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) 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 5, 1943 moves to Walterboro Army Airfield then departs overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Nicknamed "Black Panthers". 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 Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On August 26, 1943 lost is B-25D "Butch" 41-30163 pilot 1st Lt William H. Cather (survived) on a local flight and crashed while landing on 30 Mile Drome (Rogers).

On November 2, 1943 the squadron flew a low level strike against Rabaul. Lost is B-25D "Hellzapoppin" 41-30094 pilot 1st Lt. Orbry H. Moore (3 POW / 2 MIA) ditched with two missing and three prisoners and later 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).

On January 30, 1944 lost is B-25D "Arkansas Traveler" 41-30594 pilot Captain John M. Manders (MIA).

On February 23, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield.

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.

On August 15, 1944 lost is B-25D 43-3383 pilot 1st Lt. Eugene Nirdlinger (MIA).

On August 28, 1944 lost is B-25D "The Eager Beaver" 41-30078 ditched off Mokmer Drome on Biak.

On September 11, 1944 lost is B-25D "The Wolf Pack" 41-30099  pilot 1st Lt. John L. Fabale force landed in a kunai grass swamp approximately fifty miles from Annenberg.

On January 9, 1945 los is B-25J "Lazy Daisy Mae" 43-36012 pilot Captain James W. Underwood (MIA).

On May 27, 1945 lost is B-25J "Apache Princess" 43-28152 pilot 2nd Lt. Ted U. Hart (POW).

On August 10, 1945 the squadron flew a search mission for Japanese shipping in the Sea of Japan. Lost is B-25J 44-30993 pilot 1st Lt. Earl J. Wilkinson ditched with the crew rescued and B-25J 44-31065 pilot 2nd Lt. George H. Vincent (KIA).

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