Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as the
64th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On January 15, 1941 activated in the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) at Langley Field in Virginia. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On August 29, 1941 moves to Bangor in Maine.
Wartime History
In early December 1941 after the United States entry in World War II,
conducts anti-submarine operations over the North Atlantic Ocean. On February 17, 1942 departs overseas bound for Australia.
On March 15, 1942 arrives Sydney.
On May 15, 1942 moves to Daly Waters Airfield. By the end of July 1942, the squadron only had five pilots. The first two B-17E Flying Fortress were assigned at Charleville Airfield. On August 2, 1942 moves to Fenton Field in Northern Territory. Next assigned were B-17E 41-9207 and B-17E "Chief Seattle" 41-2656 but within days both were transfered to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 435th Bombardment Squadron (435th BS) "Kangaroo Squadron".
On August 13, 1942 first combat mission in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).
On October 12, 1942 moves to Iron Range Airfield in Queensland.
On
November 8, 1942 moves to Mareeba Airfield in Queensland.
On December 1, 1942 six B-17s took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a mission to shadow and bomb a Japanese convoy of four destroyers in the Solomon Sea off Gasmata bound for Buna. Inbound, two B-17s aborted the mission. Lost is B-17E "Miss Carriage" 41-2645 pilot 1st Lt. Charles N. Crowell (MIA).
On January 5, 1943 six B-17s armed with 500 pound bombs plus six other B-24 Liberators from the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) fly a bombing mission against Japanese shipping off Rabaul. Lost is B-17F "San Antonio Rose" 41-24458 pilot Major Allen Lindberg with passenger Brigadier General Kenneth N. Walker (MIA).
On January 6, 1943 at 5:00pm B-17F 41-24383 pilot 2nd Lt. Guyton M. Christopher took off on a solitary bombing mission against a Japanese convoy bound for Lae. Returning on January 7, 1943 in the early ditched Gulf of Papua.
On January 20, 1943 the entire squadron moves to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea.
On March 15, 1943 in the evening six B-17 took off on a bombing mission against a Japanese convoy off Wewak. The weather was poor with three B-17s aborting the mission before reaching the target returning lost on March 16, 1943 at 2:30am is B-17F "Hell From Heaven Men" 41-24424 pilot 1st Lt. Arthur L. McMullan (MIA) ditched north of Buna with seven missing and two survivors.
On April 12, 1943 at 1:48am shortly after take off crashed is B-17E "Blues In The Nite" 41-9209 pilot Major Kenneth D. McCullar crashed and the bombs exploded killing everyone aboard. A dead wallaby was later found on the runway, but it is not known if this was the cause of the crash.
On April 17, 1943 lost is B-17F 41-24425 pilot Captain Charles N. McArthur on a training flight suffered an aerial collision and crashed in the sea off Hood Point and damaged with B-17F "Dinah Might ?" 41-24355 that managed to return safely and was later repaired.
On May 21, 1943 at 1:00am five B-17s took off on a night bombing mission against Rabaul. Over the target, intercepted by J1N1 Irving night fighter pilot PO1c Shigetoshi Kudo used his obliquely mounted upward firing 20mm cannons at 3:48am to shoot down B-17E "Honi Kuu Okole" 41-9244 pilot Major Paul I. "P. I." Williams and at 4:20am shot down B-17E 41-9011 pilot 1st Lt. Leslie W. Neumann.
On June 1, 1943 lost is B-17E "Flagship Texas No. VI / Strip-Straffer" 41-9207 pilot 1st Lt. Ernest A. Naumann shot down over New Britain.
On
June 14, 1943 lost is B-17E "The Jersey Skeeter" 41-2664 pilot 1st Lt James A. Pickard crashed after take off.
On June 26, 1943 lost is B-17F "Taxpayers Pride" 41-24448 pilot Captain Donald D. McEachran shot down by J1N1
Irving pilot Shigetoshi
Kudo and crashed near Mount Varzin. Tail gunner Griffin managed to bail out and became a Prisoner Of War (POW).
On July 11, 1943 at 1:45am four B-24s from the squadron took off on a night bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Roughly 20 minutes after take off, lost due to mechanical issues is B-24D "Double Trouble" 42-40671 pilot 1st Lt Walter C. Hammond (survived).
On August 17, 1943 the squadron flew a night bombing mission against Wewak. Returning, lost is B-24D 41-40981 pilot 1st Lt. John T. Parran ditched off Saibai Island.
On October 18, 1943 the 64th BS plus B-24s from 43rd BG, 90th BG and 380th BG bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Lost is B-24D 42-40670 pilot 1st Lt. Stephen W. Blount, III (5 MIA) ditched Bootless Bay and B-24D 42-40885 pilot F/O Carl A. Nelson force landed west of Gona.
On November 20, 1943 lost is B-24D 42-40886 pilot 1st Lt. Richard T. Heuss on a night radar
search mission for enemy shipping over the Bismarck Sea and Wewak.
On December 10, 1943 moves to Dobodura in New Guinea.
On March 11, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield in New Guinea.
On April 2, 1944 lost is B-24D "Frisky" 42-40667 pilot 1st Lt. Hugh P. Papworth crashed during take off.
On May 7, 1944 the squadron took off on a bombing mission against Sarmi. Lost is B-24D "Toughy" 42-40525 pilot 1st Lt. John E. Terpning crashed in the Finisterre Range.
On June 13, 1944 the squadron with B-24s from 90th BG flew a bombing mission against Yap. Lost is B-24D "Uncle Sam" 42-72811 pilot 1st Lt. John C. Duvall (MIA).
On July 10, 1944 moves to Owi Airfield on Owi Island.
On August 5, 1944 the squadron flew a bombing mission against Boela on Ceram (Seram). Lost is B-24J "Blondes Away" 42-110006 pilot 1st Lt. Edward C. Pedersen (MIA).
On November 23, 1944 moves to
Tacloban Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines.
On March 22, 1945 moves to Clark Field on Luzon.
On July 26, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield on Ie Shima off Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War. By November 23, 1945 not fully manned or equipped. On December 10, 1945 moves to Fort William McKinley near Manila on Luzon in the Philippines. On April 29, 1946 inactivated and disbanded.
Postwar
On October 1, 1946 reactivated as 64th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona and transitions to the B-29 Superfortress. On September 18, 1947 becomes part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On July 2, 1948 redesignated as 64th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) and begins operating the B-50 Superfortress. On June 16, 1952 becomes part of the 43rd Bombardment Wing (43rd BW). During 1954 begins operating the B-47 Stratojet. On March 15, 1960 moves to Carswell AFB operating the B-58 Hustler.
Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation Papua August 13, 1942–January 23, 1943 and Bismarck Sea March 2-4, 1943
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award August 1, 1960–August 1, 1962
References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 243 (64th Bombardment) [PDF pages 255]
Ken's Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2016, 2019)
Ken’s Men Against The Empire - The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II - Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era (2019)
