Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) "Sea Hawks"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG)
Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS). On January 15, 1941 activated at Langley Field, VA assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) and operates the B-18 Bolo, B-25 Mitchell and B-17 Flying Fortress in training. On August 28, 1941 moves to Bangor, Maine flying the LB-30 Liberator for anti-submarine patrols. On February 17, 1942 departs overseas bound for the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) operating the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Wartime History
On March 28, 1942 the 65th Bombardment Squadron arrives Sydney. On June 15, 1942 transfers to Charleville. On August 3, 1942 moves to Torrens Creek Airfield.

On September 13 1942 during take off is B-17F "Hoomalimali" 41-24391 pilot Captain Herschall R. Henson caught fire and crashed about a half mile off the end of the runway.

On November 12, 1942 the squadron flew its first combat mission.

On December 3, 1942 at roughly 11:25pm eight B-17s took off on a night mission to locate and bomb a Japanese cruiser reportedly off Buna. On December 4, 1942 lost is B-17F "Dumbo" 41-24429 pilot 1st Lt Lewis A. Anderson (MIA).

On January 6, 1943 at 5:00pm the squadron flew a bombing mission against a Japanese convoy bound for Lae. On January 7, 1943 at 3:35am lost is B-17F 41-24383  pilot 2nd Lt. Guyton M. Christopher (6 MIA, 3 survived) ditched into the Gulf of Papua.

On January 17, 1943 destroyed is B-17F 41-24540  parked at Turnbull Airfield (No. 3 Strip) near Milne Bay.

On March 3, 1943 during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea took off on a mission to bomb the Japanese convoy bound for Lae. Over the convoy, intercepted by Zeros that damaged B-17F "Ka Puhio Wela / Double Trouble" 41-24356  pilot 1st Lt. Woodrow W. Moore with seven bailing out before it crashed into the sea. A photograph of the damaged bomber with the bomb bay doors open before it crashed.

On May 7, 1943 lost is B-17F "Reckless Mountain Boys" 41-24518  pilot Captain Byron L. "Dutch" Heichel on a solo photographic reconnaissance mission over Kavieng and was intercepted by Zeros then force landed off Komalu on New Ireland. Afterwards, the surviving crew were captured by the Japanese and became Prisoners Of War (POWs).

On May 8, 1943 lost is B-17F "The Fighting Swede" 41-24520  pilot Captain Robert N. Keatts (MIA) rammed by Ki-43 Oscar pilot Tadao Oda with the crew Missing In Action (MIA).

On June 30, 1943 fourteen B-17s and four B-24s from 43rd Bomb Group (43rd BG) fly a night bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Over the target, J1N1 night fighter pilot Shigetoshi Kudo shot down B-17F "I Dood It" 41-24543  pilot 1st Lt Harold S. Barnett (MIA).

On July 11, 1943 lost B-17F "Black Jack / The Joker's Wild" 41-24521 pilot Lt. Ralph K. De Loach ditched off Cape Vogel and rescued.

On August 27, 1943 lost is B-17E "Old Topper" 41-2481 crashed on take off from 7 Mile Drome crew unhurt.

During October 1943, equipped with B-24D Liberators equipped with Low Altitude Bomb System (LAB System) for night or bad weather radar "snooper" missions. Nicknamed "Sea Hawks" with the motto “Semper Primus” (Always First).

On November 4, 1943 lost is B-24D Liberator 42-40972 pilot 1st Lt. William M. Hafner on an armed reconnaissance mission to shadow a convoy and returning on November 5, 1943 at 1:21am crashed.

On December 16, 1943 lost is B-24D Liberator 42-41043 pilot 1st Lt James J. Harris Jr. on an armed reconnaissance mission of the Gasmata area.

On March 19, 1945 moves to Clark Field.

On July 25, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield off Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.

On December 10, 1945 moves to Fort William McKinley on Luzon in the Philippines. On April 29, 1946 deactivated.

Postwar
On October 1, 1946 reactivated at Davis-Monthan Field and redesignated as 63rd Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) operating the B-29 and later the B-50. On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On July 2, 1948 redesignated 63rd Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On June 16, 1952 assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Wing (43rd BW). During 1948 converted to the B-47 Stratojet. During 1960 converted to the B-58 Hustler.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 241 (63rd Bombardment) [PDF pages 253]
Ken's Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2016, 2019)
Ken’s Men Against The Empire - The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II - Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era (2019)


  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram