43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF)

Background
On November 20, 1940 the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) was established as part of the 1st Air Force (1st AF) and consisting of the 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS), 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS) and 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS) plus the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron (13th RS) as an attached unit. On January 15, 1941 activated at Langley Field, Virginia. Wartime motto: "Our Greatest Joy in living is sending Japs to hell".

Wartime History
During 1941, the 43rd BG began operating the B-17 Flying Fortress flying anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic Ocean from Pope Field in North Carolina then MacDill Field. Afterwards, sent overseas to Australia and served in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) until the end of the Pacific War.

Headquarters Squadron (HQ)
The Headquarters Squadron of the 43rd Bombardment Group.

63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) "Sea Hawks"
The 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) operated the B-17 Flying Fortress and later the B-24 Liberator.

64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS)
The 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS) operated the B-17 Flying Fortress and later the B-24 Liberator.

65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS) "The Lucky Dicers"
The 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS) operated the B-17 Flying Fortress and later the B-24 Liberator.

13th Reconnaissance Squadron (13th RS)
On November 20, 1940 constituted as 13th Reconnaissance Squadron. April 22, 1942 redesignated 403rd Bombardment Squadron.

403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS)
The 403rd Bombardment Squadron (65th BS) operated the B-17 Flying Fortress and later the B-24 Liberator.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Lt Col. Harold D. Smith (January 15, 1941–February 28, 1941)
Lt. Col Francis B. Valentine (March 1, 1941–February 17, 1942)
Major Conrad H. Diehl, Jr. (February 18, 1942–October 20, 1942)
Col Roger M. Ramey (October 21, 1942–March 29, 1943)
Lt. Col John A. Roberts, Jr. (March 30, 1943–May 24, 1943)
Col Harry J. Hawthorne (May 24, 1943–November 18, 1943)
Lt. Col Edward W. Scott, Jr. (November 18, 1943–February 7, 1944)
Col. Harry J. Hawthorne (February 8, 1944–September 18, 1944)
Col James T. Pettus, Jr. (September 18, 1944–September 8, 1945)
Major Paul B. Hansen (September 8, 1945–October 20, 1945)

References
Ken's Men 43rd Bomb Group official website
Down Under South-West Pacific Area (1943)
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)