530th Bombardment Squadron (530th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG)

Background
The 530th Bombardment Squadron (530th BS) was part of 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG) "The Flying Circus", 5th Air Force (5th AF) in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) operating the B-24 Liberator.

On June 15, 1943 the squadron flew a bombing mission against enemy shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. Returning, B-24D "Kathy" 42-40517 pilot 1st Lt. Benjamin D. Parker (MIA) suffered a midair collision with B-24D "Dauntless Dabbie" 42-40528 pilot 1st Lt Phil Doornbos (survived, two crew MIA) ditched into Teak Bay near Rigo.

On September 11, 1943 the squadron flew a bombing mission over Makassar. Lost is B-24D "The Red Ass" 42-40524 pilot Captain David A. Lippincott (MIA).

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 October 20, 1943 lost is B-24D "Gus's Bus" 42-40504 crash landed at Fenton Airfield and was written off.

On October 26, 1943 the squadron flew a bombing mission against Pomelaa on the southern tip of the Celebes. Over the target, intercepted and shot down is B-24D "Fyrtle Myrtle" 42-40485  pilot Captain John A. Farrington (3 MIA, 7 POW).

On December 26, 1943 the squadron took off on a bombing mission against Cape Gloucester. Inbound B-24D 42-41241 fell out of formation out of control but managed to recover and retrned safely but was overstreesed and written off.

On February 1, 1944 lost is B-24D "Juarez Whistle" 42-40496 force landed at Fenton Field.

On April 30, 1944 force landed is B-24J 42-73127 afterwards repaired but later written off.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages XXX (529th Bombardment) [PDF pages XXX]
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