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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox Military Unit
{{use American English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 679th Bombardment Squadron
|unit_name= 679th Bombardment Squadron
|image=444bg-677bs-42-63577-round-robin-rosie.jpg
|image= [[File:679th Bombardment Squadron - Emblem.png|250px]]
|image_size=300
|caption= Emblem of the 679th Bombardment Squadron
|caption=[[444th Bombardment Group]] [[B-29 Superfortress]]{{efn|Aircraft is Bell Aircraft built Boeing B-29-30-BA Superfortress, serial 42-63577 ''Round Robin Rosie''. This aircraft returned to the United States after the war and was reclaimed on 15 February 1957. Bauger, "1942 USAF Serial Numbers".}}
|dates= 1943-1944
|dates=1943-1944
|country= [[United States]]
|country={{USA}}
|allegiance=
|branch=[[United States Air Force]]
|branch={{air force|USA}}
|type= Bombardment
|type=
|role=
|role=[[Heavy bomber]]
|battles=[[American Theater of World War II]]<br/>[[China Burma India Theater]]
|size=
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders=
|notable_commanders=
|anniversaries=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|decorations=[[Distinguished Unit Citation]]
|battle_honours=
|battle_honours=
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=[[File:679th Bombardment Squadron - Emblem.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol_label=Unofficial 679th Bombardment Squadron emblem<ref>Watkins, p. 92</ref>
}}
}}

The '''679th Bombardment Squadron''' is an inactive [[United States Air Force]] unit. It was last assigned to the [[444th Bombardment Group]]. It was inactivated at [[Dudhkundi Airfield]], [[India]] on 12 Oct 1944.
The '''679th Bombardment Squadron''' is a disbanded unit of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (AAF). It was last assigned to the [[444th Bombardment Group]] at [[Dudhkundi Airfield]], India where it was disbanded on 12 October 1944.

During [[World War II]], the [[squadron (aviation)|squadron]] was an [[Army Air Forces]] combat organization. It was part of the first [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] group formed for the [[58th Bombardment Wing]], and served in the [[China Burma India Theater]] as part of [[Twentieth Air Force]]. The squadron's aircraft engaged in very heavy bombardment operations against Japan. The squadron received the [[Distinguished Unit Citation]] for its combat operations. It was disbanded when the AAF reorganized its very heavy [[bombardment group]]s into three squadron units.


==History==
==History==
===Training for combat===
Established in early 1943 as one of the first [[B-29 Superfortress]] squadron; however no B-29s were yet available for operational use. Trained with [[B-24 Liberator]]s and [[B-17 Flying Fortresse]]s throughout 1943. Received early model B-29s and prototype YB-29s beginning in August 1943, however aircraft were still undergoing development and were frequently modified by [[Boeing]] technicians in the field while the squadron was undergoing training in Kansas.
The '''679th Bombardment Squadron''' was activated on 1 March 1943 at [[Davis-Monthan Field]], Arizona as one of the original [[squadron (aviation)|squadrons]] of the [[444th Bombardment Group]].<ref name=Maurer705>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 705</ref> The 444th was assigned to the first [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] wing, the [[58th Bombardment Wing]]. After a period of organization at Davis-Monthan the squadron moved to [[Great Bend Army Air Field]], Kansas. for training, initially flying [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]]es, [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]s and [[Martin B-26 Marauder]]s.<ref name=Maurer318>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 318-319</ref> The group engaged in training on the new aircraft and its mission of long range precision bombing. At Great Bend, the squadron received early model [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]]es and prototype YB-29s, however aircraft were still undergoing development and were frequently modified by [[Boeing]] technicians in the field while the squadron was undergoing training in Kansas. In November 1943 The 444th reorganized as a Very Heavy group and added the 8th Bombardment Maintenance Squadron, which was paired with the 679th to maintain its B-29s.<ref name=8BMS>{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/050/502.xml |title=Abstract, History 8th Bombardment Maintenance Squadron|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref>


