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485th Bombardment Squadron

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485th Bombardment Squadron
501st Bombardment Group B-29 taking off from Northwest Field, Guam in 1945
Active1917–1919; 1925–1942; 1944; 1944–1946
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeHeavy bomber
EngagementsWorld War I
Pacific Theater[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation[1]
Insignia
485th Bombardment Squadron emblem[a]

The 485th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 501st Bombardment Group at Northwest Field, Guam, where it was inactivated on 10 June 1946.

The squadron's first predecessor was organized as the 73rd Aero Squadron. After training in the United States, it moved to France in the spring of 1918. Along with other construction squadrons, it was renumbered as the 485th Aero Squadron in February 1918. It remained in France following the Armistice until returning to the United States in May 1919 for demobilization.

The squadron's second predecessor was formed in the Organized Reserves in 1925 as the 485th Bombardment Squadron. These two units were consolidated in 1936. Along with all other Organized Reserve units, the squadron was disbanded in May 1942.

The third squadron, and the second to be named the 485th Bombardment Squadron, was organized in March 1944 as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress unit, but was soon inactivated as the Army Air Forces reorganized its very heavy bomber units. It was activated again in June. After training in the United States, it deployed to Guam, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Japan. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat operations. Following V-J Day, the squadron remained in the Pacific until inactivating in 1946.

History

World War I

The first predecessor of the squadron was organized in August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas as the 73rd Aero Squadron (Construction). It trained at Kelly for the remainder of the year before moving to Camp Morrison, Virginia to prepare for shipment overseas, although it was not until March 1918 before the squadron finally shipped out. While at Camp Morrison, the squadron was renumbered as the 485th Aero Squadron (Construction).[b][1]

The squadron arrived at Romorantin, France, where it remained until moving to Chatenay-sur-Seine in September 1918, although it maintained a detachment at Saint-Nazaire until April. From mid May to mid June, it operated from Gievres, and established a detachment at Chatenay-sur-Seine in early September before the squadron moved there.[1]

After the Armistice, the squadron moved to Bordeaux in 1919 and remained there until returning to Mitchel Field, New York, where it was demobilized in May 1919.[1]

Organized Reserves

The 485th Bombardment Squadron was constituted in the fall of 1924 as an Organized Reserves unit and assigned to the Fifth Corps Area as part of the 348th Bombardment Group.[2] It was not until September 1925, however, that personnel were assigned to the unit, located at Dayton, Ohio.[1] Moreover, the 348th Group's headquarters at Springfield, Ohio was not manned until December 1933.[3] Because the 485th was located near both Wilbur Wright Field and Patterson Field, its members were authorized to train with planes assigned to the regular army at those locations. Members of reserve units during this time usually performed their training as individuals attached to other units, rather than as a unit.[4]

On 5 December 1936, the squadron was consolidated with the 485th Aero Squadron. However, a few months later, in June 1937, it became inactive when its personnel were withdrawn. The squadron, along with other existing Air Corps reserve units was disbanded on 31 May 1942, shortly after the United States entered World War II.[1][2]

Reactivated as part of the Army reserve forces in 1924, assigned to Wright or Patterson Field at Dayton Ohio. Although designated as a bombardment squadron, it is unclear if the unit had any aircraft assigned to it. Disbanded in 1942.

World War II

Reconstituted in 1944 as a B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy bombardment squadron; assigned to Second Air Force for training. Initially assigned to 505th Bombardment Group, however shortages in aircraft and equipment led to personnel being consolidated into other group squadrons; inactivated. Reactivated about a month later; assigned to 501st Bombardment Group and equipped with B-29B limited production aircraft.

After completion of training deployed to Central Pacific Area (CPA), assigned to XXI Bomber Command, Northwest Field (Guam) for operational missions. B-29Bs were standard production aircraft stripped of most defensive guns to increase speed and bomb load, The tail gun was aimed and fired automatically by the new AN/APG-15B radar fire control system that detected the approaching enemy plane and made all the necessary calculations.

