643d Bombardment Squadron
The 643d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. After training with Douglas A-20 Havocs in the United States the squadron deployed to the European Theater of World War II, where it engaged in combat until the Surrender of Germany. It was last assigned to the 409th Bombardment Group at Westover Field, Massachusetts, where it was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
| 643d Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Douglas A-26 Invader of the 409th Bombardment Group | |
| Active | 1943-1945 |
| Country |  |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Role | Light Bombardment |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
| Insignia | |
| 643d Bombardment Squadron Emblem (approved 18 January 1944)[1] |  |
History
The 643d Bombardment Squadron was activated in June 1943 at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma as one of the four original squadrons of the 409th Bombardment Group. The squadron trained under Third Air Force in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana with Douglas A-20 Havoc light bombardment aircraft.[1][2]
The squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations in March 1944, where it became part of IX Bomber Command of Ninth Air Force.[2]
The 643d initially flew sweeps over Occupied France from its base in England, attacking coastal defenses, V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket sites, airfields, and other targets in France in preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. After D-Day, the squadron supported ground forces during the Battle of Normandy by hitting gun batteries, rail lines, bridges, communications, and other objectives. During July 1944, it aided the Allied offensive at Caen and Operation Cobra, the breakthrough at Saint-Lô with attacks on enemy troops, flak positions, fortified villages, and supply dumps.[2]
The squadron moved to Advanced Landing Grounds in France in September 1944, providing Third Army with close air support in its advance toward Germany through November.[2]
In December, the squadron converted to Douglas A-26 Invaders. It then participated in the Battle of the Bulge by attacking lines of communications and logistics. The squadron continued combat operations until May, flying its last combat mission against an ammunition dump in Czechoslovakia on 3 May.[2]
The unit returned to the United States and initially was assigned to Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina where it prepared to deploy to the Pacific Theater of Operations for operations against the Japanese Home Islands. The deployment to the Pacific Theater was cancelled with the Surrender of Japan in August. The 643d was inactivated at Westover Field, Massachusetts in early November.[1]
Lineage
- Constituted 643d Bombardment Squadron (Light) and activated on 1 June 1943
- Redesignated 643d Bombardment Squadron, Light in 1944
- Inactivated on 7 November 1945[1]
Assignments
- 409th Bombardment Group, 1 June 1943 - 7 November 1945[1]
Stations
|
|
Aircraft
- Douglas A-20 Havoc, 1943–1945
- Douglas A-26 Invader, 1945[1]
Campaigns
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Air Offensive, Europe | 7 March 1944 – 5 June 1944 | [1] |
| Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | [1] |
| Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | [1] |
| Rhineland | `5 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | [1] |
| Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 | [1] |
| Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | [1] |
| Air Combat, EAME Theater | 7 March 1944 – 11 May 1945 | [1] |
See also
References
Notes
- Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 691–692
- Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 294–295
- Station number in Anderson
- Station number in Johnson
- Station information in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 691–692, except as noted.
Bibliography
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-29.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 294–295. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.