319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS) "Asterperious"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG)

Background
On January 28, 1942 constituted as the 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). On April 15, 1942 activated in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as part of the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) at Key Field in Mississippi. Nicknamed "Asterperious". During World War II, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF) in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On November 4, 1943 moves to Iron Range Airfield in Queensland and staged via Port Moresby in New Guinea for bombing missions.

On November 15, 1942 lost is B-24D "Lady Beverly" 41-23760  pilot 1st Lt John H. Werner ditched near Baibara Island with six Missing In Action (MIA).

On February 2, 1943 moves to Darwin.

On March 16, 1943 lost is B-24D "Dirty Gertie" 41-23731 pilot Captain Charles E. Jones (MIA) exploded over Dramai Island (Yef Dramai) off western New Guinea.

On June 23, 1943 lost is B-24D "Pelly-Can" 41-23688  pilot Captain Roy W. Olsen (MIA) rammed by Type 97 Carrier Attack Aircraft Mark 2 / B5M Mable over Makassar.

On July 8, 1943 moves to 5 Mile Drome (Ward) near Port Moresby.

In the middle of August 1943, Sgt Leonard Baer painted a large skull and cross bombs in white atop a black rectangle on the tail of B-24D "Connell's Special" 41-23765. Immediately, this distinctive insignia was adopted as the group motif and painted on the tail of each bomber.

On September 6, 1943 lost is B-24D "Scorpion" 41-24073 pilot 1st Lt. Francis E. Manion (survived) force landed on the beach near Finschafen.

On September 8, 1943 lost is B-24D "On The Ball" 42-40946 pilot 1st Lt. Marcy P. Kalman crashed after take off with the entire crew survived.

On Decmeber 1, 1943 lost is B-24D "Pistol Packin' Mama II" 42-41209  pilot 1st Lt. Richard A. Adams ditched roughly twenty miles northeast of Finschafen. That same day moves to Dobodura.

On June 11, 1944 seven B-24s from the squadron took off from Hollandia Airfield on a flight via Wakde Airfield to bomb Peleliu Airfield. Lost is B-24D "Louisiana Lullaby" 42-63986 pilot 2nd Lt. Leonard J. Hogland (MIA).

On February 22, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield.

On February 28, 1944 lost is B-24D "Milk Run / Hit Parader" 42-41087 pilot 1st Lt. Robert J. Tilden (MIA) on a night bombing mission against Hollandia.

On March 5, 1944 lost is B-24D "Cold Steel" 42-41135  pilot 2nd Lt. Raymond J. Drewelow (MIA).

On April 12, 1944 lost is B-24D "Yankee Doodle Dandy" 42-40077 pilot 1st Lt. Howard L. Golden (2 POW, 3 MIA) crashed near Hollandia Airfield.

On May 16, 1944 lost is B-24D "Ready, Willing and Able" 42-41078 crashed after take off.

On June 19, 1944 lost is B-24J 42-73185 pilot 2nd Lt. Norman I. Dicker crashed into the mountains inland frm the north coast.

On August 10, 1944 moves to Biak.

On January 29, 1945 moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro in the Phiilippines.

Postwar
On January 27, 1946 inactivated. On June 11, 1947 redesignated 319th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). On July 1, 1947 reactivated. On September 6, 1948 deactivated. On December 20, 1950 redesignated as 319th Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On January 2, 1951 reactivated in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On June 16, 1952 redesignated as 319th Strategic Reconassiance Squadron (Medium). During January 1959 began crew training for the RB-47. On June 20, 1960 discontinued.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation for Papua November 13, 1942–January 23, 1943, New Guinea September 13-15, 1943
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 389-391 (319th Bombardment) [PDF pages 389-391]
The Jolly Rogers History of the 90th Bomb Group During World War II (1981) by John S. Alcorn unit history of the 90th Bomb Group
Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group "The Jolly Rogers" (1994) by Wiley O. Woods, Jr unit history of the 90th Bomb Group