834th Bombardment Squadron
| 834th Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
European Theater of Operations | |
| Insignia | |
| 834th Bombardment Squadron emblem[1] |  |
| Squadron fuselage code[1] | 2S |
The 834th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive
Drew Field
, Florida, where it was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
History
The 834th Bombardment Squadron was activated at
Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona in November and trained for combat. The squadron began deploying overseas in early March 1944.[2][3] Its air echelon flew its Liberators along the southern ferry route.[4]
The squadron arrived at its combat station,
The squadron was occasionally diverted from strategic targets to support ground forces. Preparing for
Rhine River. In December 1944 and January 1945 it supported troops fighting the Battle of the Bulge. In the spring of 1945 it supported Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine.[3] The squadron flew its last mission on 21 April 1945.[4]
The squadron remained in England until August 1945, when it returned to the United States. Its aircraft began departing in early July, while its ground echelon sailed on the
Drew Field, Florida in September, but was inactivated there on 7 November 1945.[2]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 834th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 September 1943
- Activated on 20 September 1943
- Redesignated 834th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 1944
- Inactivated on 7 November 1945[2]
Assignments
- 486th Bombardment Group, 20 September 1943 – 7 November 1945[2]
Stations
- McCook Army Air Field, Nebraska, 20 September 1943
- Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 9 November 1943 – 9 March 1944
- RAF Sudbury (Station 158),[7] England, 5 April 1944 – August 1945
- Drew Field, Florida, 3 September – 7 November 1945[8]
Aircraft
- Consolidated B-24H Liberator, 1943–1944
- Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 1944–1945[2]
Campaigns
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Air Offensive, Europe | 5 April 1944–5 June 1944 | [2] |
|
Air Combat, EAME Theater | 5 April 1944–11 May 1945 | [2] |
|
Normandy | 6 June 1944–24 July 1944 | [2] |
|
Northern France | 25 July 1944–14 September 1944 | [2] |
|
Rhineland | 15 September 1944–21 March 1945 | [2] |
|
Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944–25 January 1945 | [2] |
|
Central Europe | 22 March 1944–21 May 1945 | [2] |
See also
- B-17 Flying Fortress units of the United States Army Air Forces
- B-24 Liberator units of the United States Army Air Forces
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ The aircraft closest to the camera is squadron Boeing B-17G-75-BO Flying Fortress, serial 43-37891, Old Man's Folly. It was damaged while parked on 20 May 1945 and salvaged. Baugher, Joe (15 May 2023). "1943 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- Kingman Army Air Field, Arizona on 3 January 1946 for scrapping. Baugher, Joe (10 June 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- Citations
- ^ a b Watkins, p. 110
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 774-775
- ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Units, p. 357
- ^ a b c d e Freeman, p. 260
- ^ Valant, pp. 13-15.
- ^ Freeman, p. 172
- ^ Station number in Anderson, p. 22.
- ^ Station information in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 774-775, 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 yes: 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.
- Valant, Gary M. (1997). Classic Vintage Nose Art. Ann Arbor, MI: Lowe and B. Hould, an imprint of Borders, Inc. ISBN 0-681-22744-3.}