528th Bombardment Squadron (528th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG)

Background
On October 28, 1942 constituted as the 528th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On November 3, 1942 activated in the 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG) "The Flying Circus" at Davis-Montham Field in Arizona equipped with the B-24 Liberator. On December 2, 1942 moves to Biggs Field in Texas. On March 4, 1943 moves to Lowry Field in Colorado. On April 19, 1943 begins a movement overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On April 28, 1943 arrives in Australia assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF) but is attached to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) until January 1945. On April 28, 1943 moves to Fenton Field in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. On May 5, 1943 the squadron emblem was approved a golden orange disc, thin border black, a caricatured figure with brown flight suit and aviator’s helmet, riding a blue aerial bomb with red and white bands on tail fins, falling to dexter base, and carrying a machine gun gray with perforated cooling jacket, emitting blue smoke from the barrel.

On August 13, 1943 the squadron flew a bombing mission against the oil refineries at Balikpapan on southeast Borneo. Returning on August 14, 1943 lost is B-24D "Shady Lady" 42-40369 pilot 1st Lt. Douglas S. Craig force landed on a salt flat near Drysdale Mission with the crew later rescued.

On September 21, 1943 nine B-24s from 380th BG (seven from 530th BS and two from 528th BS) led by Major A. J. Bratton on an armed reconnaissance and bombing mission against Langgoer Airfield. Inbound, detected by radar and intercepted by six Zeros from 202 Kōkūtai (202 Air Group). Meanwhile, two Nicks from 5th Hiko Sentai (5th Flying Regiment) took off from Langgoer Airfield to intercept. Ki-45 Nick pilot Captain Yoshiaki Yamashita, 2nd chutai leader intercepts and shot down B-24D "Little Joe" 42-40532 pilot 1st Lt. Wilbour L. Morris (crew POW). The Zeros damaged B-24D "She' Asta" 42-40512 pilot Cunningham and B-24D "Queer Deer" 42-40935 pilot Baker. Also damaged is B-24D "Nothing Sacred" 42-40509 pilot Parris was also damaged with an engine shot out, salvoed his bomb load and returning crashed in Australia.

On November 11, 1943 lost is B-24D 42-41242 pilot 1st Lt. Wilfred L. Grenfell (KIA) crashed after take off from Fenton Field killing the entire crew.

On November 21, 1943 lost is B-24D "Black Widow" 42-40967  pilot 1st Lt. Maurice W. Beller hit by anti-aircraft fire over Manokwari.

On December 14, 1943 damaged is B-24D "Career Girl" 42-41234 while taxiing at Horanda 4Y (Dobodura No. 4).

On August 20, 1944 moves to Darwin.

On February 21, 1945 moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro.

On February 26, 1945 lost is B-24D "Beautiful Betsy" 42-40387 pilot 1st Lt. William E. McDaniel (MIA) on a ferry flight bound for Eagle Farm Field and went missing. The crash site was found in 1994 and remains recovered.

On May 17, 1945 the squadron took off on a bombing mission against Matsuyama Airfield on Formosa. Lost is B-24J "Bums Away" 42-110123 pilot 2nd Lt. John M. Harwood (MIA).

On August 8, 1945 moves to Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On November 28, 1945 moves to Fort William McKinley in Manila. On February 20, 1946 begins a movement back to the United States. On May 29, 1947 moves to MacDill Field assigned to the 14th Air Force (14th AF). On June 16, 1947 returned to the 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG).

On September 18, 1947 becomes part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On May 16, 1951 departs MacDill Field. On July 11, 1955 moves to Plattsburg AFB assigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing (380th BW).

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citations: Borneo (August 13, 15, 17, 1943) New Guinea (April 20, 1944–May 17, 1944)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 634 (528th Bombardment) [PDF pages 646]
The Best in the Southwest: The 380th Bombardment Group (H) in World War II (1995) unit history
The Flying Circus Pacific War 1943 As Seen Through a Bombsight (2005)
Darwin's Air War 1942 – 1945 An Illustrated History Commemorating The Darwin Air Raids (Revised Edition) (2011)
The Flying Circus 380th Bomb Group Association official website