3d Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 3d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, based at Travis Air Force Base
, California
. It was inactivated on 1 January 1953.
; moved to Rio Hato Airfield just after the Attack on Pearl Harbor
in December 1941. The unit was initially equipped with 4 Douglas B-18 Bolo
s and 1 B-17B. On 20 November 1940 it was formally redesignated as the 3rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in keeping with the Air Corps-wide policy of configuring for future re-equipment and role definition.
It is known that the squadron received at least three Boeing B-17B Flying Fortresse's (including 38-222, which was lost on 2 August 1941), one of the first Canal Zone-based units to operate the four-engined bomber. It is also known that the squadron utilized a number of the enlisted graduates of the Bombardiers School conducted at France Field to alleviate the critical shortage of these specialists in Canal Zone based units.
By 31 December 1941, the unit was operating essentially as an integrated unit with the 25th Bombardment Squadron at Rio Hato, the two Squadron were jointly operating nine new Boeing B-17E's, of which four were unserviceable due to parts shortages and the lack of maintenance experience of the ground crews on the type. By the end of January 1942, the squadron had surrendered its interest in the B-17E's, although a single Northrop A-17
was also on strength by this time, another being added by mid-February 1942. By mid-February, unit strength was further augmented by assignment of three more B-18's (for a total of seven B-18's and two B-18A's, plus the A-17) but only eight combat crews were assigned to actually operate the aircraft; all of whom had less than 12 month experience on the aircraft on hand.
In May 1942 the squadron moved to Seymour Island Airfield in the Galapagos Islands
, where its mission became to perform very long over-water patrols guarding the Pacific areas of the Panama Canal
. It is not clear if the Squadron re-equipped with Consolidated LB-30 Liberators prior to deploying to the Galapagos Islands or not, but this seems likely, as no B-18's are known to have operated there. The unit did operate two Consolidated PBY-5 Catalinas from the Galapagos, on loan from the Navy.
The Squadron's first wartime loss came in July 1942, when one of the fairly new LB-30's, homeward bound into the Galapagos from a routine patrol, crashed into the peak on Indefatigable Island, within a few minutes flying time of its home field. The entire 10 man crew was lost.
November 1942 also saw the 3rd BS receive a full allotment of new aircraft, when it exchanged its motley assortment of LB-30's and PBY-5's for seven "new" Consolidated B-24D Liberators (as well as at least two B-17E's, although these had disappeared by February when three more B-24D's arrived), although at least three LB-30's remained on strength with the Squadron as late as March 1943 (together with a solitary Piper L-4A Grasshopper (probably 42-36727). Between 13 and 27 March, the unit was effectively stood down, as its B-24D's had been transferred to another unit and the unit was left with but one (unserviceable) LB-30, and the L-4A and "no missions" were flown.
On 18 February 1943, an entire Squadron (minus aircraft and equipment), consisting of 56 officers and 320 other ranks, landed at Cristobal
in the Canal Zone. The unit which arrived at Cristobal had no designation, and was simply known to its members as "X" Squadron. These men were soon to become the "new" 3rd Bomb Squadron On 12 March 1943, these crews were moved by air and convoy to David Army Airfield, Panama, where they took over the designation and equipment of the 3rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). In turn, the personnel who had, up to this time, been the former members of the unit moved to Anton Army Airfield
and took up the designation 29th Bombardment Squadron. It was a literal exchange of station and designation between two units that has not heretofore been recorded.
The 3rd BS's stay at David was short-lived, as it was off again to distant shores, this time, with its fresh complement of personnel, to Talara Airfield, Peru
, (to replace the 397th Bombardment Squadron
(H)). After three or four days unpacking at Talara, General Brett arrived at Talara and ordered the unit to move to Salinas Airfield, Ecuador
to relieve the 25th Bomb Squadron there. Accordingly, the Squadron arrived at Salinas "in complete exasperation" as one veteran put it on 26 May. The unit had, around 29 May 1943, traded four of its RLB-30's for 11 B-17E' s (which were described as being in "a very run-down condition", although, in fact, two of these B-17E's were officially described as "on loan" to the 74th Bombardment Squadron
at the time) but, as the `new' members of the 3rd Bomb Squadron had been originally trained on B-17's, they were "very, very happy" to get them. The unit also had two Northrop A-17's (35-132 and 35-138) by this time.