Mission of the squadron was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands. Dntered combat on 16 June 1945 with a bombing raid against an airfield on Moen. Flew first mission against the Japanese home islands on 26 June 1945 and afterwards operated principally against the enemy's petroleum industry. Flew primarily low-level, fast attacks at night using a mixture of high-explosive and incendiary bombs to attack targets.

Flew last combat mission on 15 August 1945, later flew in "Show of Force" mission on 2 September 1945 over Tokyo Bay during formal Japanese Surrender. Inactivated on Guam 15 April 1946, personnel returned to the United States and aircraft sent to storage in Southwest United States.

Lineage

485th Aero Squadron
  • Organized as the 73d Aero Squadron (Construction) on 14 August 1917[5]
Redesignated 485th Aero Squadron (Construction) on 1 February 1918[5]
Demobilized on 20 May 1919
  • Reconstituted and consolidated with the 485th Bombardment Squadron on 5 December 1936[1][2]
485th Bombardment Squadron (Organized Reserves)
  • Constituted as the 485th Bombardment Squadron on 31 March 1924 and allotted to the Organized Reserves
Activated September 1925 (personnel assigned)
Inactivated June 1937 (personnel withdrawn)[2]
  • Consolidated with 485th Bombardment Squadron which was constituted and allotted to the reserve on 31 March 1924
Consolidated with the 485th Aero Squadron on 5 December 1936[2]
Disbanded on 31 May 1942
  • Reconstituted and consolidated with the 485th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 21 April 1944[6]
485th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy
  • Constituted as the 485th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 28 February 1944
Activated on 11 March 1944.
  • Consolidated with the 485th Bombardment Squadron on 21 April 1944
Inactivated on 10 May 1944
  • Activated on 1 June 1944
Inactivated on 10 June 1946[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation 6 July–13 July 1945 Japan, 485th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Theater of Operations c. 25 March 1918–1919 485th Aero Squadron[1]
Air Offensive, Japan 14 April 1945–2 September 1945 485th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Eastern Mandates 14 April 1945–14 April 1944 485th Bombardment Squadron[1]
Western Pacific 17 April 1945–2 September 1945 485th Bombardment Squadron[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Approved 26 June 1945. Description: On a grayed dark blue green disc, flecked with gray clouds in base and three, yellow, five-point stars at chief, sinister fess, and base points, within a black border, a caricatured vari-colored bird in reverse flight wearing a radio headset and peering into a radar 'scope while adjusting dials on set with right foot, and holding a red, blue and yellow aerial bomb in the claws of the left foot, all emitting speed lines toward dexter.
  2. ^ The Air Service formed a second 73rd Aero Squadron (Service) the same month. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 268-269.
  3. ^ Probably Post Headquarters, Kelly Field until 21 December 1917, then Aeronautical Supply Depot and Concentration Camp.
  4. ^ Probably Aviation General Supply Depot.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 582-583
  2. ^ a b c d e f Clay, p. 1521
  3. ^ Clay, p. 1339
  4. ^ Clay, p. 1364
  5. ^ a b Parenthetical designation in Order of Battle of the Land Forces, p. 1013
  6. ^ Lineage information in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 582-583, except as noted.
  7. ^ Assignment information in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 582-583, except as noted.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Clay, Steven E. (2011). US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 (PDF). Vol. 3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919-1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-98419-014-0. LCCN 2010022326. OCLC 637712205. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. 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. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer (1978). The US Air Service in World War I (PDF). Vol. 1, The Final Report and a Tactical History. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force. ISBN 978-1477602-74-4. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War (PDF). Vol. 3, Part 2 Zone of the Interior: Territorial Departments, Tactical Divisions Organized in 1918, Posts, Camps and Stations (Reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Center of Military History. 1988 [1949]. Retrieved 1 November 2015.