81st Bombardment Squadron: Difference between revisions
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==Commanders (with date of appointment)== | ==Commanders (with date of appointment)== | ||
Capt. O'Hara - 15 Jan 1941 - 23 Jan 1941 <ref name="USAHFRA REEL A0567">A0567, Pg. 216</ref> <br/> | Capt. O'Hara - 15 Jan 1941 - 23 Jan 1941 <ref name="USAHFRA REEL A0567">A0567, Pg. 216</ref> <br/> | ||
Capt. Curtis R. Low - 23 Jan 1941 - 30 Jan 1941 <ref | Capt. Curtis R. Low - 23 Jan 1941 - 30 Jan 1941 <ref="USAHFRA REEL A0567">A0567, Pg. 216</ref><br/> | ||
Capt. O'Hara - 30 Jan 1941 - 12 July 1941 <ref | Capt. O'Hara - 30 Jan 1941 - 12 July 1941 <ref="USAHFRA REEL A0567">A0567, Pg. 217</ref><br/> | ||
Capt. Curtis R. Low - 12 July 1941 - <ref | Capt. Curtis R. Low - 12 July 1941 - <ref="USAHFRA REEL A0567">A0567, Pg. 217</ref> | ||
<ref group="footnotes">O'Hara started command, then Low took over. Then on the 30th of Jan, O'Hara took over again, then he was promoted to Major and shipped off with the 17th Bombardment Group and Low took over permanently. </ref> <br/> | <ref group="footnotes">O'Hara started command, then Low took over. Then on the 30th of Jan, O'Hara took over again, then he was promoted to Major and shipped off with the 17th Bombardment Group and Low took over permanently. </ref> <br/> | ||
Revision as of 20:16, 2 May 2022
| 81st Bombardment Squadron | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Air Force: 10th Air Force | |||
| Division: | |||
| Group: 12th Bombardment Group | |||
| Active: 1941-1946 | |||
| Theater China-Burma-India | |||
| Motto: | |||
| Donate | |||
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| Even a small donation of a couple of dollars goes a long way in helping | |||
History
The 81st Bomb Squadron was formed from the 34th Bombardment Squadron on 15 January 1941 at McChord Field. [1]. The new squadron was just 27 soldiers, with Capt. O'Hara commanding [1]
Arrival of the Invaders
Markings
Little was known about the markings applied to the A-26s used by the 12th Bomb Group. Members of the 12th Bombardment Group Facebook page have shared some photos and excerpts from war diaries that have allowed us to draw some informed conclusions about the markings used by the 12th for their Invaders. Based on comparison of the markings used by their B-25s, this marking pattern appears to be new and was not used on the Mitchells. Special thanks to Christopher Hammerbeck, Zoran Mudric, Steve Mackenzie, and Rodney Lincoln for the information and photos.
The base of the marking system was a band across the tail with two-digit numbers denoting the specific plane. The number system is as follows:
81st BS – red band with aluminum numbers (from a war diary entry Aug 1945)
With regards to the tail numbers themselves, they are as follows:
09-29
It is assumed that 01 was the administrative aircraft for the 81st.
Missions
Although the 12th Bomb Group was highly decorated and participated in many battles with their B-25 Mitchells, the A-26s arrived too late into the war to be used operationally. The unit flew some training missions with the Invader, but did not fly any of the airframes in combat.
Planes
By June 1945 this squadron had 10 Aircraft. By July, the report states that they have "met their quota" for A-26s but doesn't say what that number is.
Pg. 1534 notes that the A-26s were silver with a red ring around the engine cowls, and a red stripe with silver numbers on the tail.
44-34397 - Tail #15 - Arrived by July, 1945. 2 photos, including one in the July 1945 report.
44-34416 - Tail #16 - Photograph.
44-34436 - mentioned in Armorers report (pg.1363, July, 1945, & Pg. 1525, Aug 1945)
44-34452 - Tail #12 - Photograph.
Commanders (with date of appointment)
Capt. O'Hara - 15 Jan 1941 - 23 Jan 1941 [1]
Capt. Curtis R. Low - 23 Jan 1941 - 30 Jan 1941 <ref="USAHFRA REEL A0567">A0567, Pg. 216</ref>
Capt. O'Hara - 30 Jan 1941 - 12 July 1941 <ref="USAHFRA REEL A0567">A0567, Pg. 217</ref>
Capt. Curtis R. Low - 12 July 1941 - <ref="USAHFRA REEL A0567">A0567, Pg. 217</ref>
[footnotes 1]
Main Bases
Photos
Notes
- ↑ O'Hara started command, then Low took over. Then on the 30th of Jan, O'Hara took over again, then he was promoted to Major and shipped off with the 17th Bombardment Group and Low took over permanently.
References
PRIMARY REFERENCES
USAFHRA REEL B0072
USAFHRA REEL A0567
Historical Photos
SECONDARY REFERNCES
https://www.12bg.org/
Deaile, Melvin G. (2007). The SAC Mentality: The Origins of Organizational Culture in Strategic Air Command 1946–1962. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina.
Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems (PDF). Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
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.
Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Stahura, Barbara (1998). Earthquakers: 12th Bombardment Group (M). Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1-56311-414-4.
Tucker, Lt Col Charles H.; Bledsoe, Larry W. (Winter 2017). "U.S. Army Air Force 12th Bombardment Group in WWII "The EARTHQUAKERS"". AAHS Journal. American Aviation Historical Society. 62 (4): 279–289.