Unbelievably, the unit was transferred back again to Talara Airfield by 16 June (although the "Official" USAF history says the unit was at David on 11 June 1943. The unit continued to participate in the never ending Pacific patrols but did, in fact, return to David once again, starting on 11 July 1943 (by air, aided by three aircraft of the hard-working 20th Troop Carrier Squadron) the only tactical unit there at the time. The two unit "hack" Northrop A-l7's hadn't quite made it back from Salinas, as they experienced mechanical difficulty at Cali Airport, Colombia
, where they remained as late as 7 August 1943, although they were finally recovered by 13 September.
From this time on, the unit became, essentially, a sort of Operational Training Unit (OTU) for VI Bomber Command
. Starting in August 1943, groups of Navigation Cadets were assigned for training while, during the same month, six of the unit's B-17E's were ordered to Guatemala City
to assist the 74th Bomb Squadron in its patrols missions from there, remaining TDY for six weeks. This left the unit, still nominally at David, with but four B-17E's.
The unit claimed its one-and-only contact with the enemy between 6 and 11 December 1943, when a single B-17E from the Squadron, deployed and operating in conjunction with Navy and other Sixth Air Force units, reported "contact" with a submarine, although the results of the subsequent attack have not been located.
Patrols from David continued into 1944, but on 6 April after trading in its remaining four tired B-17E's for four arguably equally tired B-24D's, the unit moved once again, this time by air and truck convoy, to the relative luxury of Howard Field, Canal Zone
, where it apparently received additional aircraft, as the unit had eight B-24D's by 1 July, Aircraft strength fluctuated somewhat from then until the end of the year, and the unit moved again (to Rio Hato) on 26 April 1944, and, with 12 B-24D's on hand as of October (of which a 83% were airworthy), by 8 December, the unit was once again at David with 11 B-24D's.
The unit had suffered a blow to efficiency when, in June 1944, 72 of its most skilled mechanics and enlisted crew members were reassigned to CONUS for further reassignment to more active war theaters. This came at a particularly difficult time, as, during the same month, a resurgence of German submarine activity in the Caribbean
resulted in Sixth Air Force ordering two 3rd BS B-24D's to move to France Field to assist Navy patrols in anti-submarine missions. One aircraft from the Squadron (aided by aircraft from Navy and other Sixth Air Force units) flew coordinated patrols while further detached at distant Hato Field, Curaçao
. While no definitive submarine attacks were made, there were many "suspicious" radar contacts.
By December 1944, the unit was officially described as "a training unit for combat crews" and moved back once again, briefly, to David, while the runway at Rio Hato was being repaired, but operational training continued.
The squadron moved to David once again on 25 January 1945 and, still equipped with the tired old B-24D's, suffered its last loss of the war on 23 May 1945 when 42-40962 was lost at sea with but one survivor. Shortly after this unfortunate incident, the unit turned in its surviving 10 B-24D's to the Panama Air Depot in exchange for seven "used" B-24J's and three brand-new B-24M's, although two of the best B-24Ds were retained for a time.
For the remainder of the war, the squadron continued as a bomber crew training unit, and in May 1945 its remaining personnel were sent to the United States. The squadron was kept on the books until November 1946 unmanned and unequipped until formally inactivated on 1 November.
111th Strategic Reconnaissance Group at Fairchild AFB, Washington in 1951. Functioned as the operational flying component of the Group (later Wing) which was acting as a filler for the 92d Bombardment Wing whose pilots and crews were deployed to Far East Air Force during the Korean War
.
Squadron operated RB-29 Superfortress very long range reconnaissance aircraft for a 17-month period of activation, flying Ferret missions around the Soviet Pacific coast and in the Bearing Straits. Assets reassigned to 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 1 Jan 1953; squadron inactivated when the 111th SRW was returned to state control.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was with the 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, based at Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command , located three miles east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County, California, United States. The base is named for Brigadier General Robert F...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was inactivated on 1 January 1953.
