881st Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 881st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 500th Bombardment Group. It was inactivated at March Field, California
on 12 November 1945.
very heavy bombardment group in late 1943; trained by Second Air Force
, initially with B-17s until production B-29s became available. Deployed to Central Pacific Area (CPA) in August 1944, assigned to XXI Bomber Command
on Saipan
. Conducted very long range strategic bombardment attacks on the Japanese Home Islands
, attacking military and industrial targets. Supported the invasion of Okinawa hitting enemy strong points with massive bombing attacks. Ended combat with the Japanese Capitulation in August 1945.
Afer hostilities ended, the squadron dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners in Japan, Korea
, China
, and Formosa
after the war. Returned to the US in October 1945.
The squadron was assigned first to Continental Air Forces's Fourth Air Force
at March AFB, California
, However demobilization was in full swing and the unit was inactivated on 17 Jan 1946.
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. It was last assigned to the 500th Bombardment Group. It was inactivated at March Field, 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...
on 12 November 1945.
History
Established as a B-29 SuperfortressB-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
very heavy bombardment group in late 1943; trained by Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, initially with B-17s until production B-29s became available. Deployed to Central Pacific Area (CPA) in August 1944, assigned to XXI Bomber Command
XXI Bomber Command
The XXI Bomber Command was a unit of the Twentieth Air Force in Guam for strategic bombing during World War II.- Lineage:* Constituted as XXI Bomber Command on 1 Mar 1944, and activated the same day.-Assignments:...
on Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. Conducted very long range strategic bombardment attacks on the Japanese Home Islands
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, attacking military and industrial targets. Supported the invasion of Okinawa hitting enemy strong points with massive bombing attacks. Ended combat with the Japanese Capitulation in August 1945.
Afer hostilities ended, the squadron dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners in Japan, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
after the war. Returned to the US in October 1945.
The squadron was assigned first to Continental Air Forces's Fourth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
at March AFB, 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...
, However demobilization was in full swing and the unit was inactivated on 17 Jan 1946.
Lineage
- Constituted 881st Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 19 Nov 1943
- Activated on 20 Nov 1943
- Inactivated on 17 Jan 1946
Stations
- Gowen Field, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, 20 Nov 1943 - Clovis Army Airfield, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, 12 Jan 1944 - Walker Army Airfield, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 23 Jul 1944 - Isley AirfieldSaipan International Airport- See also :* East Field * USAAF in the Central Pacific-References:* Dorr, Robert F. B-29 Units of World War II. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-285-7...
, SaipanSaipanSaipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Mariana IslandsMariana IslandsThe Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
, 18 Sep 1944-21 Oct 1945 - March Field, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia 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...
, 24 Oct 1945-17 Jan 1946