499th Bombardment Squadron
Military unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 499th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 345th Bombardment Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1959.
499th Bombardment Squadron | |
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Active | 1942–1945; 1954–1959 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | medium bomber |
Nickname(s) | Bat outta Hell[1] |
Engagements | Southwest Pacific Theater |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Philippine Presidential Unit Citation |
Insignia | |
499th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 22 November 1943)[2] | |
499th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 5 May 1943)[1] |
The squadron was first activated in 1942. After training in the United States as a medium bomber unit, it deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater, where it engaged in combat, advancing from Australia, through New Guinea and the Philippines, earning three Distinguished Unit Citations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat actions. Following V-J Day, the squadron remained on Okinawa until December 1945, when it returned to the United States for inactivation. The squadron was activated again in 1954 as a tactical bomber unit.