World War II
Activated on 1 February 1940 at France Field, Panama Canal ZonePanama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
; moved to Rio Hato Airfield just after the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
in December 1941. The unit was initially equipped with 4 Douglas B-18 Bolo
B-18 Bolo
The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
s and 1 B-17B. On 20 November 1940 it was formally redesignated as the 3rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in keeping with the Air Corps-wide policy of configuring for future re-equipment and role definition.
It is known that the squadron received at least three Boeing B-17B Flying Fortresse's (including 38-222, which was lost on 2 August 1941), one of the first Canal Zone-based units to operate the four-engined bomber. It is also known that the squadron utilized a number of the enlisted graduates of the Bombardiers School conducted at France Field to alleviate the critical shortage of these specialists in Canal Zone based units.
By 31 December 1941, the unit was operating essentially as an integrated unit with the 25th Bombardment Squadron at Rio Hato, the two Squadron were jointly operating nine new Boeing B-17E's, of which four were unserviceable due to parts shortages and the lack of maintenance experience of the ground crews on the type. By the end of January 1942, the squadron had surrendered its interest in the B-17E's, although a single Northrop A-17
Northrop A-17
The Northrop A-17, a development of the Northrop Gamma 2F was a two seat, single engine, monoplane, attack bomber built in 1935 by the Northrop Corporation for the US Army Air Corps.-Development and design:...
was also on strength by this time, another being added by mid-February 1942. By mid-February, unit strength was further augmented by assignment of three more B-18's (for a total of seven B-18's and two B-18A's, plus the A-17) but only eight combat crews were assigned to actually operate the aircraft; all of whom had less than 12 month experience on the aircraft on hand.
In May 1942 the squadron moved to Seymour Island Airfield in the Galapagos Islands
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
, where its mission became to perform very long over-water patrols guarding the Pacific areas of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. It is not clear if the Squadron re-equipped with Consolidated LB-30 Liberators prior to deploying to the Galapagos Islands or not, but this seems likely, as no B-18's are known to have operated there. The unit did operate two Consolidated PBY-5 Catalinas from the Galapagos, on loan from the Navy.
The Squadron's first wartime loss came in July 1942, when one of the fairly new LB-30's, homeward bound into the Galapagos from a routine patrol, crashed into the peak on Indefatigable Island, within a few minutes flying time of its home field. The entire 10 man crew was lost.
November 1942 also saw the 3rd BS receive a full allotment of new aircraft, when it exchanged its motley assortment of LB-30's and PBY-5's for seven "new" Consolidated B-24D Liberators (as well as at least two B-17E's, although these had disappeared by February when three more B-24D's arrived), although at least three LB-30's remained on strength with the Squadron as late as March 1943 (together with a solitary Piper L-4A Grasshopper (probably 42-36727). Between 13 and 27 March, the unit was effectively stood down, as its B-24D's had been transferred to another unit and the unit was left with but one (unserviceable) LB-30, and the L-4A and "no missions" were flown.
On 18 February 1943, an entire Squadron (minus aircraft and equipment), consisting of 56 officers and 320 other ranks, landed at Cristobal
Cristóbal, Colón
Cristóbal is a port in the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. It is located on the western edge of Manzanillo Island and is part of the Panamanian city and province of Colón...
in the Canal Zone. The unit which arrived at Cristobal had no designation, and was simply known to its members as "X" Squadron. These men were soon to become the "new" 3rd Bomb Squadron On 12 March 1943, these crews were moved by air and convoy to David Army Airfield, Panama, where they took over the designation and equipment of the 3rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). In turn, the personnel who had, up to this time, been the former members of the unit moved to Anton Army Airfield
Anton Army Airfield
Anton Army Airfield is a former United States Army Air Forces World War II airfield in Panama used as an auxiliary of Howard Field as part of the defense of the Panama Canal.Wartime units assigned to the station were:...
and took up the designation 29th Bombardment Squadron. It was a literal exchange of station and designation between two units that has not heretofore been recorded.
The 3rd BS's stay at David was short-lived, as it was off again to distant shores, this time, with its fresh complement of personnel, to Talara Airfield, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, (to replace the 397th Bombardment Squadron
397th Bombardment Squadron
The 397th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the VI Bomber Command, based at Rio Hato Army Air Base, Panama. It was inactivated on 1 November 1946.-Heraldry:...
