482d Bombardment Squadron

482d Bombardment Squadron

Active	1917-46
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Bombardment

The 482d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 505th Bombardment Group. It was inactivated at Clark Field, Philippines on 10 June 1946.

History

Established in 1917 as the 70th Aero Squadron, was redesignated as the 482d Aero Squadron early in 1918 before being deployed to France. The squadron was a civil engineering organization at the Western Front constructing airfields and related facilities in Zone of Advance during 1918 until the Armistice on 11 November. Remained in France until early 1919 when returned to the United States and demobilized.

B-29 Superfortress operations against Japan

Re-Activated in March 1944 as a B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy bombardment squadron. When training was completed moved to North Field Tinian in the Mariana Islands of the Central Pacific Area in January 1945 and assigned to XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force. Its mission was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands and the destruction of its war-making capability.

Flew "shakedown" missions against Japanese targets on Moen Island, Truk, and other points in the Carolines and Marianas. The squadron began combat missions over Japan on 25 February 1945 with a firebombing mission over Northeast Tokyo. The squadron continued to participate in wide area firebombing attack, but the first ten-day blitz resulting in the Army Air Forces running out of incendiary bombs. Until then the squadron flew conventional strategic bombing missions using high explosive bombs.

The squadron continued attacking urban areas with incendiary raids until the end of the war in August 1945, attacking major Japanese cities, causing massive destruction of urbanized areas. Also conducted raids against strategic objectives, bombing aircraft factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, and other targets in Japan. The squadron flew its last combat missions on 14 August when hostilities ended. Afterwards, its B 29s carried relief supplies to Allied prisoner of war camps in Japan and Manchuria.

Squadron was largely de-mobilized on Tinian during the fall of 1945. Remained in Western Pacific, assigned to Twentieth Air Force. Moved to Clark Field to the Philippines in March 1946. Inactivated at Clark Field on Luzon on June 15, 1946; its low-hour aircraft flown to storage depots in the United States.

Operations and Decorations

Combat Operations: Constructed airfields and related facilities in Zone of Advance, 28 Mar-Dec 1918. Combat in Western Pacific, c. 30 Dec 1944-14 Aug 1945
Campaigns: Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific.
Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: Ota, Japan, 10 Feb 1945; Japan, 17 Jun-1 Jul 1945.

Lineage

Organized as 70th Aero Squadron on 15 Aug 1917

Re-designated 482d Aero Squadron (Construction) on 1 Feb 1918

Demobilized on 8 Feb 1919

Constituted in the Reserve as the 482d Bombardment Squadron on 31 March 1924

Inactivated 23 July 1929

Consolidated with 482d Aero Squadron (Construction) on 2 December 1936

Disbanded on 31 May 1942

Reconstituted and consolidated (21 Apr 1944) with 482d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) which was constituted on 28 Feb 1944

Activated on 11 Mar 1944

Inactivated on 30 Jun 1946

Assignments

Unknown, 15 Aug 1917-Mar 1918
Advance Section, Service of Supply, Mar 1918
United States First Army, 23 Aug 1918
United States Second Army, 28 Oct-Nov 1918
unknown, Nov 1918-8 Feb 1919
VII Corps Area, 1924–1942
505th Bombardment Group, 11 Mar 1944-30 Jun 1946

Stations

Kelly Field, Texas, 15 Aug 1917
Camp Morrison, Virginia, 1 Feb-4 Mar 1918
Vinets-sur-Aube, France, 26 Mar 1918
Longeaux, France, 15 Jul 1918
Lay-St. Remy, France, c. 26 Aug 1918

Detachments operated from several points in Toul and Verdun sectors, 1-11 Sep 1918

Unit operated from Noviant-aux-Pres and Grosrouvres after 14 Sep 1918

Saizerais, France, c. 10 Oct 1918

Unit operated from Noviant-aux-Pres and Grosrouvres to 13 Oct 1918

Detachments operated from Toul and Manonville, c. 5-c. 21 Nov 1918

Colombey-les-Belles, France, 24 Nov 1918
Brest, France, 16 Dec 1918-2 Jan 1919
Washington, DC, unkn-8 Feb 1919
Unknown. 1924-1942
Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, 11 Mar 1944
Harvard Army Airfield, Nebraska, 12 Mar-6 Nov 1944
North Field, Tinian, 24 Dec 1944-5 Mar 1946
Clark Field, Luzon, 14 Mar-30 Jun 1946

Aircraft

B-17 Flying Fortress, 1944
B-29 Superfortress, 1944–1946

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.

External links

USAAF Twentieth Air Force in World War II

Airfields

China	Hsinching Airfield (A-1) Kwanghan Airfield (A-3) Kuinglai Airfield (A-5) Pengshan Airfield (A-7)

India	Chakulia Airfield Dudhkundi Airfield Piardoba Airfield Kalaikunda Airfield

Marianas	Harmon Airfield (Guam) Isely Airfield (Saipan) North Airfield (Guam) North Airfield (Tinian) Northwest Airfield (Guam) West Airfield (Tinian)

Units

Commands

Wings

Groups

Bombardment	6th Bombardment 9th Bombardment 16th Bombardment 19th Bombardment 29th Bombardment 39th Bombardment 40th Bombardment 330th Bombardment 331st Bombardment 444th Bombardment 462d Bombardment 468th Bombardment 497th Bombardment 498th Bombardment 499th Bombardment 500th Bombardment 501st Bombardment 502d Bombardment 504th Bombardment 505th Bombardment 509th Composite

Fighter	15th Fighter 21st Fighter 413th Fighter 414th Fighter 506th Fighter 507th Fighter

United States Army Air Forces

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