753rd Bombardment Squadron
| 753rd Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
European Theater of Operations | |
| Insignia | |
| 753d Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][1] |  |
| Fuselage code[2] | J4 |
The 753rd Bombardment Squadron is a former
V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it began training with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses
, but was inactivated in October 1945.
History
Training in the United States
The 753rd Bombardment Squadron was activated at
Orlando Army Air Base, where they spent the next two months participating in specialized tactical training. In September 1943, the air and ground echelons of the squadron were united at Kearns Army Air Base, Utah before proceeding to Wendover to begin the first phase of training with the Consolidated B-24 Liberator.[1][3]
At Wendover, most of the initial combat crews were assigned to the squadron.Tonopah Army Air Field, Nevada, for the port of embarkation on 29 December 1943, sailing for England on the USS Florence Nightingale (AP-70). The air echelon assembled at Hamilton Field, then ferried its Liberators to England via the southern ferry route.[3][5]
Combat in Europe
The squadron arrived at its combat station,
Dulmen, oil refineries near Hamburg, marshalling yards at Hamm, an aircraft engine manufacturing factory at Magdeburg, the shipping canal at Minden, aircraft factories at Oschersleben and the industrial area of Saarbrücken.[4]
The squadron was occasionally diverted from the strategic bombing campaign to conduct
Third Army, which had outrun its supply lines (called Operation Truckin'). These resupply flights were not considered combat missions.[6] The squadron flew its last combat mission on 24 April 1945.[4]
Return and inactivation
During May 1945, the squadron flew "Trolley" missions. These missions transported ground personnel of the unit over target areas on the continent to permit them to see the results of their contributions to the squadron mission.Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in July. At Sioux Falls, all personnel who had not been discharged were transferred to other units.[8]
The squadron reformed at
March Field, California in August, once the group had achieved 20% manning. At March Field, it trained with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber, but never approached authorized manning. It was inactivated there in October 1945.[1][4][8]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 753d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 May 1943
- Activated on 1 July 1943
- Redesignated 753d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy 20 August 1943[9]
- Redesignated 753d Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 5 August 1945
- Inactivated on 17 October 1945[1]
Assignments
- 458th Bombardment Group, 1 July 1943 – 17 October 1945[1]
Stations
- Wendover Field, Utah, 1 July 1943
- Gowen Field, Idaho, 28 July 1943
- Kearns Army Air Base, Utah, 10 September 1943
- Wendover Field, Utah, 15 September 1943
- Tonopah Army Air Field, Nevada, 4 November 1943 – 1 January 1944
- RAF Horsham St. Faith (Station 123),[10] England, 1 February 1944 – 3 July 1945
- Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, 15 July 1945
- Walker Army Air Field, Kansas, 25 July 1945
- March Field, California, 22 August-17 October 1945[11]
Aircraft
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1943–1945
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1945[1]
Campaigns
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Air Offensive, Europe | 1 February 1944–5 June 1944 | [1] |
|
Air Combat, EAME Theater | 1 February 1944–11 May 1945 | [1] |
|
Normandy | 6 June 1944–24 July 1944 | [1] |
|
Northern France | 25 July 1944–14 September 1944 | [1] |
|
Rhineland | 15 September 1944–21 March 1945 | [1] |
|
Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944–25 January 1945 | [1] |
|
Central Europe | 22 March 1944–21 May 1945 | [1] |
See also
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ The fighter escorts are North American P-51 Mustangs of the 352nd Fighter Group.
- ^ Approved 18 April 1945. Description: On a light turquoise blue disc, within a border equally divided black and red, a very large, white sledge hammer, shadowed black, with brown handle, winged golden orange, striking toward dexter, in front of a white cloud formation, all beneath a jagged red lightning bolt striking from center chief point through cloud formation toward dexter base.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 736-737
- ^ Watkins, pp. 102-103
- ^ a b c "Operations: Training, July - December 1943". 458th Bombardment Group. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ a b c d Maurer, Combat Groups, p. 333
- ^ a b c Freeman, p. 259
- ^ "Operations: Truckin'". 458th Bombardment Group. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ "Operations: Trolley Missions". 458th Bombardment Group. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Operations: Group History June-September 1945". 458th Bombardment Group. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ See "Factsheet 55 Air Refueling Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019. (redesignation date for 755th Bombardment Squadron)
- ^ Station number in Anderson, p.20.
- ^ Station information in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 736-737, except as noted
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.