408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG)

Background
On April 22, 1942 the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (18th RS) was redesignated 408th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) based at Reid River Airfield with B-26s. On April 22, 1942 the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (18th RS) was redesignated as the 408th Bombardment Squadron (Medium).

Wartime History
On April 21, 1942 first combat mission in New Guinea.

On May 15, 1942 crashed on take off B-26 "Lil Deicer" 40-1390 pilot Rye (KIA) suffered an engine failure and crashed during take off from Reid River Airfield killing the entire crew.

On May 24, 1942 ditched is B-26 "Imogene VII" 40-1474  pilot 2nd Lt Harold L. Massie into Wide Bay on New Britain with two MIA in the crash and one injured and later died. The rest of the crew survives with later captured by the Japanese and become Prisoners Of War (POW) and later executed. The rest are later rescued by a RAAF Catalina and returned to duty.

During early June 1942, U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) bombers were flown from Hickam Field on Oahu to Midway Airfield ahead of the Battle of Midway. The bombers included four B-26 Marauders including two from the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG), 69th Bombardment Squadron (69th BS) B-26 piloted by Captain James F. Collins and B-26 41-17570 pilot 1st Lt William S. Watson plus two from the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS) including B-26 "Satan's Playmate" 40-1424 and B-26 "Suzy-Q" 40-1391.

On May 24, 1942 the squadron flew a bombing mission against Rabaul. Inbound, the formation encountered an overcast but found a hole in the weather and descend to an altitude of 1,500' over the target area and made a low level bombing run over Vunakanau Airfield with their bombs heavily damage a G4M1 Betty and causes damage to three others and burns the Genzan Kōkūtai (Genzan Air Group) headquarters building. Returning, damaged B-26 "Imogene VII" 40-1474 pilot 2nd Lt Harold L. Massie ditched with 3 rescued, 5 MIA and 2 POWs.

On June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway two bombers from the squadron took off from Midway Airfield armed with torpedoes: B-26 "Satan's Playmate" 40-1424  pilot 1st Lt Herbert C. Mayes (MIA) and B-26 "Susie-Q" 40-1391  pilot 1st Lt. James P. Muri flies down the deck of Akagai and returning force lands returning to Midway Airfield. Also lost is B-26 "Stork" 40-1522 destroyed accidently at Garbutt Field.

On March 12, 1944 lost is B-24J 42-100205 pilot 1st Lt. Robert W. Laurie (KIA) crashed in a valley near Burns Peak in Port Moresby.

On April 16, 1944 the squadron took off from Nadzab Airfield on a bombing mission against Hollandia. Returning from the mission, the formation encountered a severe weather front. Lost is B-24J "Royal Flush" 42-100225 pilot Captain Thomas C. Paschal (MIA) and B-24J 42-110000 pilot 1st Lt. Robert C. Stone (MIA). Also lost is B-24J 42-109975 pilot 1st Lt. James F. Rayzor (KIA) aborted the mission and crashed landed at Gusap Airfield. Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Black Sunday" for the number of aircraft lost.

On June 9, 1944 lost is B-24J 42-100180 pilot Captain John N. Barley (5 MIA).

On October 10, 1944 lost is B-24J 42-110005 pilot 1st Lt. Robert C. Stone (MIA).

On October 25, 1944 lost is B-24J 44-40726 pilot 1st Lt. Dwain E. Harry (MIA).

On May 6, 1945 lost is B-24J 42-109984 pilot 2nd Lt. Simon C. Willis, Jr. (survived) force landed roughly 15 miles from Clark Field on a dry rice paddy.

Commanding Officer (C.O.)
Major Dwight D. Divine II (May 19, 1942–)

References
Diary of Major Dwight D. Divine II
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 499 (408th Bombardment) [PDF pages 511]
Revenge of the Red Raiders The Illustrated History of the 22nd Bombardment Group During World War II (2006) history of the 22nd BG and 408th BS
Pacific Wrecks - 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) "Red Raiders" Martin B-26 Marauders
Pacific Wrecks - 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) "Red Raiders" Consolidated B-24 Liberator