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The '''880th Bombardment Squadron''' is a former [[United States Army Air Forces]] unit. It was an early [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] unit, but was inactivated in the spring of 1944 when the Army Air Forces reorganized its very heavy bomber units. It was reactivated in August 1944 and deployed to the Pacific in 1945, but arrived too late to see combat. It returned to the United States in December and was inactivated.
The '''880th Bombardment Squadron''' is a former [[United States Army Air Forces]] unit. It was an early [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] unit, but was inactivated in the spring of 1944 when the Army Air Forces reorganized its very heavy bomber units. It was reactivated in August 1944 and deployed to the Pacific in 1945, but arrived too late to see combat. The [[squadron (aviation)|squadron]] returned to the United States in December and was inactivated.


==History==
==History==
The [[squadron (aviation)|squadron]] was activated at [[Davis-Monthan Field]], Arizona in November 1943 as one of the original four squadrons of the [[499th Bombardment Group]]. Ten days later, a [[cadre (military)|cadre]] moved to [[Smoky Hill Army Air Field]], Kansas to begin [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] very heavy bomber training. The 879th trained in Kansas with early model B-29s, with frequent delays in training due to modifications of the aircraft correcting production deficiencies.{{citation needed|reason=reason for training delays|date=February 2019}} In May 1944, the [[Army Air Forces]] reorganized its very heavy bomber units, reducing them from four to three operational squadrons. The 880th was inactivated in this reorganization.<ref name=Maurer880BS>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 796</ref><ref name=Maurer499BG>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 565-566</ref>
Established as a [[B-29 Superfortress]] very heavy bombardment group in late 1943; trained by [[Second Air Force]], initially with B-17s until production B-29s became available. Reassigned to the 383d Bomb Group in Aug 1944, its aircraft and personnel being reassigned to other squadrons of the 499th. Shortages of B-29s for training caused the 383d and the squadron to remain in the United States for almost a year until finally it deployed to the [[Central Pacific Area]] in June 1945 as part of the new [[Eighth Air Force]] in the Pacific.


The squadron was activated again three months later at [[Dalhart Army Air Field]], Texas, where it was assigned to the [[383d Bombardment Group]].<ref name=Maurer880BS/> Shortages of B-29s for training caused the 383d and the squadron to remain in the United States{{citation needed|reason=need support for aircraft shortage causing delay|date=February 2019}} for almost a year until finally it deployed to the [[Central Pacific Area]] in August 1945.<ref name=Maurer880BS/> By the time the squadron arrived at [[West Field (Tinian)]] in September, hostilities in the Pacific had ended and it did not see combat.<ref>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 270</ref> The squadron returned to the United States in December and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation.<ref name=Maurer880BS/>
The squadron arrived on [[Tinian]] in September 1945 after the Japanese capitulation and did not see combat. Squadron dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners in Japan, [[Korea]], [[China]], and [[Formosa]] after the war. Personnel demobilized on Tinian, aircraft flown to United States and placed in reserve storage or assigned to other units. Inactivated as a paper unit in January 1946.


===Lineage===
===Lineage===
Line 44: Line 44:
===Assignments===
===Assignments===
* [[499th Bombardment Group]], 20 Nov 1943-10 May 1944
* [[499th Bombardment Group]], 20 Nov 1943-10 May 1944
* [[383d Bombardment Group]], 28 Aug 1944-3 Jan 1946
* 383d Bombardment Group, 28 Aug 1944-3 Jan 1946


===Stations===
===Stations===
* [[Davis-Monthan Field]], [[Arizona]], 20 Nov 1943
* Davis-Monthan Field, [[Arizona]], 20 Nov 1943
* [[Smoky Hill Army Airfield]], [[Kansas]], 1 Dec 1943
* Smoky Hill Army Air Field, [[Kansas]], 1 Dec 1943
* [[Clovis Army Airfield]], [[New Mexico]], 11 Feb 1944
* [[Clovis Army Airfield]], [[New Mexico]], 11 Feb 1944
* [[Smoky Hill Army Airfield]], [[Kansas]], 8 Apr-10 May 1944
* Smoky Hill Army Air Field, [[Kansas]], 8 Apr-10 May 1944
* [[Dalhart Army Air Field]], [[Texas]], 28 Aug 1944
* Dalhart Army Air Field, [[Texas]], 28 Aug 1944
* [[Walker Army Airfield]], [[Kansas]], 14 Jan-11 Aug 1945
* [[Walker Army Airfield]], [[Kansas]], 14 Jan-11 Aug 1945
* [[Tinian International Airport|West Field]], [[Tinian]], [[Northern Mariana Islands]], 12 Sep-c. 14 Dec 1945
* [[Tinian International Airport|West Field]], [[Tinian]], [[Northern Mariana Islands]], 12 Sep-c. 14 Dec 1945
* Camp Anza, [[California]], 29 Dec 1945
* Camp Anza, [[California]], 29 Dec 1945

===Campaigns===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Campaign Streamer
! Campaign
! Dates
! Notes
|-
|[[Image:Streamer AC.PNG|200px]] ||American Theater without inscription||20 November 1943-10 May 1944, 28 August 1944-14 August 1945||<ref name=Maurer880BS/>
|-
|[[Image:Streamer APC.PNG|200px]]||Asiatic–Pacific Theater without inscription||2 September 1945-14 December 1945||<ref name=Maurer880BS/>
|}


===Aircraft===
===Aircraft===

Revision as of 13:22, 5 February 2019

880th Bombardment Squadron
B-29 Superfortress as flown by the 880th
Active1943-1946
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Roleheavy bomber

The 880th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. It was an early Boeing B-29 Superfortress unit, but was inactivated in the spring of 1944 when the Army Air Forces reorganized its very heavy bomber units. It was reactivated in August 1944 and deployed to the Pacific in 1945, but arrived too late to see combat. The squadron returned to the United States in December and was inactivated.

History

The squadron was activated at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona in November 1943 as one of the original four squadrons of the 499th Bombardment Group. Ten days later, a cadre moved to Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas to begin Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber training. The 879th trained in Kansas with early model B-29s, with frequent delays in training due to modifications of the aircraft correcting production deficiencies.[citation needed] In May 1944, the Army Air Forces reorganized its very heavy bomber units, reducing them from four to three operational squadrons. The 880th was inactivated in this reorganization.[1][2]

The squadron was activated again three months later at Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, where it was assigned to the 383d Bombardment Group.[1] Shortages of B-29s for training caused the 383d and the squadron to remain in the United States[citation needed] for almost a year until finally it deployed to the Central Pacific Area in August 1945.[1] By the time the squadron arrived at West Field (Tinian) in September, hostilities in the Pacific had ended and it did not see combat.[3] The squadron returned to the United States in December and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation.[1]

Lineage

  • Constituted 880th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 19 Nov 1943
Activated on 20 Nov 1943
Inactivated on 10 May 1944
  • Activated on 28 Aug 1944
Inactivated on 3 Jan 1946

Assignments

Stations

Campaigns

Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription 20 November 1943-10 May 1944, 28 August 1944-14 August 1945 [1]
Asiatic–Pacific Theater without inscription 2 September 1945-14 December 1945 [1]

Aircraft

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 796
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 565-566
  3. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 270

Bibliography

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

  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
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