498th Bombardment Squadron
Military unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 498th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 345th Bombardment Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1959.
498th Bombardment Squadron | |
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Active | 1942–1945; 1954–1959 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | medium bomber |
Nickname(s) | Falcons (World War II)[1] |
Engagements | Southwest Pacific Theater |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Philippine Presidential Unit Citation |
Insignia | |
498th Bombardment Squadron emblem[note 1][2] | |
498th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 27 March 1943)[1] |
The squadron was first activated in 1942. After training in the United States as a medium bomber unit, it deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater, where it engaged in combat, advancing from Australia, through New Guinea and the Philippines, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat actions. Following V-J Day, the squadron remained on Okinawa until December 1945, when it returned to the United States for inactivation. The squadron was activated again in 1954 as a tactical bomber unit.