November 15, 1942 and Amchitka February 18, 1943 until July 1943 and Shemya between July 27, 1943 until September 19, 1943. During September 1943 returned to the the 30th Bombardment Group (30th BG).

On December 9, 1942 lost is B-24A Liberator 40-2367 pilot Captain John Andrews on a weather reconnaissance mission over Attu and Kiska. Aboard was Brigadier General William E. Lynd and force landed on Atka Island with the entire crew rescued.

On January 18, 1943 five B-24s flew a mission to locate Japanese ships reportedly bound for Kiska. Lost is B-24D Liberator 41-23908 pilot Captain Ernest "Pappy" Pruett force landed on Great Sitkin Island.

On October 11, 1943 moves to Smoky Hill Army Air Field in Kansas. On October 18, 1943 assigned to the Second Air Force (2nd AF). On November 1, 1943 the squadron was disbanded.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) page 110 (21st Bombardment) [PDF pages 122]