390th Bombardment Squadron (390th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 13th Air Force (13th AF), 42nd Bomb Group (42nd BG)

Background
On March 4, 1942 constituted as the 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On March 20, 1942 activated in the 42nd Bomb Group (42nd BG) at Gowen Field in Idaho and McChord Field in Washington State. During March 1943 the squadron departs overseas to New Caledonia and Fiji in the South Pacific (SoPAC).

Wartime History
On April 15, 1943 arrives at Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield on New Caledonia and the sme day begins operating from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal flying combat missions.

On April 23, 1943 moves to Fiji.

On May 11, 1943 moves to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.

On July 20, 1943 eight B-25s took off from Carney Field on Guadalcanal on a search mission against Japanese shipping around Vella Lavella. Returning, the B-26s spotted three vessels south of south of the Ferguson Passage heading towards the southern tip of Rendova Island and initiated a strafing attack. In fact, they were U.S. Navy (USN) PT Boats PT-168, PT-166 and PT-164. Lost is B-25C "The Worry Bird" 41-13153 1st Lt. William G. Schauffler, III (MIA).

On October 6, 1943 the squadron conducts a low level bombing and strafing mission against Kahili Airfield on southern Bougainville. Lost is B-25C 42-64563 pilot 1st Lt. Austin W. Eivers (rescued).

On October 22, 1943 transfers to Renard Field in the Russell Islands.

On January 12, 1944 in the early morning, the 42nd Bombardment Group flew their first bombing mission against the Rabaul area bombing Vunakanau Airfield.

On January 20, 1944 nine B-25s that staged via Torokina Airfield on Bougainville for a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Lost is B-25C "Skilla" 42-64570  pilot Swartzfager MIA January 20, 1944, 8 missing, resolved

On March 8, 1944 the squadron begins operating from Stirling Airfield in the Treasury Islands.

On May 8, 1944 returns to Renard Field in the Russell Islands.

On June 17, 1944 returns to Stirling Airfield.

On July 24, 1944 returns to to Renard Field in the Russell Islands.

On August 7, 1944 begins a movement to Hollandia in western New Guinea to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

On August 23, 1944 moves to Sansapor Airfield.

On February 24, 1945 moves to Pitu Airfield (Pitoe) on Morotai.

On February 26, 1945 lost is B-25G "Nancy Jean" 42-64907 pilot 2nd Lt. Louis R. Verzi (MIA).

On March 20, 1945 returns to Sansapor Airfield.

On March 21, 1945 moves to Puerto Princesa Airfield on Palawan Island in the Philippines until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On January 27, 1946 inactivated.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation Balikpapan June 23-30, 1945
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
The Crusaders A History of the 42nd Bombardment Group (M) (1946) includes the 390th BS
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 478-479 (390th Bombardment) [PDF pages 490-491]