38th Bombardment Squadron (38th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 30th Bombardment Group (30th BG)

Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as the 38th 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. The squadron motif was a black disc, border yellow, a gray, three-quarter, lower-front silhouette of a B-24 aircraft, in flight toward dexter, over a knight in armor on back of charger, all light *turquoise blue, holding a red lance and a shield, divided per bend red and green, behind two, gray wings displayed and conjoined in base.

Wartime History
On June 3, 1941 moves New Orleans, Louisiana.

On December 8, 1941 a detachment from the squadron moves to Savannah, GA and for a week for anti-submarine alert.

On December 24, 1941 moves to Muroc, CA and continues anti-submarine patrols.

On February 9, 1942 returns to March Field and continues flying anti-submarine patrols. On September 28, 1943 the squadron begins a movement bound for Oahu.

On October 20, 1943 moves to Kahuku Airfield on Oahu.

On November 12, 1943 moves to Nanumea Airfield with bombers operating from Tarawa Airfield.

On January 21, 1944 after midnight, shortly after take off from Tarawa Airfield at 12:21am lost is B-24D "Miss Bee Haven" 42-72982 pilot 1st Lt Morris A. Skaalen and at 12:38pm lost is B-24J 42-72999 pilot 1st Lt Howard T. Lurcott (MIA). Both crashed into Tarawa Lagoon.

On February 26, 1944 begins operating from Makin Airfield until March 22, 1944.

On March 13, 1944 moves to Kwajalein.

On August 4, 1944 moves to Saipan.

On March 17, 1945 moves to Wheeler Field on Oahu until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On September 21, 1945 moves to Kahuku Airfield on Oahu. On March 20, 1946 inactivated and disbanded.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) page 179 (38th Bombardment) [PDF pages 191]