497th Bombardment Squadron

497th Bombardment Squadron
497th Bombardment Squadron
	Emblem of the 497th Bombardment Squadron
Active	1942-1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Bombardment

The 497th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 344th Bombardment Group, stationed at Schleissheim Palace, Germany. It was inactivated on 15 February 1946.

History

26 February 1945. A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26G-11-MA Marauder (s/n 43-34565) from the 497th Bombardment Squadron, 344th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, enveloped in flames and hurtling earthward after enemy flak scored a direct hit on left engine while aircraft was attacking front line enemy communications center at Erkelenz, Germany. (MACR 12649)

Activated in late 1942 as a III Bomber Command Replacement Training Unit. In late 1943, realigned as an operational squadron, deployed to European Theater of Operations in February 1944. Assigned to IX Bomber Command in 1944. Engaged in tactical bombardment of enemy targets in Occupied Europe initially from stations in England, then after D-Day, moved to Advanced Landing Grounds in France and Belgium; advancing eastward as Allied ground forces advanced. Supported Eighth Air Force strategic bombardment missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe; striking enemy airfields to obtain maximum interference in Luftwaffe day interceptor attacks on heavy bomber formations returning to England. Also participated in Western Allied Invasion of Germany, March–April 1945, combat ending with German Capitation in May 1945.

Squadron remained in Germany as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe occupation fores. Personnel demobilized in Germany and squadron inactivated on 15 February 1946.

Lineage

Constituted 497th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 31 August 1942

Activated on 8 September 1942

Inactivated on 30 December 1945

Assignments

344th Bombardment Group, 8 September 1942 – 30 December 1945

Stations

MacDill Field, Florida, 8 September 1942
Drane Field, Florida, 28 December 1942
Hunter Field, Georgia, 19 December 1943- 26 January 1944
RAF Stansted Mountfitchet (AAF-169), England, 9 February 1944
Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airfield (A-59), France, 30 September 1944
Florennes/Juzaine Airfield (A-78), Belgium, 5 April 1945
Schleissheim Palace, Germany, 15 September 1945 – 15 February 1946 (Ground Echelon)

Aircraft

B-26 Marauder, 1942–1945

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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.