500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) "Rough Raiders"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG)

Background
On September 3, 1942 constituted as the 499th Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On September 8, 1942 activated in the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) equipped with B-25 Mitchells at Columbia Army Airfield. On March 6, 1943 moves to Walterboro Army Airfield then departs overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Nicknamed "Rough Raiders".

Wartime History
On June 5, 1943 the entire 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches" arrives at Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On May 18, 1943 crashed B-25D "Dittum-Dattum" 41-30073  pilot McLean (survived).

On September 29, 1943 lost is B-25D "Axis Fate" 41-30053 pilot 1st Lt. Cecil O. Jones (KIA) on a training mission and crashed near SS Pruth (Moresby Wreck).

On October 16, 1943 lost is B-25D Mitchell 41-30561 pilot 2nd Lt. Donald L. Stookey ditched ditched three miles northeast of Cape Moem with the entire crew captured and became Prisoners Of War (POW) with three executed on Kairiru Island and two transported to Rabaul and executed during the Talili Bay Massacre (Tunnel Hill Massacre).

On October 18, 1943 the squadron conducts a low level strike against Rabaul. Lost is B-25D "Sorry Satchul" 41-30056 pilot 1st Lt. Harlan H. Peterson (MIA) and B-25D "SNAFU / MFUTU" 41-30054 pilot Captain Lyle E. Anacker (MIA) with two crew rescued.

B-25D "Lil De Icer" 41-33075  pilot Naigle ditched October 24, 1943

On November 20, 1943 the squadron strikes Hansa Bay. Lost is B-25D 41-30522  pilot 1st Lt. Frank E. Gullette, Jr. ditched two miles off Meiwok (Mawok) near Uligan Harbor.

B-25D "Here's Howe" 41-30279  pilot Kyser MIA December 26, 1943

B-25D "Dittum Dattum (II) 41-30312  pilot McLean crashed January 25, 1944

B-25C "Stubborn Hellion" 42-32314  pilot Hochella ditched February 15, 1944

B-25D 41-30531 pilot Cavoli, shot down February 15, 1944, rescued by PBY

B-25D "Jack Rabbit Express" 41-29992  pilot Hecox crashed February 15, 1944, 6 missing, resolved

B-25D "How's Your Ole' Tomato" 41-30664  pilot Finnegan crashed March 13, 1944

B-25D "Tinkie" 41-30315  pilot Waggle MIA April 16, 1944

B-25D "Red Wrath / Pannell Job" 41-30024  pilot Pannell crashed June 11, 1944

B-25D "Quitch" 41-30518  pilot Noland ditched August 15, 1944

B-25D "Mexican Spitfire" 41-30592  pilot Bardwell crashed September 2, 1944

B-25D "Tondelayo / Chow Hound" 41-30669  force landed March 30, 1945

B-25J 44-30164  pilot Lackey crashed May 17, 1945

Postwar
On December 19, 1945 inactivated. On March 22, 1954 redesignated 500th Bombardment Squadron (Tactical). On July 19, 1954 reactivated in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) equipped with the B-26 Invader at Langley Air Force Base. During 1955 converted to the B-57 Canberra. On October 8, 1957 to the 345th Bombardment Wing (345th BW). On June 25, 1959 inactivated.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 602-603 (500th BS) [PDF pages 614-615]
Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) definitive unit history of the 345th BG, 500th BS