70th Bombardment Squadron (70th BS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 38th Bomb Group (38th BG) / 42nd Bomb Group (42nd BG)

Background
On November 20, 1940 constituted as the 70th Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On January 15, 1941 activated in the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) at Langley Field, Virgina operating the B-18 Bolo and during 1941 transitions to the B-26 Marauder and later the B-26 Mitchell. On June 5, 1941 moves to Jackson Army Air Field.

Wartime History
On December 8, 1941 the squadron begins flying anti-submarine patrols from Savannah, Georgia for six days. On January 19, 1942 the ground echelon departs overseas bound for Australia. Meanwhile, the air echelon remains in the United States until June 2, 1942. On February 25, 1942 the ground echelon arrives at Eagle Farm Field (Doomben). On March 8, 1942 moves to Ballarat Airfield. On April 20, 1942 the ground echelon moves to Amberley Field. On May 23, 1942 moves to Fiji.

On June 2, 1942 the air echelon departs Hamilton Field on a ferry flight to Hickam Field to join the Hawaiian Defense Command. Each bomber has two 250 gallon auxiliary fuel tanks installed in the bomb bay and reduced crews. The formation was divided into three flights: A, B and C. "A Flight" (Flight A): B-26B "Miss Cookie Lee" 41-17562 pilot Sharp, B-26B "Gallopin' Ghost" 41-17574 pilot Cressy, B-26B "Irene" 41-17564 pilot Morrison and B-26B 41-17576 pilot Larson. "B Flight" (Flight B): B-26B "Queenie" 41-17586 pilot Eddy, B-26B 41-17575 pilot Boden, B-26B 41-17590 pilot Martin and B-26B "Liberty Bell" 41-17584 pilot Durbin. "C Flight" (Flight C): B-26B "Dixie Belle" 41-17558 pilot Callaham, B-26B 41-17550 pilot Griffith, B-26B 41-17569 pilot Miller and B-26B 41-175547 pilot Smith. All bombers landed safely although some diverted to Hilo Airfield and did not reach Hickam Field until June 4-5, too late to participate in the Battle of Midway but were on standby.

On November 13, 1942 three B-26 Marauders from 70th BS and 69th BS fly from New Hebrides to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.

On November 15, 1942 "C Flight" (Flight C) took off from Henderson Field on a flight bound for Espiritu Santo. Lost is B-26B "Dixie Belle" 41-17558 pilot Captain Walter L. Callaham (MIA).

On January 9, 1943 begins operating from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal while the rest of the squadron remains on Fiji. On February 4, 1943 the squadron departs Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and returns to Fiji.

On February 26, 1943 assigned to the 42nd Bombardment Group (42nd BG).

On September 16, 1943 the squadron flies a strike against Kahili Airfield (Buin) on Bougainville. Lost is B-25C 41-13130 pilot 2nd Lt. George E. Gunson, Jr. (KIA).

On November 24, 1943 lost is B-25D "Careless" 4?-?148  pilot Lt. James H. Dickinson ditched. The entire crew was rescued by PBY Catalina piloted by Milton Cheverton from Patrol Squadron 23 (VP-23).

On January 14, 1944 lost is B-25D Mitchell 41-30566  pilot 1st Lt Ross B. Lemmon Jr., (MIA) on a night bombing mission against Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul.

On January 20, 1944 lost is B-25 Mitchell pilot 1st Lt. John Edward Warner ditched, entire crew rescued.

On January 28, 1944 lost is B-25C 42-32291 pilot F/O Leslie D. Gilliland (MIA) on a bombing and strafing mission against Tobera Airfield near Rabaul.

On October 20, 1944 lost is B-25G 42-64946  pilot Watts MIA October 20, 1944.

On February 22, 1945 moves to Pitu Airfield (Pitoe) on Morotai Island.

On March 26, 1945 moves to Puerto Princesa Airfield on Palawan Island in the Philippines.

On August 16, 1945 lost is B-25J Mitchell 44-31361 pilot Captain Morton H. Estrin (MIA) on an administrative flight bound for Morotai with the entire crew Missing In Action (MIA).

Postwar
On January 31, 1946 moves to Itami Airfield north of Osaka in Japan. On May 10, 1946 inactivated. On February 19, 1953 redesignated as 70th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) at Limestone Air Force Base (Limestone AFB) in Maine operating the B-36 Peacemaker. On February 25, 1943 activated in the U.S. Air Force (USAF).

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation Balikapapan June 23-30, 1945
Presidential Unit Citation, 1942
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
The Crusaders A History of the 42nd Bombardment Group (M) (1946) unit history of the 42nd Bomb Group
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 258-259 (70th Bombardment) [PDF pages 270-271]