485th Bombardment Squadron
Military unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 485th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 501st Bombardment Group at Northwest Field, Guam, where it was inactivated on 10 June 1946.
485th Bombardment Squadron | |
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Active | 1917–1919; 1925–1937; 1944; 1944–1946 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Heavy bomber |
Engagements | World War I Pacific Theater[1] |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation[1] |
Insignia | |
485th Bombardment Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 1] |
The squadron's first predecessor was organized as the 73rd Aero Squadron. After training in the United States, it moved to France in the spring of 1918. It was renumbered as the 485th Aero Squadron in February 1918. It remained in France following the Armistice until returning to the United States in May 1919 for demobilization.
The squadron's second predecessor was formed in the Organized Reserves in 1925 as the 485th Bombardment Squadron. These two units were consolidated in 1936. Along with all other Organized Reserve units, the squadron was disbanded in May 1942.
The third squadron, and the second to be named the 485th Bombardment Squadron, was organized in March 1944 as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress unit, but was soon inactivated as the Army Air Forces reorganized its very heavy bomber units. It was activated again in June. After training in the United States, it deployed to Guam, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Japan. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat operations. Following V-J Day, the squadron remained in the Pacific until inactivating in 1946.