72nd Bombardment Squadron (72nd BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG)

Background
On February 18, 1919 organized as the 72nd Aero Squadron in the U.S. Army as part of the 1st Air Depot. On July 11, 1919 demobilized. On February 6, 1923 reconstituted and consolidated with the 72nd Bombardment Squadron. On May 1, 1923 activated assigned to the 5th Composite Group. On May 9, 1923 assigned to the 5th Composite Group, later renamed 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG). On June 24, 1932 assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, attached to the 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG). On July 2, 1926 became part of the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On October 12, 1938 assigned to the 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG). On December 6, 1939 redesignated 72nd 72nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On November 20, 1940 redesignated as 72nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF).

Wartime History
At the start of the Pacific War, operates the B-18 Bolo. On May 17, 1942 converts to the B-17 Flying Fortress. On June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway, 72nd BS B-17s flew from Hickam Field to Midway Airfield and flew bombing missions against the Japanese Fleet. Afterwards, flown across the Pacific to Espiritu Santo.

On October 4, 1942 begins operating from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. That same day, B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9118 pilot David C. Everitt took off on a mission against Buka Airfield but could not find the target and encountered bad weather. Returning, spotted six warships and was deliberately rammed from below by a F1M2 Pete pilot Kiyomi. The right wing of the F1M2 Pete impacted this B-17's right wing, tearing off the wing tip damaging the vertical stabilizer and immediately caused the B-17 to descend in a spiral before then crashed into the sea.

On October 10, 1943 lost B-24D "My Baby Bubb" 42-40210 pilot Captain Charles K. Frampton (MIA) crashed into the sea northwest of Choiseul.

On October 24, 1944 lost is B-24J 44-40947 (MIA) on an armed search for enemy shipping off Borneo.

On March 20, 1945 moves to Guiuan Airfield (Samar) on Samar in the Philippines and remains until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
During December 1945 moves to Clark Field on Luzon in the Philippines. On April 30, 1946 redesignated 72nd Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). On March 10, 1947 inactivated. On September 16, 1947 redesignated 72d Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic). On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On October 13, 1947 activated as part of Alaska Air Command at Ladd Field in Alaska. On April 1, 1949 assigned to the 311th Air Division. On February 23, 1949 redesignated 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic). On June 28, 1949 assigned to the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Group. On November 9, 1949 moves to Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base (Fairfield-Suisun AFB).

On June 16, 1952 assigned to the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, later renamed 5th Bombardment Wing (5th BW). On November 14, 1950 redesignated 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy). On October 1, 1955 72nd 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). On July 1, 1958 assigned to the 4134th Strategic Wing at Mather Air Force Base (Mather AFB) equipped with the B-52 Stratofortress. On February 1, 1963 discontinued and inactivated.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation Woleai Island (April 18, 1944–May 1944), Borneo (September 30 1944)
Presidential Unit Citation
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 264-265 (72nd Bombardment) [PDF pages 276-277]