388th Bombardment Squadron (388th 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 388th Bombardment Squadron (Light) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On March 15, 1942 activated in the 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) at Bowman Field in Kentucky equipped with the V-72 and later A-24 Dive Bomber, A-36 and P-40 Warhawk. On June 12, 1942 moves to Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma. On July 27, 1942 redesignated 388th Bombardment Squadron (Dive). On August 18, 1942 moves to Hunter Field in Georgia. On February 18, 1943 moves to DeRidder Army Air Base in Louisiana. On April 13, 1943 moves to Rice Army Airfield. On August 13, 1943 moves to Salinas Army Airfield. On October 24, 1943 departs overseas for the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On November 30, 1943 arrives Port Moresby in New Guinea. The squadron used the playing card suit heart as their motif on the rear fuselage.

On December 6, 1943 redesignated 388th Bombardment Squadron (Light).

On January 3, 1944 moves to Gusap Airfield.

On January 13, 1944 the squadron fly their combat mission.

During February 1944 transitions to the A-20 Havoc.

On June 11, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield.

On July 4, 1944 moves to Hollandia.

On September 18, 1944 damage during take off was A-20G "Je Reviens" 43-9458 and written off.

On November 7, 1944 while parked at Nadzab Airfield damaged and later written off is A-20G "Rough Stuff!" 43-903.

On November 19, 1944 moves to Leyte in the Philippines.

On March 18, 1944 lost is A-20G 43-9626 pilot 2nd Lt. Albert E. Jesser, Jr. (survived, two crew MIA) on a local flight and crashed into Fairfax Harbor near Motukea Island.

On March 26, 1944 lost is A-20G 43-9625 pilot 1st John W. Hoover (KIA) crashed near Port Moresby.

On April 16, 1944 the squadron flew a strike against Hollandia. Returning, force landed was A-20G "Lady Constance" 43-9628  pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph Gibbons and A-20G "The Hell'N Pelican II" 42-86786  pilot 2nd Lt. Charles Davidson (survived).

On June 29, 1944 lost is A-20G "Pistol Packing Mama" 43-21416  pilot 1st Lt. Billy B. Hollingshead crashed east of Kaiapit.

On August 11, 1944 the squadron flew a strike mission against Utarom in western New Guinea. Lost is A-20G "Florida Gator" 43-21379  pilot Major William S. Pagh (MIA).

On September 14, 1944 damaged in a landing accident is A-20G 42-86748 and transfered to a service squadron.

On November 19, 1944 moves to Tanauan Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines.

On January 27, 1945 moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro.

On February 11, 1945 moves to Mangaldan Airfield on Luzon.

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

On July 19, 1945 redesignated 388th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy).

Postwar
On September 13, 1945 moves to Okinawa. On December 13, 1945 begins a movement back to the United States. On January 4, 1946 inactivated at Fort Lawton in Washington State. On July 14, 1947 redesignated 388th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). On July 30, 1947 activated in the reserves at Ellington Field in Texas. On June 27, 1949 inactivated.

On July 29, 1954 redesignated 388th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. On October 1, 1954 activated in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) at Clovis AFB in New Mexico operating the F-86 and later the F-100. On July 1, 1958 redesignated 388th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On February 18, 1959 inactivated.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 475-476 [PDF pages 487-488]
The Roarin' 20's A History of the 312th Bombardment Group (1994) details 312th Bomb Group history
312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) DVD (2000)
Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) details 312th Bomb Group history detailing the entire unit history, veterans and aircraft