498th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS) "Falcons"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG)

Background
On September 3, 1942 constituted as the 498th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Nicknamed "Falcons". On September 8, 1942 activated in the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) equipped with B-25 Mitchells at Columbia Army Airfield. On March 6, 1943 moves to Walterboro Army Airfield then departs overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On June 5, 1943 the entire 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches" with B-25 Mitchells arrives at Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On November 27, 1943 the squadron conducts a on a low level strike against Boram Airfield near Wewak. Ditched is B-25D "Impatient Virgin" 41-30046 pilot Captain William L. "Kizzy" Kizzire in Murik Lagoon with three POWs and the entire crew MIA.

On December 26, 1943 lost is B-25D "Crabb 2nd" 41-30517 pilot True ditched into Borgen Bay six miles from Silimati Point.

On February 15, 1944 the squadron conducts a low level strike against Kavieng. Ditched is B-25D "Gremlin's Holiday" 41-30041 pilot 1st Lt. Edgar R. Cavin ditched and was later rescued by PBY "Arkansas Traveler" 08139 pilot Lt(jg) Nathan G. Gordon.

On March 10, 1944 lost is B-25D "Buzzin' Buzzard" 41-30632 pilot 2nd Lt Monroe G. Adelman crashed into Hessian Bay (Hessen Bay) near Buso.

On March 29, 1944 lost is B-25D "Hitt and Miss" 41-30040 pilot 1st Lt Bernard L. Foley missing near Dagua.

On April 24, 1944 lost is B-25H 43-4347 pilot Stapelton force landed force landed near a beach roughly 20 miles from Yule Island.

On June 11, 1944 lost is B-25D "Red Wrath / Pannell Job" 41-30024 pilot Pannell crashed west of Nadzab.

On August 1, 1944 lost is B-25D "Fitch's Bitch" 41-30372  pilot Myers (MIA) on a low level bombing and strafing mission against Ceram (Seram). Lost is B-25H Mitchell 43-4332  pilot 2nd Lt. John Miller (MIA) armed reconnaissance for enemy shipping.

On September 10, 1944 lost is B-25G 42-64856 pilot 2nd Lt. Walter B. Garrison, Jr. near Namlea (Town) on Boeroe Island.

On November 12, 1944 moves to Dulag Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines.

On December 27, 1944 moves to Tacloban Airfield on Leyte.

On February 12, 1945 moves to San Marcelino Airfield on Luzon.

On May 11, 1945 moves to Clark Field on Luzon.

On May 26, 1945 lost is B-25J "Jaunty Jo" 43-36192 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert J. Knauf on a low level strike against Byoritsu Oil Refinery on Formosa (Taiwan). Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire in the left fuel tank and crashed.

On July 20, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield off Okinawa.

On August 7, 1945 lost is B-25J 44-31300  pilot Neal crew executed, cremated remains recovered, all remain listed as MIA.

Postwar
On December 19, 1945 inactivated. On March 22, 1954 redesignated the 498th Bombardment Squadron (Tactical) operating the B-26 Invader and later the B-57 Canberra. On July 19, 1954 reactivated. On June 25, 1959 inactivated.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) page 600 (498th BS) [PDF pages 612]
Warpath Across The Pacific The Illustrated History of the 345th Bombardment Group During World War II (1996) definitive unit history of the 345th BG, 498th BS