501st Bombardment Squadron (501st BS) "Black Panthers"
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). Nicknamed "Black Panthers". On September 8, 1942 activated in the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) equipped with B-25 Mitchells at Columbia Army Airfield. On March 5, 1943 moves to Walterboro Army Airfield then departs overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). The squadron emblem was the silhouette of a black panther atop a yellow crescent moon inside a white circle with a black border and below was a white scroll with the nickname.

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.

B-25D "Butch" 41-30163  pilot Cather crashed August 26, 1943

B-25D "Hellzapoppin" 41-30094  pilot Moore ditched November 2, 1943 crew POW, executed.

On December 22, 1943 the squadron flew a low level strike against Boram Airfield and Wewak. Damaged by anti-aircraft fire, B-25D "Thumper" 41-30071  pilot Captain Walter D. Kilroy force landed crew rescued. Lost is B-25D "Little Stinky" 41-30080  pilot Bailey (MIA).

B-25D "Arkansas Traveler" 41-30594 pilot Manders MIA January 30, 1944

On May 21, 1944 the squadron flew a low level strike against Dagua Airfield. Lost is B-25D "Tin Liz" 41-30074  pilot 2nd Lt Delmar L. Wichmann hit by anti-aircraft fire.

B-25D 43-3383  pilot Nirdlinger crashed August 15, 1944

B-25D "The Eager Beaver" 41-30078  ditched August 28, 1944

B-25D "The Wolf Pack" 41-30099  pilot Fabale force landed September 11, 1944

B-25J "Lazy Daisy Mae" 43-36012  pilot Underwood MIA January 9, 1945

B-25J "Apache Princess" 43-28152  pilot Hart crashed May 27, 1945

B-25J 44-30993  pilot Wilkinson ditched August 10, 1945, crew rescued

B-25J 44-31065  pilot Vincent crashed August 10, 1945, crew killed

Postwar
On December 29, 1945 inactivated. On September 26, 1957 redesignated as the 501st Bombardment Squadron (Tactical). On October 8, 1957 activated in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) operating the B-57. On June 25, 1959 inactivated.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 603-604 (501st BS) [PDF pages 615-616]
Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) definitive unit history of the 345th BG, 501st BS