===China Burma India Theater===
Deployed to [[India]] in early 1944; several aircraft breaking down en-route via South Atlantic Transport route from [[Florida]] to [[Brazil]] then to [[Liberia]]; across central [[Africa]] and [[Arabia]], arriving in [[Karachi]], [[India]] in March 1944. Arrived at converted B-24 airfield in eastern India in mid-April 1944. Aircraft still undergoing modifications while transporting munitions and fuel to forward airfield in central [[China]]; staging first attacks on Japanese Home Islands since the 1942 [[Doolittle Raid]]. Lack of logistical support limited number of attacks on Japan from Chinese staging airfields; squadron also attacked strategic enemy targets in [[Thailand]]; [[Indochina]] and [[Malay Peninsula]].
In early April 1944, the squadron left the United States and deployed to a former B-24 Liberator airfield at [[Charra Airfield]], India. The first airplane of the 444th group landed at Charra on 11 April 1944. Due to the lack of revetments at Charra the squadron's airplanes were parked wingtip to wingtip on the field's shorter runway. Charra served only as a maintenance and staging base. Its runways were too short for a B-29 to take off fully loaded. While the group was stationed there, all missions were flown from the bases of the other groups in the 58th Bombardment Wing.<ref>''Pictorial History'', pp. 32-33. No page numbers in book. Page numbers are from online .pdf</ref>


From India, the 444th Bomb Group planned to fly missions against Japan from [[advanced airfield]]s in China. However, all the supplies of fuel, bombs and spare parts needed to support operations from the forward bases in China had to be flown from India over [[The Hump]]. For this role, one aircraft from the squadron was stripped of combat equipment and used as a flying tanker. Each aircraft carried seven tons of fuel, but the amount that was delivered to China depended on weather, including headwinds and aircraft icing which increased the fuel consumption of the "tankers."<ref>''Pictorial History'', p. 85</ref>
Host 444th Bomb Group ordered to [[XXI Bomber Command]] in newly-established airfields in [[Mariana Islands]] in [[Central Pacific Area]]. Squadron inactivated and merged into other group squadrons in October 1944; group becoming a three squadron organization as the new table of authorization was set up by XXI Bomber Command.


The squadron flew its first combat mission on 5 June 1944 against the Makasan railroad yards at [[Bangkok]], Thailand. Ten days later the 679th participated in the first American air attack on the [[Japanese home islands]] since the 1942 [[Doolittle raid]], staging through Chinese bases on a nighttime raid against the iron and steel works at [[Bombing of Yawata (June 1944)|Yawata]], Japan.<ref>''Pictorial History'', p. 86</ref> It returned to Yawata on 20 August on a daytime raid for which the unit was awarded the [[Distinguished Unit Citation]].<ref name=Maurer705/> Operating from bases in India and at times staging through fields in China, the group struck transportation centers, naval installations, aircraft plants and other targets in Burma, China, Thailand, Japan and Formosa.<ref name=Maurer318/>
=== Lineage===

* Constituted '''679th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)''' on 15 Feb 1943
On 12 October 1944 the 444th group reorganized. The '''679th Bombardment Squadron''' and the four bombardment maintenance squadrons were disbanded and their personnel and equipment were transferred to the other squadrons of the group.<ref name=Maurer705/><ref name=8BMS/>
: Activated on 1 Mar 1943

: Redesignated '''679th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy)''' on 20 Nov 1943
==Lineage==
: Disbanded on 12 Oct 1944
* Constituted as the '''679th Bombardment Squadron''' (Heavy) on 15 February 1943
: Activated on 1 March 1943
: Redesignated '''679th Bombardment Squadron''' (Heavy) (B-29) on 26 April 1943
: Redesignated '''679th Bombardment Squadron''', Very Heavy on 20 November 1943
: Disbanded on 12 October 1944<ref name=lineage>Lineage, assignments, stations, aircraft, awards and campaigns in Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 705, except April 1943 redesignation, ''see'' {{cite web |url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16591 |last1=Robertson|first1=Patsy|title=Factsheet 444 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)|date=6 April 2010|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160107113619/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16591 |archive-date=7 January 2016|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>


===Assignments===
===Assignments===
* [[444th Bombardment Group]], 1 Mar 1943-12 Oct 1944
* 444th Bombardment Group, 1 March 1943 – 12 October 1944<ref name=lineage/>


