426th Bombardment Squadron

History

Established as a B-25 Mitchell medium bombardment squadron in early 1942; trained under Third Air Force. Assigned to Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina as first an Operational Training Unit (OTU) for newly formed squadrons, then in 1943 becoming a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for pilots and aircrew on the B-25 prior to the personnel being assigned overseas to combat units. Inactivated on 1 May 1944 with the phaseout of B-25 training.

Lineage

Constituted 37th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 28 Jan 1942

Activated on 15 Mar 1942 Redesignated 426th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 Apr 1942 Disbanded on 1 May 1944

Assignments

309th Bombardment Group, 15 March 1942 – 1 May 1944

Stations

Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 15 March 1942

Jackson Army Air Base, Mississippi, 15 March 1942

Key Field, Mississippi, 29 April 1942;

Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, 15 May 1942 – 1 May 1944

Aircraft

B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1944