867th Bombardment Squadron - History

History

Established in the summer of 1917 as a World War I Air Service Aero Squadron, being formed at Kelly Field, Texas. Was trained as an observation and bombardment squadron; being deployed to England, but apparently never served in combat on the Western Front. Returned to the United States in December 1918 and was demobilized.

Reactivated in 1940 as a light reconnaissance squadron, assigned to the GHQ Air Force Southeast Air District in Savannah, Georgia. Initial mission was to support Army units at Fort Stewart in maneuvers, however was reassigned to I Bomber Command and was moved to New Hampshire in June 1941. Squadron flew convoy patrols over the New England coast to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland during the summer of 1941, protecting Lend-Lease shipments of supplies and equipment to England.

After the Pearl Harbor Attack was reassigned to antisubmarine duty along the southeast Atlantic coast. After the Pearl Harbor Attack was assigned to Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, performing full time antisubmarine patrols along the east coast, being heavyhearted on Long Island, with detachments operating as far as Miami and New Orleans. Non-Operational after August 1943 when antisubmarine duty was reassigned to the United States Navy.

Re-equipped with B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and reassigned for training at Gowen Field, Idaho. Squadron personnel formed the core of the newly-established 494th Bombardment Group, moving first to Wendover Field, Utah, and later to Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho to complete its final phase of training. At Mountain Home, the squadron received new very long range B-24J aircraft in early May.

Deployed to Hawaii Territory and assigned to VII Bomber Command. Remained in Hawaii with aircraft undergoing modifications while training for long range flights over the Pacific Ocean. Deployed to Angaur in the Palau Islands in October, flying very long range combat missions against Japanese airfields on Yap and Koror. Conducted strikes on other bypassed enemy installations in the Pacific and against the Japanese in the Philippines. Late in 1944 hit gun emplacements, personnel areas, ant storage depots on Corregidor and Caballo at the entrance to Manila Bay; bombed radio installations and power plants at Japanese bases in the Philippines; and attacked enemy-held airfields, including Clark Field on Luzon. Early in 1945 struck airfields on Mindanao and ammunition and supply dumps in the Davao Gulf and Illana Bay areas.

Moved to Okinawa in June 1945. Engaged primarily in attacks against enemy airfields on Kyūshū until V-J Day. Also participated in incendiary raids, dropped propaganda leaflets over urban areas of Kyūshū and struck airfields in China, in southern Korea, and around the Inland Sea of Japan.

After the war's end in September, the unit remained on Okinawa as older units began to demobilize. The squadron was engaged in transporting personnel and supplies in the Southwest Pacific, and moving necessary occupation support elements from Manila to Tokyo. Began to demobilize in November and December, with personnel returning to the United States; inactivated as a paper unit in the United States on January 4, 1946.