P/O 43rd BG WW-2
Submitted by Jim Webb
Constituted 13th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 403rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942. Inactivated on 29 Apr 1946. Redesignated 403rd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 20 Aug 1958. Activated on 1 Dec 1958. Discontinued on 15 Mar 1960. Organized on 15 May 1960. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Jan 1961.
Assignments. 43rd Bombardment Group, 15 Jan 1941-29 Apr 1946. 43rd Bombardment Wing, 1 Dec 1958; Department of the Air force, 15 Mar 1960; Strategic Air Command, 12 Apr 1960; 43rd Bombardment Wing, 15 May 1960-1 Jan 1961.
Stations. Langley Field, Va, 15 Jan 1941; Bangor, Maine, 30 Aug-18 Jan 1942; Melbourne, Australia, 27 Feb 1942; Laverton, Australia, 14 Mar 1942; Torrens Creek, Australia, 27 Aug 1942; Iron Range, Australia, c. 17 Oct 1942; Milne Bay, New Guinea, 23 Nov 1942; Mareeba, Australia, c. 21 Jan 1943; Port Moresby, New Guinea, c. 11 May 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, c. 13 Dec 1943; Nadzab, New Guinea, 12 Mar 1944; Owi, Schouten Islands, 28 Jul 1944; Tacloban, Leyte, c. 19 Nov 1944; Clark Field, Luzon, c. 15 Mar 1945; Ie Shima, 22 Jul 1945; Ft. william McKinley, Luzon, 10 Dec 1945-29 Apr 1946. Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz, 1 Dec 1958-15 Mar 1960. Carswell AFB, Tex, 15 May 1960-1 Jan 1961.
Aircraft. Included B-17 and B-18, 1941; B-18 and A-29 for antisubmarine operations. 1941-1942; B-17, 1942-1943; B-24, 1942-1945. B-47, 1958-1960. B-58, 1960.
Operations. Antisubmarine, Dec 1941-Jan 1942; combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, Oct 1942-12 Aug 1945; not fully manned or equipped, 23 Nov 1945-29 Apr 1946.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Papua; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive.
Decorations. distinguished Unit Citations: Papua, [Oct] 1942-23 Jan 1943; Bismarck Sea, 2-4 Mar 1943. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Emblem. On a silver-gray sector of a circle, point down, within an Air force blue border, an fir Force blue globe, land areas white, below the constellations Cassiopeia in dexter chief and the Big Dipper in sinister chief, air force golden yellow; over all two radar crosshairs, Air Force golden yellow. (Approved 31 Jul 1959.)