Squadrons

813th Bomb Squadron Group photo taken on top of a B-17. June 1944.

The Bomb Squadrons of the 482nd Bomb Group

There were three original Bomb Squadrons (BS) that comprised the 482nd Bomb Group (BG). They were the 812th BS (MI), 813th BS (PC), and 814th BS (SI). Below are the official U.S. Air Force Squadron histories from official U.S. Air Force Documents. The 482nd BG was activated on August 20, 1943 under the command of Lt. Col. Baskin R. Lawrence. Lt. Col. Lawrence was the former commander of the 92nd Bomb group. Lt. Col. William Cowhart was the Air Executive Officer and considered the "Pathfinder Expert".

The 812th Bomb Squadron, under the command of Capt. Fred Rabo, arrived from the United States in September of 1943 with 12 new B-17’s equipped with the U.S. Manufactured version H2S Radar units known as H2X "Mickey". The 812th BS fly B-17F and G models H2X equipped models and B-17G Eagle.

The 813th Bomb Squadron, under the command of Capt. William C. Anderson, was a re-designation of the 325th Bomb Squadron which had been training in British-manufactured H2S "Sinkey" radar units and Oboe equipped B-17s since May of 1943. The 813th flew B-17F H2S, Oboe and B-17G H2X equipped B-17s.

The 814th Bomb Squadron, under the command of Capt. Clement Bird, was equipped with B-24H and J models equipped with H2X. B-24L, APS-15A and B-24M Eagle.

The squadron patches of each 482nd Bomb group are clearly visible on the web pages. Each patch symbolizes the use of a form of light while holding a bomb. In effect to find or see the target. The design helped visualize the role of radar quipped aircraft in their design to find the target and deliver the bomb load.

Squadron Histories
From the Official U.S. Air Force Documents Declassified IAW EO12958

812th Bomb Squadron

LINEAGE
Constituted 812th Bombardment Squadron (Pathfinder) on August 10, 1943. Activated on August 20, 1943. Redesignated 812th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on November 11, 1944. Inactivated on September 1, 1945. Redesignated 812th Bombard-ment Squadron (Very Heavy) on August 13, 1947. Activated in the reserve on September 9, 1947. Inactivated on June 27, 1949. Redesignated 812th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on May 26, 1952. Activated in the reserve on June 14, 1952. Inactivated on December 1, 1952. Redesignated 812th Fighter Bomber Squadron on April 12, 1955. Activated in the reserve on May 18, 1955. Inactivated on November 16, 1957.

ASSIGNMENTS
482nd Bombardment Group, August 20, 1943 – September 1, 1945. 482nd Bombardment Group, September 9, 1947 - June 27, 1949. 482nd Troop Carrier Group, June 14 – December 1, 1952. 482nd Fighter-Bomber Group, May 18, 1955 – November 16, 1957. STATIONS. Alconbury, England, August 20, 1943 – June, 1945. New Orleans Municipal Airport., LA, September 9, 1947- June 27, 1949. Miami International Airport, FL, June 14 – December 1, 1952. Dobbins AFB, GA May 18, 1955 - November 16, 1957.

AIRCRAFT
B-17, 1943-1945.

OPERATIONS
Combat in ETO as pathfinder force, September 27, 1943- April 29, 1945.

SERVICE STREAMERS
None.

CAMPAIGNS
Air Offensive, Europe, Normandy; Northern France, Rhineland; Central Europe. DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, January 11, 1944. EMBLEM. On a dark blue violet disc, a light green gremlin-type figure, wearing aviator’s helmet and goggles, edged black, highlighted yellow, grasping with the right hand and tail fin of a large tan aerial bomb, edged black, highlighted yellow, and having feet entwined about the middle of bomb, while holding a lantern in the right hand, proper, with glow of yellow, orange, and dark red concentric circles. (Approved October 17, 1944)

813th Bomb Squadron

LINEAGE
Constituted 813th Bombardment Squadron (Pathfinder) on August 10, 1943. Activated on August 20, 1943. Redesignated 813th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on November 11, 1944. Inactivated on September 1, 1945. Redesignated 813th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on September 5, 1947. Activated in the reserve on September 24, 1947. Inactivated on June 27, 1949. Redesignated 813th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on May 26, 1952. Activated in the reserve on June 14, 1952. Inactivated on December 1, 1952. Redesignated 813th Fighter bomber Squadron on February 28, 1957. Activated in the reserve on July 8, 1957. Inactivated on November 16, 1957.

ASSIGNMENTS
482nd Bombardment Group, August 20, 1943 - September 1, 1945. 482nd Bombardment Group, September 24, 1947- June 27, 1949. 482nd Troop Carrier Group, June 14 – December 1, 1952. 482nd Fighter-Bomber Group, July 8, 1957 – November 16, 1957. STATIONS. Alconbury, England, August 20, 1943 – June 1945. Victorville Army Airfield, California, July – September 1, 1945. Harding Field, LA, September 24, 1947 – June 27, 1949. Miami International Airport., FL, June 14 – December 1, 1952. Dobbins AFB, GA , July 8 – November 16, 1957.

AIRCRAFT
B-17, 1943-1945.

OPERATIONS
Combat in ETO as pathfinder force, September 24, 1943 – April 25, 1945.

SERVICE STREAMERS
None.

CAMPAIGNS
Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy, Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe. DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citation Germany, January 11, 1944. EMBLEM. On a dark red disc, a caricatured light green firefly, edged black, highlighted yellow, wearing aviator’s helmet and goggles, in flight, having a white “tail light” with glow of yellow, light red, and violet concentric circles, and holding in the forelegs a tan aerial bomb, edged black, highlighted yellow. (Approved October 17, 1944)

814th Bomb Squadron

LINEAGE
Constituted 814th Bombardment Squadron (Pathfinder) on August 10, 1943. Activated on August 20, 1943. Redesignated 814th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on November 11, 1944. Inactivated on September 1, 1945. Redesignated 814th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on August 13, 1947. Activated in the reserve on September 9, 1947. Inactivated on June 27, 1949. Redesignated 814th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on May 26, 1952. Activated in the reserve on June 14, 1952. Inactivated on December 1, 1952.

ASSIGNMENTS
482nd Bombardment Group, August 20, 1943-September 1, 1945. 482nd Bombardment Group, September 9, 1947- June 27, 1949. 482nd Troop Carrier Group, June 14 – December 1, 1952.

STATIONS
Alconbury, England, August 20, 1943 – June 1945. Victorville Army Airfield, California, July – September 1, 1945. New Orleans Municipal Airport., LA, September 9, 1947 – June 27, 1949. Miami International Airport., FL, June 14 – December 1, 1952.

AIRCRAFT
B-24, 1943-1945; B-17, 1944-1945.

OPERATIONS
Combat in ETO as pathfinder force, January 11, 1944 – April 29, 1945.

SERVICE STREAMERS
None.

CAMPAIGNS
Air Offensive, Europe, Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

DECORATIONS Distinguished Unit Citation Germany, January 11, 1944.

EMBLEM
On a black disc, a caricatured light purple vulture with yellow orange beak and feet, highlighted yellow, holding a brown fagot in the right foot, inflamed of yellow orange and dark red, having glow formed by concentric bands of yellow orange and dark red, and grasping a gray fire bomb, fired proper, in the left foot. (Approved October 16, 1944)