319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS) "Asterperious"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG)

Background
On January 28, 1942 constituted as the 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy). On April 15, 1942 activated in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as part of the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) at Key Field in Mississippi. Nicknamed "Asterperious". During World War II, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF) in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On November 4, 1943 all four squadrons of the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) including the 319th BS arrive at Iron Range Airfield in Queensland.

On November 15, 1942 lost is B-24D "Lady Beverly" 41-23760  pilot 1st Lt John H. Werner ditched near Baibara Island with six Missing In Action (MIA).

B-24D "Scorpion" 41-24073  pilot Manion June 9, 1943

B-24D "Pelly-Can" 41-23688  pilot Olsen crashed June 23, 1943

B-24D "Pistol Packin' Mama II" 42-41209  pilot Adams ditched Decmeber 1, 1943

On June 11, 1944 seven B-24s from the squadron took off from Hollandia Airfield on a flight via Wakde Airfield to bomb Peleliu Airfield. Lost is B-24D "Louisiana Lullaby" 42-63986 pilot 2nd Lt. Leonard J. Hogland (MIA).

B-24D "Milk Run / Hit Parader" 42-41087  pilot Tilden crashed February 28, 1944

B-24D "Cold Steel" 42-41135  pilot Drewelow crashed March 5, 1944

B-24D "On The Ball" 42-40946 pilot Kalman crashed September 8, 1943

B-24D "Yankee Doodle Dandy" 42-40077  pilot Golden MIA April 12, 1944

B-24D "Ready, Willing and Able" 42-41078  crashed May 16, 1944

B-24J 42-73185  pilot Dicker crashed June 19, 1944

Postwar
On January 27, 1946 inactivated. On June 11, 1947 redesignated 319th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). On July 1, 1947 reactivated. On September 6, 1948 deactivated. On December 20, 1950 redesignated as 319th Bombardment Squadron (Medium). On January 2, 1951 reactivated in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On June 16, 1952 redesignated as 319th Strategic Reconassiance Squadron (Medium). During January 1959 began crew training for the RB-47. On June 20, 1960 discontinued.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation for Papua November 13, 1942–January 23, 1943, New Guinea September 13-15, 1943
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 389-391 (319th Bombardment) [PDF pages 389-391]
The Jolly Rogers History of the 90th Bomb Group During World War II (1981) by John S. Alcorn unit history of the 90th Bomb Group
Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group "The Jolly Rogers" (1997) by Wiley O. Woods, Jr unit history of the 90th Bomb Group