| 432d Bombardment Squadron | |
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Emblem of the 432d Bombardment Squadron |
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| Active | 1917-1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Bombardment |
The 432d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Group, stationed at Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts. It was inactivated on 26 November 1945.
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Activated during World War I. Deployed to France and constructed facilities, maintained aircraft, and trained observers in Zone of Advance, 1917–1919; prepared for combat as observation unit in Ju1 1918, but never went to front. Returned to the United States and demobilized in 1919.
Reactivated in 1940 as a reconnaissance squadron, assigned to GHQAF at March Field, California. Reassigned to Pacific Northwest Air District in June 1940, mission being reconnaissance and observation. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, flew antisubmarine patrols over Oregon/Washington coastline.
Reassigned to Lexington County Airport (later Columbia Army Airfield), South Carolina in early 1942. Public mission was to perform antisubmarine patrols over southeast coast; actual mission was to train aircrews for Doolittle Raid with B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. Some aircrew from squadron later participated in the raid, the balance of the squadron completed training in Louisiana before being deployed to Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) as part of Operation Torch forces; being formed into XII Bomber Command in Algeria during December 1942.
Transitioned to B-26 Marauder medium bomber in Algeria; engaged in combat operations over North Africa supporting American and later Allied ground forces in Tunisia. Provided tactical air support in liberation of Sardinia and Corsica, 1943-1944. Flew tactical bombardment missions of enemy targets in Italy and Southern France from airfields in Corsica, later supporting Allied ground forces during Invasion of Southern France, August 1944. Moved into Southern France and performed tactical bombardment of enemy targets during Allied drive northward into Eastern France; participating in Western Allied invasion of Germany during March-April 1945.
Remained in Europe after German capitulation, becoming part of United States Air Forces in Europe occupation forces, being assigned to American Occupation Zone in Austria. Squadron returned to France in November 1945 and demobilized. Inactivated as a paper unit in the United States.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.