===Stations===
===Stations===
* [[Davis-Monthan Field]], [[Arizona]], 1 Mar 1943
* Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 1 March 1943
* [[Great Bend Army Air Field]], [[Kansas]], 3 Aug 1943-12 Mar 1944
* Great Bend Army Air Field, Kansas, 3 August 1943 – 12 March 1944
* [[Charra Airfield]], [[India]], c. 13 Apr 1944
* Charra Airfield, India, c. 13 April 1944
* [[Dudhkundi Airfield]], [[India]], 1 Jul-12 Oct 1944
* [[Dudhkundi Airfield]], India, 1 July 1844 – 12 October 1944<ref name=lineage/>


===Aircraft===
===Aircraft===
* [[B-24 Liberator]], 1943
* Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1943
* [[B-17 Flying Fortress]], 1943-1944
* Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1944
* [[B-29|YB-29 Superfortress]], 1943-1944
* Boeing YB-29 Superfortress, 1943–1944
* [[B-29 Superfortress]], 1943-1944
* Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1943–1944<ref name=lineage/>


== References==
==Awards and campaigns==
{{unit awards table
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
|award_image1=AF PUC
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Flag of the United States.svg|65}}
|award_name1=[[Distinguished Unit Citation]]
{{portal|World War II|Us army air corps shield.svg}}
|award_date1=20 August 1944
|award_notes1=Yawata, Japan<ref name=Maurer705/>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Campaign Streamer
! Campaign
! Dates
! Notes
|-
|-
|[[Image:World War II - American Campaign Streamer (Plain).png|200px]]||[[American Theater of World War II]] without inscription||1 March 1943-12 March 1944||<ref name=Maurer705/>
|-
|[[Image:Streamer APC.PNG|200px]]||India-Burma||13 April 1944 – 12 October 1944||<ref name=Maurer705/>
|-
|[[Image:Streamer APC.PNG|200px]]||Air Offensive, Japan||13 April 1944 – 12 October 1944||<ref name=Maurer705/>
|-
|[[Image:Streamer APC.PNG|200px]]||China Defensive||13 April 1944 – 12 October 1944||<ref name=Maurer705/>
|}

==See also==
* [[List of B-29 Superfortress operators]]

==References==
===Notes===
; Explanatory notes
{{Notelist}}

; Citations
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{AFHRA}}
{{AFHRA}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf|edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
* Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN: 0892010975
* {{cite book|last=Watkins|first=Robert A.|title=Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II|volume=VI, China-Burma-India & The Western Pacific|year=2017|publisher=Shiffer Publishing, Ltd.|location=Atglen,PA|isbn=978-0-7643-5273-7}}
* {{cite journal|last=Unknown|title=The Pictorial History of the 444th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, Special|journal=World War Regimental Histories |url= http://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/128/#b.mon.tag |access-date=27 August 2013|series=Bangor Public Library World War Regimental Histories No. 128 |year=1945|publisher= Newsfoto Publishing Co.|location=San Angelo, TX |pages=32–33}}

{{USAAF 20th Air Force World War II}}
{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II}}


[[Category:Strategic bombing squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces]]
==External links==
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944]]

Latest revision as of 21:22, 1 August 2024

679th Bombardment Squadron
444th Bombardment Group B-29 Superfortress[a]
Active1943-1944
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleHeavy bomber
EngagementsAmerican Theater of World War II
China Burma India Theater
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Insignia
Unofficial 679th Bombardment Squadron emblem[1]

The 679th Bombardment Squadron is a disbanded unit of the United States Army Air Forces (AAF). It was last assigned to the 444th Bombardment Group at Dudhkundi Airfield, India where it was disbanded on 12 October 1944.

During World War II, the squadron was an Army Air Forces combat organization. It was part of the first Boeing B-29 Superfortress group formed for the 58th Bombardment Wing, and served in the China Burma India Theater as part of Twentieth Air Force. The squadron's aircraft engaged in very heavy bombardment operations against Japan. The squadron received the Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat operations. It was disbanded when the AAF reorganized its very heavy bombardment groups into three squadron units.

