73d Bombardment Squadron | |
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Emblem of the 73d Bombardment Squadron (World War II) |
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Active | 1918-1943 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Bombardment |
The 73d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Second Air Force, stationed at Pyote Army Air Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 1 November 1943.
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Established in 1918 and deployed to France. Served as air park with Second Army, c. 15 November 1919. Reactivated at March Field, California in 1931, equipped with variety of attack aircraft including Northrup A-17A. Flew reconnaissance flights in support of flood-relief in Southern California, 2–5 March 1938. Reassigned to Northwest Air District in 1940, training with B-18 Bolo medium bombers. Assigned to the new Elmendorf Field, near Anchorage, Alaska in early 1941; being one of the first Air Corps units assigned to the Alaska Territory. After the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Alaska.
When the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Islands in June, 1942, the squadron was reassigned to Fort Glenn Army Airfield on Adak Island; and began combat missions over the captured islands of Kisku and Attu. Flew combat missions with B-26 Marauders and later B-25 Mitchell medium bombers during the Aleutian Campaign returning to the United States in August 1943
Squadron inactivated at Pyote Army Airfield in November 1943; personnel retrained as replacement crews for B-17 Flying Fortresses; aircraft redeployed as replacement aircraft to overseas combat units.
. Redesignated 73d Pursuit Squadron on 8 May 1929
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.