8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG)

Background
On June 21, 1917 organized as 8th Aero Squadron in the U.S. Army equipped with the DH-4 at Camp Kelly. On July 8, 1917 moves to Selfridge Field in Michigan. On October 28, 1917 moves to Garden City in New York.

World War I
On November 22, 1917 deploys overseas to England. On December 8, 1917 arrives Winchester, United Kingdom. On December 17, 1917 moves to Dartford in United Kingdom with detachments at Thetford, Wyton, and Northolt. On May 1, 1918 moves to Thetford in United Kingdom until July 11, 1918 when deploys for France. On July 30, 1918 arrives Amanty in France. Starting August 25, 1918 serves as corps observation unit with IV and VI Army Corps until the Armistice on November 11, 1918. On September 29, 1918 moves Toul in France. On October 23, 1918 moves to Saizerais, France. On February 11, 1919 moves to Colombey-les-Belles, France. On February 22, 1918 moves to Fargues-St Hilaire, France. On April 18, 1919 departs France back to the United States.

Interwar Period
On May 3, 1919 arrives Mitchel Field in New York. On May 25, 1919 moves to Kelly Field with a flight at McAllen in Texas. On July 1, 1919 assigned to the 3rd Attack Group, later redesignated 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG). On August 13, 1919 moves to McAllen with a flight operating from Laredo and later Pope Field, North Carolina. Between August 1919 until June 1921 patrols the Mexican border.

During June 1921 redesignated 8th Squadron. On July 2, 1921 returns to Kelly Field with a flight remaining at Pope Field. On June 20, 1922 participates in flood relief in the lower Rio Grande Valley. On January 25, 1923 redesignated 8th Attack Squadron. On June 30, 1926 moves to Fort Crockett in Texas. On July 2, 1926 became part of the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On February 27, 1935 moves to Barksdale Field in Louisana. On September 15, 1939 redesignated 8th Bombardment Squadron (Light) operating the B-18 Bolo. On October 8, 1940 moves to Savannah in Georgia.

Wartime History
On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). December 1941 conducts anti-submarine patrols. On January 19, 1942 begins a movement overseas bound for Australia. On February 25, 1942 arrives Brisbane assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF). On March 17, 1942 moves to Charters Towers Airfield. On March 31, 1942 the squadron moves to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On April 1, 1942 at 6:00am six A-24 Dive bombers from the squadron off from 7 Mile Drome at 6:00am escorted by RAAF P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron on a dive bombing mission against Japanese shipping off Lae. This was the squadron's first combat mission. After take off, A-24 41-15798 pilot 2nd Lt. Henry G. Swartz experienced mechanical issues and aborts. The rest of the formation experiences bad weather and diverts to bomb Salamaua Airfield (Logui) and experience only light anti-aircraft fire.

On April 7, 1942 nine A-24s escorted by six RAAF P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron attack Lae. Lost is A-24 41-15798 pilot 2nd Lt. Henry G. Swartz (MIA).

On April 13, 1942 seven A-24s escorted by eight RAAF P-40E Kittyhawks from No. 75 Squadron on a strike against Lae.

On May 9, 1942 moves back to Charters Towers Airfield.

On September 28, 1942 redesignated 8th Bombardment Squadron (Dive).

On January 28, 1943 moves to 3 Mile (Kila) near Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On April 10, 1943 moves to Dobodura Airfield.

On May 25, 1943 redesignated as the 8th Bombardment Squadron (Light).

On February 1, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield in New Guinea.

On May 16, 1944 moves to Hollandia Airfield in western New Guinea.

On November 15, 1944 moves to Dulag Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines.

On December 30, 1944 moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro in the Philippines.

On August 7, 1945 moves to Okinawa in Japan.

Postwar
On October 26, 1945 moves to Atsugi Airfield in Japan. On August 20, 1946 moves to Yokota Airfield. On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On March 14, 1950 moves to Johnson AFB. On July 1, 1950 moves to Iwakuni Airfield.

On June 25, 1951 redesignated 8th Bombardment Squadron (Light, Night Intruder). On August 18, 1951 moves to Kunsan Airfield (K-8) in South Korea. On October 5, 1954 moves to Johnson AFB. On October 1, 1955 redesigned 8th Bombardment Squadron (Tactical). On October 25, 1957 becomes part of the 3rd Bombardment Wing (3rd BW) and begins operating the B-57 Canberra. On November 17, 1960 moves to Yokota AFB.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Captain Floyd "Buck" Rogers (March 1942–)
Major Raymond H. Wilkins (September 14, 1943–November 2, 1943) †

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citations: Papua: (July 23-29, 1942), New Guinea (August 17, 1943), Korea (June 27, 1950–July 31, 1950), Korea (April 22, 1951–July 8, 1951), Korea (May 1, 1953–July 27, 1953)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (June 27, 1950–July 31, 1950)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: June 1, 1958–June 30, 1960 and July 1, 1960–March 31, 1962

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 45-46 (8th Bombardment) [PDF pages 57-58]
Harvest of the Grim Reapers The Illustrated History of the 3rd and 27th Bomb Groups During World War II Volume I: Prewar to December 1942 (2021) by Lawrence J. Hickey, Edward M. Rogers with Osamu Tagaya and Madison D. Jonas