31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG)

Background
On June 13, 1917 organized as the 31st Aero Squadron at Camp Kelly in Texas. During World War I, sent overseas to France. During September 1917 assigned to 3rd Aviation Instruction Center in Etampes, France. On April 14, 1919 demobilized. On March 24, 1923 reconstituted and redesignated as 31st Bombardment Squadron. On July 2, 1926 became part of the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On April 1, 1931 reactivated and attached to the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG) then assigned June 30, 1931.

On February 1, 1938 assigned to the 5th Composite Group (5th CG) later redesignated 5th Bombardment Reconnaissance Group that later became the 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG). On December 6, 1939 redesignated 31st Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On November 20, 1940 redesignated 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). During 1941 part of the 7th Air Force (7th AF) based at Hickam Field operating B-18 Bolo and B-17 Flying Fortress.

Wartime History
On December 7, 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu, the squadron suffered four Killed In Action (KIA) and nine Wounded In Action (WIA).

On December 10, 1941 the air echelon of the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron (88th RS) was attached to the squadron until February 8, 1942.

On May 23, 1942 moves to Kipapa Field on Oahu.

On November 30, 1942 arrived at Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo and began flying combat missions in the South Pacific. On January 17, 1943 arrives at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and later Carney Field. By early 1943, the squadron began flying only B-24 Liberators. On February 2, 1944 transfered to Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island.

On August 12, 1943 nine B-24s from the 31st BS plus sixteen B-24's from the 307th BG escorted by eight P-40s of the 44th FS and 22 F4Us from VMF-124 flew a bombing mission over Kahili (Buin) on Bougainville. The bombers drop 520 x 100lbs bombs on the runway and revetment areas and claim twenty aircraft destroyed on the ground. Returning, the formation is attacked by roughly 30 A6M Zeros over Ballale.

On March 5, 1944 the squadron flew a bombing mission against Tobera Airfield near Rabaul. Lost is B-24D Liberator 42-73469 pilot Captain Lewis W. Haire after the bomb run, hit by anti-aircraft fire with seven crew Missing In Action (MIA). Only SSgt Escoe E. Palmer managed to bail out and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) and survived captivity at Rabaul until liberated at the end of the Pacific War.

On March 13, 1944 the squadron returns to Carney Field on Guadalcanal. On April 21, 1944 transfered to Momote Airfield on Los Negros Island. On August 20, 1944 to Wakde Airfield on Wakde Island. Operated from Pitu Airfield on Morotai Island. On March 17, 1945 transfered to Guiuan Airfield on Samar Island in the eastern Visayas Islands of the Philippines until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On April 30, 1946 redesignated 31st Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). On March 10, 1947 inactivated. On September 16, 1947 redesignated 31st Reconassiance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic). On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On October 20, 1947 reactivated in the 71st Reconnaissance Group (71st RG). On August 18, 1948 attached to the 5th Air Force (5th AF). On March 16, 1949 returned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF).

On December 32, 1947 redesignated 31st Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photo, RCM). On June 16, 1949 redesignated 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic). On April 1, 1949 assigned to the 311th Air Division. On November 1, 1949 assigned to the 2nd Air Force (2nd AF).

On November 16, 1950 redesignated 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy). On December 1, 1949 assigned to the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Group (5th SRG) attached to the Far East Air Force (FEAF). On June 16, 1952 assigned to the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (5th SRW), later redesignated 5th Bombardment Wing (5th BW). On October 1, 1955 redesignated 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). On October 1, 1959 assigned to the 4126th Strategic Wing (4126th SW). On February 1, 1963 discontinued and inactivated.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 152-153 (31st Bombardment) [PDF pages 164-165]
Courage Before Every Danger - Honor Honor Before All Men The History of the 31st Bombardment Squadron (H) in World War II In Their Own Words (2010) by Joanne Pfannenstiel Emerick
Thanks to Joanne Emerick, 31st Bombardment Squadron Association for additional information