9th Bombardment Squadron (9th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG)

Background
On June 14, 1917 organized as the 9th Aero Squadron in the U.S. Army at Camp Kelly in Texas. On July 8, 1917 moves to Selfridge Field in Michigan. On October 28, 1917 moves to Garden City, New York until late November when the squadron deploys overseas during World War I.

World War I
On December 8, 1917 moves to Winchester in the United Kingdom. On December 28, 1917 moves to Grantham. On August 23, 1918 moves to Colombey-les-Belle in France. On August 28, 1918 moves to Amanty, France. During September 1918 assigned to First Army Observation Group. On September 21, 1918 moves to Vavincourt, France. On November 21, 1918 moves to Preutin, France. On December 5, 1918 moves to Trier, Germany. On May 18, 1919 moves to Colombey-les-Belles, France. On May 25, 1919 moves to Marseille, France until early June then returns to the United States.

Interwar Period
On June 23, 1919 arrives Mitchel Field, NY. During July 1919 assigned to the Western Department. On July 29, 1919 moves to Park Field, TN. On July 22, 1919 moves March Field. On August 2, 1919 moves Rockwell Field with a flight operating from Calexico. On November 15, 1919 returns to March Field. On December 11, 1919 returns Rockwell Field.

On April 27, 1920 moves to Mather Field with detachments operating at several other locations in California. On August 20, 1920 assigned to the Ninth Corps Area. On March 14, 1921 redesignated 9th Squadron. On June 29, 1922 inactivated. On January 25, 1923 redesignated 9th Observation Squadron. On March 24, 1923 redesignated 9th Bombardment Squadron. On July 2, 1926 became part of the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On April 1, 1931 activated as part of the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG) at March Field. On December 5, 1934 moves Hamilton Field.

Wartime History
On December 6, 1939 redesignated 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). On September 7, 1940 moves Fort Douglas Airfield. On November 2, 1941 lost is B-17C 40-2047 pilot 1st Lt Leo M. H. Walker (died) due to mechanical failures over Lake Tahoe. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On December 8, 1941 conducts anti-submarine patrols off the coast of California for five days then begins a movement overseas to Australia.

On December 22, 1941 the ground echelon of the squadron arrives Brisbane and became part of the Far East Air Force (FEAF). Meanwhile, the air echelon is enroute from the United States bound for the Netherlands East Indies (NEI).

On January 13, 1942 the air echelon arrives at Singosari Airfield (Malang) on Java.

On January 19, 1942 the air echelon moves to Yogyakarta Airfield on Java.

On January 29, 1942 three B-17s from the 7th BG took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) on Java on a bombing mission against Balikpapan on Borneo. Lost is B-17E 41-2476 pilot 1st Lt. Walter W. Sparks, Jr. (MIA).

On February 4, 1942 the air echelon in Brisbane begins a movement bound for Karachi. On February 5, 1942 becomes part of the 5th Air Force (5th AF).

On February 8, 1942 the squadron took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) on a bombing mission against Kendari II Airfield on Celebes (Sulawesi). Lost is B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2456 pilot Captain John L. Dufrane (MIA) and B-17E 41-2492 (MIA).

On February 20, 1942 damaged is B-17E 41-2500 at Bandoeng Airfield on Java.

On March 1, 1942 at the conclusion of the Java campaign, the remaining air echelon at Yogyakarta Airfield begins a movement bound for Karachi.

O March 14, 1942 moves to Karachi Airfield in India (Pakistan) and becomes part of the 10th Air Force (10th AF).

On April 2, 1942 the squadron took off from Asansol Airfield on bombing mission against warehouses and docks at Rangoon in Burma. Crashed on take off was B-17E Flying Fortress pilot Captain Elmer L. Parsel (KIA).

On April 27, 1942 moves to Allahabad Airfield (Baumrauli) in northern India.

On June 28, 1942 attached to the U.S. Army Middle East Air Force. On June 29, 1942 departs India for the Middle East. On July 2, 1942 moves to Lydda Airfield in Palestine until early October 1942.

On October 4, 1942 departs the Middle East and returns to India.

On October 5, 1942 returns to Karachi Airfield in India (Pakistan).

On November 14, 1942 moves to Gaya Airfield in northeastern India.

On December 12, 1942 moves to Pandaveswar Airfield in northeast India.

On March 13, 1943 at 6:30am four B-24s took off from Pandaveswar Airfield each armed with five 1,000 pound bombs on a sea search mission against Japanese shipping in Gulf of Martaban but instead bombed the Pazundaung bridge over the Irrawaddy River near Rangoon in Burma. Over the target, intercepted by seven Ki-45 Nicks from 21st Hiko Sentai, 2nd chutai. Lost is B-24D Liberator pilot Captain James W. Baldwin (MIA) and B-24D Liberator pilot 1st Lt. Willard K. Short (MIA). These bombers were the first losses from the 10th Air Force (10th AF) in Burma. At 6:00pm the two remaining B-24s returned landing at auxiliary airfield, one bomber returned with moderate damage including three wounded gunners, one died of wounds.

On March 31, 1943 six B-24s bomb Pyinmana Railroad Yards in Mandalay in central Burma. Lost is B-24D Liberator pilot 1st Lt. Lloyd K. Jensen (5 POW, 4 MIA). Likely, this was B-24D "The Captain and the Kids" 41-24213 written off the same day.

On November 27, 1943 lost is B-24J "Maxwell House III" 42-73245  pilot Meredith crew (POW/MIA) on a bombing mission Insein north of Rangoon in Burma.

On December 1, 1943 the squadron flew a bombing mission against against Insein north of Rangoon in Burma. Lost is B-24J Liberator 42-73055 pilot Captain William "Bill" Wright (POW/MIA) and B-24J 42-73183 2nd Lt. George T. Elliott (MIA).

On June 11, 1944 moves to Kurmitola Airfield in India (Bangladesh).

On October 1, 1944 moves to Pandaveswar Airfield in northeast India.

On March 24, 1945 the squadron flew bombing mission against Bridge Q633 on the Burma-Siam Railway built by Prisoner Of War (POW) forced laborers. Lost is B-24L Liberator 44-49607 pilot 1st Lt. Nathan Margolies (MIA).

On March 29, 1945 the squadron flew a bombing mission against Rangoon (Yangoon). Lost is B-24M 44-50335 pilot 1st Lt. Charles L. Wiley (POW/MIA)

On June 1, 1945 moves to Tezpur Airfield in northeastern India.

Postwar
On January 6, 1946 inactivated at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey.

On October 1, 1946 redesignated and activated as 9th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) in the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG) at Fort Worth Army Air Field in Texas operting the B-29 Superfortress. On September 18, 1947 becomes part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On July 20, 1948 redesignated 9th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) operates the B-36 Peacemaker. During 1958 converts to the B-52 Stratofortress.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citations Netherlands East Indies (January 14, 1942–March 1, 1942) and Thailand (March 19, 1945)
Philippine Presidentail Unit Citation

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 50-51 (9th Bombardment) [PDF pages 62-63]