(H)). After three or four days unpacking at Talara, General Brett arrived at Talara and ordered the unit to move to Salinas Airfield, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
to relieve the 25th Bomb Squadron there. Accordingly, the Squadron arrived at Salinas "in complete exasperation" as one veteran put it on 26 May. The unit had, around 29 May 1943, traded four of its RLB-30's for 11 B-17E' s (which were described as being in "a very run-down condition", although, in fact, two of these B-17E's were officially described as "on loan" to the 74th Bombardment Squadron
74th Bombardment Squadron
The 74th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 106th Bombardment Wing, based at March Air Force Base, California...
at the time) but, as the `new' members of the 3rd Bomb Squadron had been originally trained on B-17's, they were "very, very happy" to get them. The unit also had two Northrop A-17's (35-132 and 35-138) by this time.
Unbelievably, the unit was transferred back again to Talara Airfield by 16 June (although the "Official" USAF history says the unit was at David on 11 June 1943. The unit continued to participate in the never ending Pacific patrols but did, in fact, return to David once again, starting on 11 July 1943 (by air, aided by three aircraft of the hard-working 20th Troop Carrier Squadron) the only tactical unit there at the time. The two unit "hack" Northrop A-l7's hadn't quite made it back from Salinas, as they experienced mechanical difficulty at Cali Airport, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, where they remained as late as 7 August 1943, although they were finally recovered by 13 September.
From this time on, the unit became, essentially, a sort of Operational Training Unit (OTU) for VI Bomber Command
VI Bomber Command
The VI Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...
. Starting in August 1943, groups of Navigation Cadets were assigned for training while, during the same month, six of the unit's B-17E's were ordered to Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
to assist the 74th Bomb Squadron in its patrols missions from there, remaining TDY for six weeks. This left the unit, still nominally at David, with but four B-17E's.
The unit claimed its one-and-only contact with the enemy between 6 and 11 December 1943, when a single B-17E from the Squadron, deployed and operating in conjunction with Navy and other Sixth Air Force units, reported "contact" with a submarine, although the results of the subsequent attack have not been located.
Patrols from David continued into 1944, but on 6 April after trading in its remaining four tired B-17E's for four arguably equally tired B-24D's, the unit moved once again, this time by air and truck convoy, to the relative luxury of Howard Field, Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, where it apparently received additional aircraft, as the unit had eight B-24D's by 1 July, Aircraft strength fluctuated somewhat from then until the end of the year, and the unit moved again (to Rio Hato) on 26 April 1944, and, with 12 B-24D's on hand as of October (of which a 83% were airworthy), by 8 December, the unit was once again at David with 11 B-24D's.
The unit had suffered a blow to efficiency when, in June 1944, 72 of its most skilled mechanics and enlisted crew members were reassigned to CONUS for further reassignment to more active war theaters. This came at a particularly difficult time, as, during the same month, a resurgence of German submarine activity in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
resulted in Sixth Air Force ordering two 3rd BS B-24D's to move to France Field to assist Navy patrols in anti-submarine missions. One aircraft from the Squadron (aided by aircraft from Navy and other Sixth Air Force units) flew coordinated patrols while further detached at distant Hato Field, Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. While no definitive submarine attacks were made, there were many "suspicious" radar contacts.
By December 1944, the unit was officially described as "a training unit for combat crews" and moved back once again, briefly, to David, while the runway at Rio Hato was being repaired, but operational training continued.
The squadron moved to David once again on 25 January 1945 and, still equipped with the tired old B-24D's, suffered its last loss of the war on 23 May 1945 when 42-40962 was lost at sea with but one survivor. Shortly after this unfortunate incident, the unit turned in its surviving 10 B-24D's to the Panama Air Depot in exchange for seven "used" B-24J's and three brand-new B-24M's, although two of the best B-24Ds were retained for a time.
For the remainder of the war, the squadron continued as a bomber crew training unit, and in May 1945 its remaining personnel were sent to the United States. The squadron was kept on the books until November 1946 unmanned and unequipped until formally inactivated on 1 November.
