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Strength was increased to six B-18As by February 1942, however, although the unit had but four complete crews to man them. In May 1942, the unit was redesignated as the 35th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), which more accurately reflected its mission and equipment, and it remained at Coolidge Field.
Strength was increased to six B-18As by February 1942, however, although the unit had but four complete crews to man them. In May 1942, the unit was redesignated as the 35th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), which more accurately reflected its mission and equipment, and it remained at Coolidge Field.

On 31 October 1942, the first of the confusing reassignments that have tainted the overall picture of USAAF activities in the Caribbean was instituted. At that time, the 35th BS (M) inherited the personnel and equipment of the 430th Bombardment Squadron (which had formerly been the 44th Reconnaissance Squadron). Additionally, the unit also got the personnel and equipment of the 99th Bombardment Squadron which had been based at Zander, Field, Dutch Guiana. Its personnel at Zandery becoming "A" and "B" Flight of the 35th BS, while the former 430th BS personnel and equipment became "C" and "D" Flights. Thus, by 11 December, the unit could count five B-18Bs and one B-18 at Zandery Field and another at Atkinson Field, British Guiana (the former 430th) with an identical complement, besides its original equipment at Coolidge Field, which had been arbitrarily reduced to one B-18 and two B-18B's.

In January 1943, the Squadron Headquarters was apparently returned from Coolidge Field to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico while, to add fuel to the fire of confusion, "B" and "D" Flights of the 417th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) were attached to the 35th BS at Zandery and were finally transferred outright to the unit on 1 May 1943. In addition, for short periods in January, March, July and August 1943, while the German submarine warfare campaign was most critical, aircraft of the 80th Bombardment Squadron (three B-18B 's between 27-30 January), 10th Bombardment Squadron (two B-18B's between 8-16 March), 8th Antisub¬marine Squadron, 9th Antisubmarine Squadron (three B-18B's between 9-12 March) and the Navy VB 130 were attached and/or operated intermingled with 35th BS aircraft in many "tactical emergencies," (including the submarine attacks on Convoy BT-6 on 8 March 1943, when three ships were sunk and four others damaged) making identification of aircraft, crews and engagements almost impossible to sort out, Additionally, during August 1943, aircraft and crews of the 23d Antisubmarine Squad¬ron were attached to the 35th BS for tactical purposes as well.


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Revision as of 15:52, 29 January 2012

35th Bombardment Squadron
35th Bomb Squadron Douglas B-18 Bolo with unofficial squadron emblem, Coolidge Field, Antigua, 1941
Active1940-1949
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
RoleBombardment

The 35th Bombardment Squadron a United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 322d Bombardment Group, based at Phillips Field, Beltsville, Maryland. It was inactivated on on 27 June 1949.

History

Established as a heavy bombardment group at Langley Field in early 1940 as part of the buildup of United States forces after the breakout of World War II in Europe. Was deployed to the Caribbean as part of the 1940 Destroyers For Bases Agreement with the British, departing Langley Field, on 26 October 1940, and was assigned to Antigua in the British West Indies (by way of Borinqucn Field, Puerto Rico) before the subsequent dispersal of its original personnel and equipment. It had been assigned as a subordinate element of the 25th Bombardment Group. The Squadron was originally assigned Douglas B-18 Bolos and B-18As and, after spending almost a year in Puerto Rico, was moved to Coolidge Field, Antigua on 23 October 1941, at which time four B-18s and three B-18As were on hand. However, by the end of the month, the older B-18's were gone, and the Squadron was left with but three B-18As.

Strength was increased to six B-18As by February 1942, however, although the unit had but four complete crews to man them. In May 1942, the unit was redesignated as the 35th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), which more accurately reflected its mission and equipment, and it remained at Coolidge Field.

On 31 October 1942, the first of the confusing reassignments that have tainted the overall picture of USAAF activities in the Caribbean was instituted. At that time, the 35th BS (M) inherited the personnel and equipment of the 430th Bombardment Squadron (which had formerly been the 44th Reconnaissance Squadron). Additionally, the unit also got the personnel and equipment of the 99th Bombardment Squadron which had been based at Zander, Field, Dutch Guiana. Its personnel at Zandery becoming "A" and "B" Flight of the 35th BS, while the former 430th BS personnel and equipment became "C" and "D" Flights. Thus, by 11 December, the unit could count five B-18Bs and one B-18 at Zandery Field and another at Atkinson Field, British Guiana (the former 430th) with an identical complement, besides its original equipment at Coolidge Field, which had been arbitrarily reduced to one B-18 and two B-18B's.

In January 1943, the Squadron Headquarters was apparently returned from Coolidge Field to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico while, to add fuel to the fire of confusion, "B" and "D" Flights of the 417th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) were attached to the 35th BS at Zandery and were finally transferred outright to the unit on 1 May 1943. In addition, for short periods in January, March, July and August 1943, while the German submarine warfare campaign was most critical, aircraft of the 80th Bombardment Squadron (three B-18B 's between 27-30 January), 10th Bombardment Squadron (two B-18B's between 8-16 March), 8th Antisub¬marine Squadron, 9th Antisubmarine Squadron (three B-18B's between 9-12 March) and the Navy VB 130 were attached and/or operated intermingled with 35th BS aircraft in many "tactical emergencies," (including the submarine attacks on Convoy BT-6 on 8 March 1943, when three ships were sunk and four others damaged) making identification of aircraft, crews and engagements almost impossible to sort out, Additionally, during August 1943, aircraft and crews of the 23d Antisubmarine Squad¬ron were attached to the 35th BS for tactical purposes as well.

Lineage

  • Constituted 35th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 December 1939[1]
Activated on 1 February 1940.
Redesignated 35th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 7 May 1942
Disbanded on 20 June 1944
  • Reconstituted, and redesignated 35th Bombardment Squadron (Light), on 26 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 13 July 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949.

Assignments

Stations

Detachment operated from: Atkinson Field, British Guiana, 1 November 1942-c. 7 October 1943
Detachment operated from: Port of Spain, Trinidad, 27 August-12 October 1943

Aircraft

References

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

  1. ^ a b c d Conaway, William. "35th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)". VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45.
  2. ^ Conaway, William. "25th Bombardment Group (Medium))". VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=35th_Bombardment_Squadron&oldid=473871164"