389th Bombardment Squadron (389th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG)

Background
Established as the 389th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) then sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On November 30, 1943 arrived at Port Moresby in New Guinea with P-40s. The squadron used the playing card suit spade as their motif on the rear fuselage.

On January 6, 1944 moves to Gusap Airfield.

On January 19, 1944 lost on a ferry flight is A-20G 42-86620  pilot 2nd Lt. Eliot R. Young and A-20G 42-86724  pilot 1st Lt. John M. Huber on Mornington Island in the Wellesley Islands.

On March 13, 1944 the squadron flew a low level strike against Alexishafen Airfield. Lost is A-20G 42-54083 pilot Wells (rescued) and A-20G 42-54082 pilot 2nd Lt. Valorie L. Pollard (MIA) and A-20G 42-54085  pilot 2nd Lt. Henry J. "Bill" Miars and A-20G 42-54117 pilot 2nd Lt. Carl H. Hansen.

A-20G 43-9133  pilot Karsnia crashed March 22, 1944

A-20G 43-9424  pilot Hedges written off March 27, 1944

On June 10, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield. Lost on a test flight is A-20G 43-21299  pilot 2nd Lt. Charles F. Russell (KIA).

On July 4, 1944 movest to Hollandia.

On July 9, 1944 the squadron flew a low level strike over Babo Airfield. Lost due to anti-aircraft fire is A-20G 42-86720 pilot 1st Lt. Earl G. Hill (MIA), A-20G 43-9499  pilot 1st Lt Walter S. Sparks (MIA) and A-20G 43-21430  pilot 1st Lt. Walter H. Van (MIA).

On July 14, 1944 the squadron flew a low level strike against the oil refineries at Boela on Ceram Island (Seram). Lost due to anti-aircraft fire is A-20G 43-9624 pilot 1st Lt. Doyle J. Dean (MIA).

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

A-20G 43-9419  pilot Knobloch crashed November 21, 1944 remains recovered

A-20G "Stricktly Eager!" 43-9431 pilot Murison crashed November 22, 1944

A-20G "Sleepy Time Gal" 43-21302  pilot Lillard crashed January 17, 1945

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

A-20G "Queen of Spades" 43-21309  pilot Clark MIA January 18, 1945

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

On April 20, 1945 moves to Floridablanca Airfield.

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

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