Strategic Air Command
Reactivated as the 129th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron and assigned to the Federalized Pennsylvania Air National GuardPennsylvania Air National Guard
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is, along with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, an element of the Pennsylvania National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state.-Overview:The...
111th Strategic Reconnaissance Group at Fairchild AFB, Washington in 1951. Functioned as the operational flying component of the Group (later Wing) which was acting as a filler for the 92d Bombardment Wing whose pilots and crews were deployed to Far East Air Force during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Squadron operated RB-29 Superfortress very long range reconnaissance aircraft for a 17-month period of activation, flying Ferret missions around the Soviet Pacific coast and in the Bearing Straits. Assets reassigned to 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 1 Jan 1953; squadron inactivated when the 111th SRW was returned to state control.
Lineage
- Constituted 3d Bombardment Squadron on 1 January 1938
- Redesignated 3d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 December 1939
- Activated on 1 February 1940
- Redesignated 3d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 November 1940
- Inactivated on 1 November 1946
- Redesignated 129th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium, Photographic) on 24 July 1951.
- Activated on 1 August 1951
- Redesignated: 129th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 16 June 1952
- Redesignated: 129th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 16 October 1952
- Inactivated on 1 January 1953
Assignments
- 6th Bombardment Group, 1 February 1940
- VI Bomber CommandVI Bomber CommandThe VI Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...
, 1 November 1943-1 November 1946 - 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Group (Federalized Pennsylvania Air National GuardPennsylvania Air National GuardThe Pennsylvania Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is, along with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, an element of the Pennsylvania National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state.-Overview:The...
), 1 August 1951 - 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 16 June 1952-1 January 1953.
Stations
- France Field, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 1 February 1940 - Rio Hato AABRio Hato AirportRío Hato Airport is an airport and former Panamanian Defense Base in Panama, Río Hato.-International Airport:In 2011 the Government of Panama gave the order to proceed for the project to rebuild the airport...
, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, c. 8 December 1941 - Seymour Island AfldSeymour AirportSeymour Airport is an airport serving the island of Baltra, one of the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.- Facilities :The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, Galapagos IslandsGalápagos IslandsThe Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
, 4 May 1942 - David FieldEnrique Malek International Airport-Accidents and incidents:On July 13, 1943, there was an accident at this airfield that claimed the life of 12 airmen when their B-17 Flying Fortress stalled during approach and crashed in the runway....
, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, 12 March 1943 - Talara AfldCap. FAP Victor Montes Arias Airport-External links:...
, PeruPeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, c. 1 April 1943 - Salinas AfldGeneral Ulpiano Paez AirportGeneral Ulpiano Paez Airport is a public/military joint-use airport located near Salinas, a city in the province of Santa Elena in Ecuador.-History:...
, EcuadorEcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, 23 May 1943 - David FieldEnrique Malek International Airport-Accidents and incidents:On July 13, 1943, there was an accident at this airfield that claimed the life of 12 airmen when their B-17 Flying Fortress stalled during approach and crashed in the runway....
, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, 11 June 1943
- Howard Field, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 6 April 1944 - Rio Hato AABRio Hato AirportRío Hato Airport is an airport and former Panamanian Defense Base in Panama, Río Hato.-International Airport:In 2011 the Government of Panama gave the order to proceed for the project to rebuild the airport...
, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, c. 26 August 1944 - David FieldEnrique Malek International Airport-Accidents and incidents:On July 13, 1943, there was an accident at this airfield that claimed the life of 12 airmen when their B-17 Flying Fortress stalled during approach and crashed in the runway....
, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, 8 December 1944 - Rio Hato AABRio Hato AirportRío Hato Airport is an airport and former Panamanian Defense Base in Panama, Río Hato.-International Airport:In 2011 the Government of Panama gave the order to proceed for the project to rebuild the airport...
, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, 19 October 1945-1 November 1946 - Fairchild AFB, Washington, 1 August 1951-1 January 1953.
Aircraft
- B-18 BoloB-18 BoloThe Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
, 1940–1942 - LB-30 (B-24A) Liberator, 1942–1943
- B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942, 1943
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1942–1943; 1944–1946 - B/RB-29 Superfortress, 1951-1952