400th Bombardment Squadron (400th BS) "Black Pirates"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG)

Background
On January 28, 1942 constituted as the 10th Reconnaissance 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. On April 22, 1942 redesignated the 400th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). Nicknamed "Black Pirates". On May 17, 1942 moves to Barksdale Field in Louisiana. On June 21, 1942 moves to Greenville Army Air Base (Greenville AAB) in South Carolina. On August 9, 1942 moves to Ypsilanti, Michigan for ten days. On September 12, 1942 moves to Hickam Field. The air echelon flew their B-24s across the Pacific to Australia and becomes part of the 5th Air Force (5th AF) in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On November 4, 1943 all four squadrons of the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) including the 400th BS arrive at Iron Range Airfield in Queensland. On November 13, 1943 they fly their first combat mission.

On November 15, 1942 lost is B-24D "The Condor" 41-23718 pilot Lt. Dale J. Thornhill force landed Quintel Beach near Iron Range.

On December 18, 1942 lost is B-24D "Texas Terror" 41-23825  pilot Captain James E. Gumaer, Jr. crashed into onto Mount Straloch on Hinchinbrook Island.

On December 20, 1942 lost is B-24D 41-23766 pilot 2nd Lt. John M. Rafferty crashed crashed between Mumeng and Tsili Tsili.

On January 17, 1943 Japanese air raid against Turnbull Field (No. 3 Strip) near Milne Bay destroys B-24D "Aincha Sorry" 41-23824.

B-24D 41-24044  pilot Regan MIA January 22, 1943

B-24D 41-24017 pilot Rininsland MIA February 12, 1943

On March 22, 1943 moves to 5 Mile Drome (Ward) near Port Moresby in New Guinea.

B-24D "Jughead" 41-24068  pilot McNair MIA April 10, 1943

B-24D 41-24269  pilot Almond MIA May 19, 1943

During 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.

B-24D "Hells Angels" 41-11903  pilot Jones MIA August 15, 1943

B-24D "Twin Niftys" 42-40348  pilot Freas crashed August 17, 1943

B-24D "Miss Carriage" 41-24207  pilot Stiles crashed August 20, 1943

On August 29, 1943 lost is B-24D "Pete The Carrier" 42-40920 pilot 1st Lt. Alexander F. North (MIA) attacked by fighters over Wewak with six or seven observed to bail out before the bomber crashed.

B-24D "Battlin' Betts" 42-41099  pilot Martin crashed September 2, 1943

B-24D "Sky Lady / Mitsu Butcher" 41-24043  pilot Smeltzer crashed October 18, 1943

B-24J "Turtle Money" 42-109968  destroyed on the ground June 6, 1944

B-24J 44-40188  pilot Maxwell crashed June 11, 1944

On November 7, 1944 search mission by B-24D "Sky Witch" 42-72815 for the Japanese Fleet in Brunei Bay off Borneo. Over the target, fought a 40 minute battle with at least 9 Zeros, claiming at least four, then flew another 1,000 miles back to base and landed safely but was so badly damaged it was written off.

On November 19, 1944 the squadron flew a bombing mission against Libby Airfield on Mindanao. Lost is B-24J 44-41258 pilot 2nd Lt. John R. Cunningham (MIA).

On January 27, 1946 inactivated.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation for Papua 1942-1943 and September 15, 1943.
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) page 490 (400th Bombardment) [PDF pages 502]
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