71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS) "The Wolf Pack"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG)

Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as 71st Bombardment Squadron (Medium) in the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). On January 15, 1941 activated at Langley Field in Virginia as part of the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG). On On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Nicknamed "The Wolf Pack" with the motif of the Walt Disney big bad wolf cartoon character.

Wartime History
On February 1942 arrives Eagle Farm Field (Doomben) north of Brisbane in Australia.

On March 8, 1942 moves to Ballarat Airfield.

On April 29, 1942 moves to Batchelor Field near Darwin.

On August 12, 1942 moves to Breddan Airfield in Queenland.

On September 15, 1942 the squadron flies their first mission.

On October 1, 1942 moves to 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On October 5, 1942 a pair of B-25s took off to patrol the north coast of New Guinea and spotted two Japanese destroyers escorting a transport and were interecepted by 18 A6M2 Zeros. Lost is B-25D "Battlin' Biffy" 41-29701 pilot Carey crashed October 5, 1942, two executed. Returning, B-25C "Tokyo Sleeper" 41-12905 was followed in a running battle over the Owen Stanley Range but managed to land safely.

On October 23, 1942 lost is B-25C "Yankee Vengeance" 41-12889 pilot 2nd Lt. Edward Q. May, Jr. (MIA) on a flight bound for Garbutt Field in Townsville.

On December 1, 1942 six B-25 took off on a mission to attack a Japanese convoy of four destroyers approaching Buna. After the bombing, intercepted by 10-12 A6M Zeros. Shot down is B-25D "Sunsetter's Son" 41-29707 pilot 1st Lt Ross G. Menoher (MIA).

On January 7, 1943 lost is B-25D "Royal Flush" 41-29708 pilot 1st Lt Elmer P. Brinkman (MIA) ditched with the entire crew missing.

On January 8, 1943 lost is B-25C "Pistoff" 41-12830 pilot 1st Lt William R. Lett ditched Collingwood Bay near Wanigela.

On July 27, 1943 lost is B-25D 41-30496 pilot 1st Lt Ercoli Ducci (KIA) crashed on a practice bombing mission against SS Pruth (Moresby Wreck).

On August 2, 1943 lost is B-25D 41-30221 pilot Captain William L. Uhler on a barge sweep near Madang and was damaged in an aerial collision and ditched with four missing with co-pilot 2nd Lt. Owen H. Salvage prisoner who was executed August 31, 1943.

On September 2, 1943 the squadron flew a low level strike against Japanense shipping in Wewak Harbor off Wewak. Lost is B-25D 41-30247 pilot 1st Lt. Richard P. Schumacher (MIA).

On November 2, 1943 nine B-25s took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) and flew to Dobodura Airfield to refuel then took off again on a low level strike against Japanese warships and transports in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. After take off, one B-25 aborted due to engine trouble. The B-25s join a larger formation of B-25s and fighter escort. Over the target, the formation is targeted by anti-aircraft fire and are intercepted by Zeros. Lost is B-25D "Sleepy Time Gal" 41-30190 (MIA). Returning ditched is B-25D 41-30240 pilot F/O Richard H. Hastings with two missing and three rescued. Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Bloody Tuesday".

On February 15, 1944 lost is B-25C "Pissonit" 41-30370 pilot 1st Lt Eugene E. Benson with two missing and the rest rescued by PBY-5 "Arkansas Traveler" 08139 piloted by Lt(jg) Nathan G. Gordon who rescued several crews and earned the Medal of Honor.

On February 29, 1944 lost is B-25D "Bar Fly" 41-30593 pilot Captain Robert J. Henderson crash landed after take off on a night mission with one severely injured who died.

On April 16, 1944 the squadron flies a low level strike over Hollandia. Returning, formation encountered a severe weather front of bad weather. Force landed is B-25D "Sweet Jeanne" 41-30189 at Saidor Airfield. Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Black Sunday".

On July 1, 1944 lost is B-25D 41-30182  pilot 1st Lt. Richard Hurst (MIA) on a courier flight bound, wreckage found postwar, resolved.

On July 24, 1944 damaged is B-25C "Row Row Binder II" 41-12905 landing at Mokmer Drome on Biak and written off.

On July 27, 1944 the the squadron strikes Galela Airfield on Halmahera.

On February 1, 1945 moves to Lingayen Airfield on Luzon in the Philippines.

On July 25, 1945 moves to Okinawa.

Postwar
On November 22, 1945 moves to Itazuke Airfield on Kyūshū Island in Japan. On May 6, 1946 redesignated 71st Bombardment Squadron (Light). On October 26, 1946 moves to Itami Airfield.

On September 18, 1947 becomes part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On April 1, 1949 inactivated. On January 1, 1953 activated in the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) at Laon Air Base in France. On December 8, 1957 becomes part of the 38th Bombardment Wing (38th BW). On June 18, 1958 moves to Bitburg Air Base in Germany assigned to the 585th Tactical Missile Group operating the Martin Mace missile. On September 25 1962 assigned to the assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation: Papua July 21, 1942–January 23, 1943, New Britain December 24-26, 1943, New Guinea June 16-17, 1944, New Guinea June 17-17, 1944, Leyte November 10, 1944
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award April 1, 1956–March 1, 1958, April 1, 1959–January 30, 1961

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) page 261 (71st Bombardment) [PDF page 273]
Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) 38th Bombardment Group definitive group history published by the 38th BG Association
38th Bomb Group Association association website
38th Bomb Group Association - In Memoriam: 71st Lost During The War