69th Bombardment Squadron (69th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 38th Bomb Group (38th BG) / 42nd Bomb Group (42nd BG)
Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as the 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On January 15, 1941 activated in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) in the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) at Langley Field in Virginia operating the B-18 Bolo and later transitions to the B-26 Marauder. On June 5, 1941 moves to Jackson Army Airfield (Jackson AAB) in Mississipi. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF).
Wartime History
On January 19, 1942 the ground echelon departs overseas bound for Australia. On February 25, 1942 arrives Eagle Farm Field (Doomben) near Brisbane. On March 8, 1942 the ground echelon transfers to Ballarat Airfield. On April 30, 1942 transfers to Amberly Field. On May 20, 1942 transfered to Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield on New Caledonia.
Meanwhile, the air echelon remains in the United States until May 1942. On May 22, 1942 the squadron's B-26 Marauders air echelon are ferried to Hickam Field. On June 18, 1942 they depart Hickam Field on a ferry flight across the Pacific to Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield on New Caledonia joining the ground echelon of the squadron.
On November 13, 1942 three B-26 Marauders from the 69th BS and 70th BS fly fron Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.
On December 7, 1942 moves to Efate.
On December 31, 1942 B-26s escorted by P-39s and P-38s attack Munda Airfield.
On February 9, 1943 the squadron's B-26 and B-25 attack Vilu Airfield and the same day the rest of the squadron moves to Henderson Field.
On February 26, 1943 assigned to the 42nd Bombardment Group (42nd BG) "The Crusaders".
On June 22, 1943 lost is B-25C Mitchell 42-53404 pilot 1st Lt. Eugene R. Brogan (MIA) on a bombing mission against Rendova Island.
During the month of July 1943 the squadron transfers back to Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield while continuing the air echelon continues to fly combat missions from Henderson Field.
On July 6, 1943 four B-25 Mitchells from the 69th Bombardment Squadron (69th BS) on alert were to take off at 12:55pm from Carney Field (Bomber 2) on Guadalcanal armed with 500 pound bombs to strike a damaged destroyer Nagatsuki off Kolombangara. During take off, one B-25 blew a tire and did not participate. The remaining three B-25s took off at 12:55am B-25 Mitchell pilot Captain Lloyd E. "Stone" Whitley, B-25 Mitchell pilot Lt. Mathew W. "Gloss" Glessinger and B-25 Mitchell No. 124 pilot Lt. Enders "Dick" Dickinson. The three proceeded up "The Slot" escorted by eight P-38 Lightnings and spotted the destroyer but proceeded to the Kokovi region then returned realizing they had already spotted the destroyer. Two Zeros were spotted to the west and two P-38s engaged and they turned away. The three B-25s maneuvered wide to approach over the island then attacked from tree-top height in a single formation diving at intervals to release their 500 pound bombs and strafe with their .50 caliber machine guns. The first, Captain Whitley had his bombs hang up. The second, Lt. Dickinson dropped one bomb that hit the waterline amidship. The third, B-25 pilot Lt. Glessinger dropped two bombs that were both direct hits on the deck forward of the superstructure. The three B-25s made a second pass and Captain Whitley's bombs still would not release. Lt. Dickinson dropped another bomb that landed 50' away amidship. Lt. Glessinger dropped his last bomb and claimed another hit amidship then turned for home leaving the destroyer in smoke and flames visible from 30 miles away. Afterwards, a Navy observation plane reported the destroyer exploded and a column of smoke rose to 8,000'. The three B-25 landed safely at 4:11pm.
On July 10, 1943 before dawn, B-25s from the 69th BS took off from Carney Field (Bomber 2) on a low altitude search for shipping search for enemy shipping reported in the Kula Gulf off New Georgia. Shortly after take off, B-25C 42-53433 pilot Lt Henry A. Schmidt hit a tree that bent the propeller on the right engine and tore off the left tail assembly including the horizontal and vertical stabilizer. Damaged, the B-25 crashed into the sea with one survivor and four MIA. The rest of the formation proceeded to the target area and strafed a beached destroyer Nagatsuki at Surumuni Cove on southeast Kolombangara and strafe Buri village.
On October 6, 1943 lost is B-25D "Steamin' Jean" 41-30567 pilot 1st Lt. Lloyd D. Spies (MIA).
On October 20, 1943 ceases operations from Guadalcanal and the entire squadron returns to Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield.
On November 10, 1943 moves to Renard Field in the Russell Islands.
On December 25, 1943 ditched is B-25 pilot 1st Lt. Albert B. Marx with the crew rescued.
On November 29, 1943 lost is B-25C 42-64776 pilot 1st Lt. Edward P Ernest (MIA).
On February 18, 1944 lost is B-25H 43-4??? pilot 2nd Lt Joseph L. Durkin (MIA).
On April 12, 1944 ditched is B-25D "El Croco" pilot 1st Lt. Richard W. Reed (rescued) on a photo reconnaissance mission over Rabaul. Rescued by PBY Catalina from VP-91.
On September 14, 1944 moves to Sansapor Airfield on western New Guinea.
On Novemer 12, 1944 lost is B-25G 42-65142 pilot 2nd Lt. John H. Carroll Jr. (MIA).
On February 23, 1945 squadron sends a detachment of B-25s to Morotai that remains until March 1945.
On March 12, 1945 moves to Puerto Princesa Airfield on Palawan in the Philippines.
On June 6, 1945 lost is B-25J 44-29584 pilot 1st Lt. Otto L. Carter Jr. (MIA).
Postwar
On May 10, 1946 inactivated. On February 19, 1953 redesignated as 69th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). On February 25, 1953 activated in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in the 42nd Bombardment Wing (42nd BW).
Awards
Distinguisted Unit Citation for Balikpapan missions June 23, 1945–June 30, 1945
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
References
The Crusaders A History of the 42nd Bombardment Group (M) (1946) unit history of the 42nd Bomb Group
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 256-257 (69th Bombardment) [PDF pages 268-269]
Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) 38th Bombardment Group definitive group history published by the 38th BG Association
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