499th Bombardment Squadron (499th BS) "Bat Outta Hell"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG)

Background
On September 3, 1942 constituted as the 499th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). 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. On April 16, 1943 departs overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Nicknamed "Bat Outta Hell".

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 July 8, 1943 the squadon flew a bombing mission against Kela. Lost is B-25D "Blunder Bus" 41-30028  pilot 1st Lt. Claude W. Burger (survived) crashed after take off.

On July 13, 1943 lost is B-25D "Jelly Belly" 41-30013  pilot Lt. Alden W. Thompson, Jr. ditched with the crew later rescued.

On October 5, 1943 the squadron flies a on a barge sweep along the north coast of New Guinea near Bogadjim. Lost is B-25D "Flying Ginny / Bette" 41-30017  pilot 1st Lt Chandler S. Whipple (MIA) shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Erima.

On November 2, 1943 the squadron flies a low level bombing and strafing mission against Rabaul. Lost is B-25D "Miss Ellen" 41-30039  pilot 2nd Lt. Alfred R. Krasnickas (MIA) Vuvu Plantation near Malaguna.

On December 22, 1943 the squadron flew a low level mission against Boram Airfield near Wewak. Lost is B-25D "Shif'less Skonk" 41-30021 pilot 1st Lt Octave J. Daniel damaged by anti-aircraft fire and force landed at Gusap Airfield.

On January 15, 1944 moves to Dobodura Airfield in New Guinea.

On February 18, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield in New Guinea.

On March 19, 1944 the squadron flew on a low level strike against Cape Moem near Wewak. Lost is B-25D "Miss Ellen" 41-30185  pilot 1st Lt. Alan S. Anderson (MIA) likely damaged by bombs from previous B-25 and was last seen to flip over on its back and crash.

On March 26, 1944 lost is B-25D "The Ringmaster" 41-30259 pilot 2nd Lt. Russell N. Erum (MIA) on a local flight.

On April 16, 1944 the squadron flys a medium altitude bombing mission over Hollandia. Returning, the formation encountered intense thunderstorms and bad weather. Lost is B-25D "Stingeroo" 41-30020 pilot 1st Lt. James H. MacWilliam, Jr. Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Black Sunday".

On May 9, 1944 lost is B-25D "Slapsy" 41-30165  pilot 2nd Lt Howard F. Rhode on a mission to test defensive search lights in the Nadzab area. When the search lights began tracking this B-25, it suddenly dove straight down and was tracked as it descended until it crashed into the ground killing the entire crew on impact.

On June 16, 1944 lost is B-25D "Hell's Belles" 41-30019  pilot 1st Lt William A. Selby (MIA) hit by anti-aircraft fire and was last seen veering off to the north at low level, then crashed into the sea upside down and exploded.

On July 24, 1944 moves to Mokmer Drome on Biak.

On July 30, 1944 lost is B-25D "Lucky Bat" 41-30058 pilot 1st Lt. Robert R Hotz (MIA).

On August 13, 1944 lost is B-25D "Hung Lo" 41-30084  pilot 2nd Lt. George P. Voitier (MIA).

On September 19, 1944 lost is B-25D "Doodle Jr." 41-30164 pilot 1st Lt. Edward L. Reel ditched in the Molucca Sea roughly 30 miles west of Halmahera Island.

On November 12, 1944 moves to Dulag Airfield on Leyte in the in the Philippines while a portion of the squadron remains on Biak.

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

On January 7, 1945 the squadron took off on a low level bombing and strafing mission against Clark Field. Lost is B-25J "Sag Harbor Express" 43-36030 pilot 2nd Lt. Arthur Browngardt, Jr. (KIA) damaged by anti-aircraft fire then hit the roof of Holy Rosary Parish Church (Pisamban Maragul) in Angeles and crashed into the courtyard of the campus of Holy Angel Academy (Holy Angel University).

On January 29, 1945 lost is B-25J "30,000 North American Airplane" 44-29544  pilot 1st Lt. James E. Slaughter (survived).

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

On May 12, 1945 moves to Clark Field on Luzon in the Philippines.

On July 28, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield off Okinawa.

On August 19, 1945 a pair of bombers including B-25J "Betty's Dream" 44-30934 escort G6M1-L Betty "Bataan 1" and G4M1 Betty "Bataan 2" with the Japanese delegation to Ie Shima Airfield.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) page 601 (499th BS) [PDF pages 613]
Warpath Across The Pacific (1996, 2008) definitive unit history of the 345th BG, 499th BS