| Unit Name: | 759th Bombardment Squadron |
| Dates: | 1943–1945; 1947–1951 |
| Role: | Bombardment |
| Battles: | Mediterranean Theater of Operations[1] |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 759th Airlift Squadron emblem |
The 759th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was organized in July 1943 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator unit. After training in the United States, it moved to Italy, where it engaged in the strategic bombing campaign against the Axis, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for an attack on an aircraft factory in Austria. it was inactivated after returning to the United States.
The squadron was activated in the reserve at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona in 1947, although it is not clear if it was equipped before 1949. At that time it became a corollary of the 43d Bombardment Group, a Strategic Air Command unit flying Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. It was mobilized for the Korean War in May 1951. After its personnel were transferred to other units, it was inactivated on 16 June 1951.
The squadron was first activated on 1 July 1943 at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico as the 759th Bombardment Squadron, one of the four original squadrons of the 459th Bombardment Group. The squadron trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberators under Second Air Force Until October, when it moved to Westover Field, Massachusetts.[1] [2] The squadron flew long-range convoy escort missions over area between the Newfoundland Banks and Long Island Sound in November and December 1943 while Giulia Airfield, its station in Italy, was being constructed. In January 1944, the squadron began its overseas movement.[1]
The squadron arrived in Italy in February 1944 and began flying combat missions in March.[2] The squadron engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airfields, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives. In April 1944, the 459th Group led the 304th Bombardment Wing in an attack on an airfield and aircraft factory at Bad Vöslau, Austria through heavy flak and fighter attacks. The squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for this action.[1] [2]
In addition to strategic missions, the squadron also carried out support and interdiction operations. In March 1944, the squadron attacked railroads used to supply enemy forces surrounding the Anzio beachhead. In August, it struck bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations to aid Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. It also hit communications lines and other targets during March and April 1945 to support the advance of British Eighth Army and American Fifth Army in northern Italy.[2]
The squadron returned to the United States in August 1945, being programmed for deployment to the Pacific Theater as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombardment squadron. A cadre reformed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in the middle of the month. The Japanese surrender in August led to the inactivation of unit on 28 August.[1]
The 759th was activated as a reserve unit at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona in April 1947, although its parent 459th Group was located at Long Beach Army Air Field, California. Although nominally a heavy bomber unit, it is not clear whether the squadron was equipped with operational aircraft prior to 1949.[3] The rest of the 459th Group at Long Beach trained with North American T-6 Texans and Beechcraft T-7 Navigators and T-11 Kansans[4] [5] [6] The squadron trained under the supervision of the 419th AAF Base Unit (later the 2348th Air Force Reserve Flying Training Center).[7]
President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force.[8] ConAC also reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system in June 1949, making the 459th Group and its squadrons at Long Beach surplus. However, the May 1949 Air Force Reserve program called for a new type of unit, the corollary unit, which was a reserve unit integrated with an active duty unit. The plan called for corollary units at 107 locations. It was viewed as the best method to train reservists by mixing them with an existing regular unit to perform duties alongside the regular unit.[9] The 459th Group headquarters moved without personnel or equipment to Davis-Monthan and the group and squadron became corollaries of Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s 43d Bombardment Group, a B-29 unit. Along with all other reserve corollary units, the group was mobilized for the Korean War.[10] Once the squadron was mobilized in May 1951 SAC reassigned its personnel to other units and the unit inactivated the following month.[1]
Activated on 1 July 1943
Inactivated on 28 August 1945
Activated in the reserve on 19 April 1947
Redesignated 759 Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 26 June 1949
Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951
Inactivated on 16 June 1951[12]
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Offensive, Europe | 12 February 1944 – 5 June 1944 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| Air Combat, EAME Theater | 12 February 1944 – 11 May 1945 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| Rome-Arno | 12 February 1944 – 9 September 1944 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| Southern France | 15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| North Apennines | 10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 759th Bombardment Squadron | ||
| Po Valley | 3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 | 759th Bombardment Squadron |