386th Bombardment Squadron (386th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG)

Background
On January 28, 1942 constituted as the 386th Bombardment Squadron (Light). On March 15, 1942 activated in the 312th Bombardment Group (345th BG) at Bowman Field in Kentucky. On June 12, 1942 moves to Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma. On August 18, 1942 moves to Hunter Field in Georgia. On February 18, 1943 to DeRidder Army Air Base in Louisiana. On April 13, 1943 moves to Rice Rice Army Air Field in California. On August 13, 1943 arrives Salinas Army Air Base. On October 24, 1943 sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). The squadron used the playing card suit of clubs as their motif on the rear fuselage.

Wartime History
On November 30, 1943 arrives Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On February 4, 1944 lost is A-20G 43-9122  pilot 2nd Lt. Chester B. Rimer (MIA) on a training mission and crashed into the sea between Bavo Island and Idihi Island off the southern coast of New Guinea.

On May 15, 1944 lost is A-20G "Sweet Milk" | "Baby Doll II" 43-9113 pilot 1st Lt. Stanley M. Keeton crashed near Dagua Airfield.

On June 29, 1944 the squadron conducts a strike against mission Yakamul.

On August 11, 1944 lost is A-20G 43-9392  pilot 1st Lt. Frank W. Wells (MIA) on a mission against Utarom.

On February 10, 1945 the squadron moves to Mangaldan Airfield on Luzon.

On April 20, 1945 the squadron moves to Floridablanca Airfield on Luzon.

On June 10, 1945 destroyed by an accidental fire is A-20G "Old S" 43-9468  while parked in the flight line at Floridablanca Airfield. ** plane 388th BS

On May 24 1945 at Clark Field the squadron received fifteen B-32 Dominator for combat tests. On May 30, 1945 officially designated the 386th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). On May 31, 1945 moves to Floridablanca Airfield on Luzon.

On August 13, 1945 the squadron moves to Yontan Airfield on Okinawa.

On August 17, 1945 four B-32s flew a photographic mission over Tokyo and were targeted by anti-aircraft fire and intercepted by Japanese planes. Damaged was B-32 42-108539.

On August 18, 1945 a pair of B-32s and a F7B Liberator flew a photograph reconnaissance mission over Tokyo and were targeted by anti-aircraft fire and intercepted by Japanese planes. Damaged was B-32 42-108578 pilot 1st Lt. John R. Anderson with a wounded crew member Sgt Jimmie F. Smart, SSgt Joseph M. Lacharite and Sgt Anthony J. Marchione who died, the last U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) crew member Killed In Action (KIA) during World War II.

On August 28, 1945 before dawn, B-32 42-108544 pilot 1st Lt. Leonard Sill (KIA) crashed on take off from Yontan Airfield killing everyone aboard. That same day, B-32 42-108528 pilot 1st Lt. Collins Orton took off on a photographic mission over Tokyo and returning ditched into the sea and were rescued with two missing.

On September 9, 1945 while parked B-32 "Hobo Queen II" 42-108532 sustained nose damage. On September 11, 1945 a hoist used to lift the nose accidentally dropped the bomber twice, causing further damage and afterwards was written off.

Postwar
On December 18, 1945 inactivated. On July 14, 1947 redesignated 386th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy).

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation Formosa March 25, 1945–April 4, 1945
Philippines Presidential Unit Citation

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 473-474 (386th Bombardment) [PDF pages 485-486]
Dominator (1984) details the 386th BS use of the B-32 Dominator during 1945
The Roarin' 20's A History of the 312th Bombardment Group (1994) details 312th Bomb Group history
Helluva Pelican (1995) details A-20G "Hell'N Pelican II" 42-86786 from 388th BS
312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) DVD (2000)
Echoes of the Dominator (2007) details the 386th BS use of the B-32 Dominator during 1945
Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) details 312th Bomb Group history detailing the entire unit history, veterans and aircraft