History

[edit]

Training for combat

[edit]

The 679th Bombardment Squadron was activated on 1 March 1943 at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona as one of the original squadrons of the 444th Bombardment Group.[2] The 444th was assigned to the first Boeing B-29 Superfortress wing, the 58th Bombardment Wing. After a period of organization at Davis-Monthan the squadron moved to Great Bend Army Air Field, Kansas. for training, initially flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, Consolidated B-24 Liberators and Martin B-26 Marauders.[3] The group engaged in training on the new aircraft and its mission of long range precision bombing. At Great Bend, the squadron received early model Boeing B-29 Superfortresses and prototype YB-29s, however aircraft were still undergoing development and were frequently modified by Boeing technicians in the field while the squadron was undergoing training in Kansas. In November 1943 The 444th reorganized as a Very Heavy group and added the 8th Bombardment Maintenance Squadron, which was paired with the 679th to maintain its B-29s.[4]

China Burma India Theater

[edit]

In early April 1944, the squadron left the United States and deployed to a former B-24 Liberator airfield at Charra Airfield, India. The first airplane of the 444th group landed at Charra on 11 April 1944. Due to the lack of revetments at Charra the squadron's airplanes were parked wingtip to wingtip on the field's shorter runway. Charra served only as a maintenance and staging base. Its runways were too short for a B-29 to take off fully loaded. While the group was stationed there, all missions were flown from the bases of the other groups in the 58th Bombardment Wing.[5]

From India, the 444th Bomb Group planned to fly missions against Japan from advanced airfields in China. However, all the supplies of fuel, bombs and spare parts needed to support operations from the forward bases in China had to be flown from India over The Hump. For this role, one aircraft from the squadron was stripped of combat equipment and used as a flying tanker. Each aircraft carried seven tons of fuel, but the amount that was delivered to China depended on weather, including headwinds and aircraft icing which increased the fuel consumption of the "tankers."[6]

The squadron flew its first combat mission on 5 June 1944 against the Makasan railroad yards at Bangkok, Thailand. Ten days later the 679th participated in the first American air attack on the Japanese home islands since the 1942 Doolittle raid, staging through Chinese bases on a nighttime raid against the iron and steel works at Yawata, Japan.[7] It returned to Yawata on 20 August on a daytime raid for which the unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.[2] Operating from bases in India and at times staging through fields in China, the group struck transportation centers, naval installations, aircraft plants and other targets in Burma, China, Thailand, Japan and Formosa.[3]

On 12 October 1944 the 444th group reorganized. The 679th Bombardment Squadron and the four bombardment maintenance squadrons were disbanded and their personnel and equipment were transferred to the other squadrons of the group.[2][4]

Lineage

[edit]
  • Constituted as the 679th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 15 February 1943
Activated on 1 March 1943
Redesignated 679th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (B-29) on 26 April 1943
Redesignated 679th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 20 November 1943
Disbanded on 12 October 1944[8]

Assignments

[edit]
  • 444th Bombardment Group, 1 March 1943 – 12 October 1944[8]

Stations

[edit]
  • Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 1 March 1943
  • Great Bend Army Air Field, Kansas, 3 August 1943 – 12 March 1944
  • Charra Airfield, India, c. 13 April 1944
  • Dudhkundi Airfield, India, 1 July 1844 – 12 October 1944[8]

Aircraft

[edit]
  • Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1943
  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1944
  • Boeing YB-29 Superfortress, 1943–1944
  • Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1943–1944[8]

Awards and campaigns

[edit]
Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation 20 August 1944 Yawata, Japan[2]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater of World War II without inscription 1 March 1943-12 March 1944 [2]
India-Burma 13 April 1944 – 12 October 1944 [2]
Air Offensive, Japan 13 April 1944 – 12 October 1944 [2]
China Defensive 13 April 1944 – 12 October 1944 [2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is Bell Aircraft built Boeing B-29-30-BA Superfortress, serial 42-63577 Round Robin Rosie. This aircraft returned to the United States after the war and was reclaimed on 15 February 1957. Bauger, "1942 USAF Serial Numbers".
Citations
  1. ^ Watkins, p. 92
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 705
  3. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 318-319
  4. ^ a b "Abstract, History 8th Bombardment Maintenance Squadron". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  5. ^ Pictorial History, pp. 32-33. No page numbers in book. Page numbers are from online .pdf
  6. ^ Pictorial History, p. 85
  7. ^ Pictorial History, p. 86
  8. ^ a b c d Lineage, assignments, stations, aircraft, awards and campaigns in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 705, except April 1943 redesignation, see Robertson, Patsy (6 April 2010). "Factsheet 444 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2019.

Bibliography

[edit]

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

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