The squadron was activated at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona in November 1943 as one of the original four squadrons of the 499th Bombardment Group. Ten days later, a cadre moved to Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas to begin Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber training. The 878th trained in Kansas with early model B-29s, with frequent delays in training due to modifications of the aircraft correcting production deficiencies.[citation needed] When training was completed. the squadron moved to its combat base, Isely Field, Saipan, in the Mariana Islands in July 1944.[1][2]
The squadron did not arrive at its combat station until September 1944.[1] The squadron's first missions were flown against targets on Iwo Jima and Truk Island. On 24 November 1944, the squadron participated in the first raid on Japan by bombers based in the Mariana Islands. The squadron initially engaged in high altitude daylight attacks against industrial targets in Japan, It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for an attack on the Mitsubishi engine manufacturing plant in Nagoya on 23 January 1945.[2]
In March 1945, the tactics of Twentieth Air Force changed and the squadron began flying low level night attacks with incendiaries against area targets. The squadron was diverted from strategic operations when it conducted a series of raids on airfieldsinKyushu to support Operation Iceberg, the landings on Okinawa in April 1945. The squadron earned a second DUC for this support. The squadron also dropped propaganda leaflets in enemy territory. After V-J Day, the squadron dropped food and supplies to Alliedprisoners of war. It remained on Saipan until November and reassembled at March Field, California, where it was inactivated in February 1946.[1][2]
^Approved 8 September 1945. Description: On a light turquoise blue disc, border white, edged black, a caricatured, red pack horse facing to dexter, winged white, snorting flames from the nostrils, and having three, brown aerial bombs strapped on back by a brown and yellow band, all in front of a large white cloud formation; in dexter fess a yellow-orange five-point star, edged black.
United States
United States Air Force
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
