464th Bombardment Squadron

History

Activated in mid 1942 as heavy bomber Operational Training Unit (OTU), later becoming a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for deployed combat units, assigned to II Bomber Command. Inactivated in April 1944 when heavy bomber training ended.

Redgesignated as a B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombardment Squadron in August 1944; trained under Second Air Force. Training considerably delayed due to equipment shortages, received B-29 aircraft in Salina, Kansas in late spring 1945. Ground echelon deployed to Northern Mariana Islands by ship in early August 1945; air echelon remained at last training base in Kansas after Japanese Capitulation. Ground echelon remained in Marianas supporting other units aircraft and demobilization; air echelon demobilized with new B-29 aircraft remaining in Kansas, eventually being assigned to postwar units. Entire unit inactivated by December 1945.

Lineage

Constituted 464th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 July 1942

Activated on 6 July 1942Inactivated on 1 April 1944

Redesignated 464th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 4 August 1944

Activated on 19 September 1944Inactivated on 4 January 1946.

Assignments

331st Bombardment Group, 6 July 1942 – 1 April 1944

382d Bombardment Group, 19 September 1944 – 4 January 1946.

Stations

Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, 6 July 1942

Casper Army Air Field, Wyoming, 15 September 1942 – 1 April 1944.

Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, 19 September 1944

Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas, 11 December 1944 – 1 August 1945

Guam, 8 September 1945 (ground echelon only; air echelon remained in US until inactivation)

Tinian, c. Oct-15 December 1945 (ground echelon only)

Camp Anza, California, 28 December 1945 – 4 January 1946.

Aircraft

Combination of B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, and B-25 Mitchell used for training, 1944–1945

B-29 Superfortress, Received in late spring, 1945.