868th Bombardment Squadron (868th BS) "Snooper Squadron"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 13th Air Force (13th AF)

Background
On November 30, 1943 constituted as the 868th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Nicknamed the "Snooper Squadron".

Wartime History
On January 1, 1944 activated directly under the XIII Bomber Command of the 13th Air Force (13th AF) in the South Pacific (SoPAC) operating radar equipped B-24s based at Munda Airfield on New Georgia for night missions using airborne radar for low-level attacks at night, and for pathfinder operations.

On January 4, 1944 the squadron flies their first combat mission in the South Pacific (SoPAC).

On March 20, 1944 the squadron begins moving to Mokerang Airfield on Los Negros in the Admiralty Island Group (Admiralty Islands). Meanwhile, the squadron continue to operate from Munda Airfield flying combat missions.

On March 31, 1944 took off is B-24D "Sergeant Stripes... Forever!" 42-63805  pilot 2nd Lt. Robert A. Robbins via Bougainville on a bombing mission against Truk. Returning on April 1, 1944 at 12:55am crashed on Rendova Island with the loss of the entire crew.

On June 11, 1944 lost is B-24J Liberator 42-100273  pilot 2nd Lt. Donald W. Dyer on a radar "snooper" mission against Truk and went Missing In Action (MIA), believed to be lost due to either enemy anti-aircraft fire or a night fighter.

On June 25, 1944 took off is B-24D "Madame Libby The Sea Ducer" 42-40838  pilot 1st Lt. Wilmer B. Haynes on a radar "snooper" mission against Truk and last report was June 26, 1944 at 2:26am and went Missing In Action (MIA).

On August 29, 1944 the squadron moves to Noemfoor Island.

On January 12, 1945 took off is B-24J Liberator 44-41078  pilot 2nd Lt. Gordon E. Brums on a mission against Sanga Sanga and went Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, this bomber crashed roughly six miles from Anggana on the eastern coast of Borneo with three crew captured as Prisoners Of War (POW) and were executed February 15, 1945.

On January 14, 1945 lost is B-24J "Lady June" 42-100271  pilot 2nd Lt. William F. Plunkett (MIA) on a night mission and crashed to the sea and went Missing In Action (MIA).

On March 22, 1945 the squadron moves to Pitu Airfield (Pitoe) on Morotai.

On April 21, 1945 lost is B-24J 44-41081 pilot by 1st Lt. William H. Beaver an armed shipping and photographic reconnaissance mission against the Makassar Strait off Sulawesi (Celebes). Over the target, this B-24 was rammed by a Japanese fighters over Mandai Airfield near Makassar and crashed into the sea with the entire crew listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

On July 3, 1945 the squadron moves to Leyte.

On July 29, 1945 the squadron moves to Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On October 8, 1945 assigned to the Far East Air Service Command. On October 29, 1945 assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF). On December 17, 1945 moves to Fort Lewis in Washington State. On December 1, 1945 assigned to VII Bomber Command. On December 18, 1945 inactivated. On June 17, 1958 redesignated the 868th Tactical Missile Squadron in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On July 8, 1958 reactivated at Tainan Air Station on Tawian assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF) operating the MGM-1 Matador missile. On August 18, 1958 assigned to the 6214th Air Base Group, later redesignated 6214th Air Base Tactical Group. Nicknamed "Missile Masters" On March 25, 1962 inactivated and discontinued.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for May 7, 1945 mission against Java

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 790 [PDF pages 802]
Nightstalkers: The Wright Project and the 868th Bomb Squadron in World War II (2022) by Richard P. Lawless