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.

On January 22, 1943 lost is B-24D 41-24044 pilot 1st Lt Scott L. Regan (MIA) shot down by A6M2 Zeros over Wewak.

On February 12, 1943 lost is B-24D 41-24017 pilot 1st Lt. Donald A. Rininsland (MIA).

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

On April 10, 1943 lost is B-24D "Jughead" 41-24068 pilot 1st Lt George C. McNair (MIA) crashed on the Biaru River roughly three miles from Bina (Piunga) inland from the southern coast of New Guinea.

On May 19, 1943 lost is B-24D 41-24269  pilot 1st Lt Donald D. Almond (MIA).

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 August 15, 1943 lost is B-24D "Hells Angels" 41-11903  pilot 1st Lt Lewis G. Jones (MIA).

On August 17, 194 lost is B-24D "Twin Niftys" 42-40348 pilot 1st Lt Charles R. Freas (MIA).

On August 20, 1943 lost is B-24D "Miss Carriage" 41-24207  pilot F/O John L. Stiles (MIA / POW).

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.

On September 2, 1943 lost is B-24D "Battlin' Betts" 42-41099  pilot Captain Lark E. "The Lark" Martin, Jr. (MIA).

On October 18, 1943 lost is B-24D "Sky Lady / Mitsu Butcher" 41-24043 pilot 1st Lt Warren H. Smeltzer crew rescued.

On December 1, 1943 moves to Dobodura.

On February 23, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield.

On March 11, 1944 eleven B-24s flew Mission Number 71-D a bombing mission against Boram Airfield near Wewak. At 12:58pm arrived over the primary target but found Boram Airfield obscured by a undercast so the B-24s from both squadrons dropped a total of 48 x 1,000 pound bombs on targets of opportunity. Returning, the formation turned eastward and followed the north coast of New Guinea over the Stephan Strait toward the secondary target of anti-aircraft guns on Awar Point bordering Hansa Bay. Shot down by anti-aircraft fire was B-24D "Heaven Can Wait" 42-41216 pilot 1st Lt Herbert G. Tennyson (MIA) crew from 320th Bomb Squadron with the bomber borrowed from 400th Bomb Squadron.

On June 6, 1944 lost is B-24J "Turtle Money" 42-109968 destroyed by Japanese air raid parked at Wakde Airfield.

On June 11, 1944 lost is B-24J 44-40188  pilot 1st Lt. William J. Maxwell crashed returning to Hollandia Airfield.

On August 12, 1944 the squadron moves to Biak.

On October 10, 1944 the squadron bombs Balikpapan on southeast Borneo. Lost is B-24J 44-40368 pilot 1st Lt. Leonard F. Temple (MIA).

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 26, 1945 the squadron moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro.

On August 11, 1945 the squadron moves to Ie Shima Airfield until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
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