829th Bombardment Squadron

The 829th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 485th Bombardment Group stationed at Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas.

History

Activated as a B-24 Liberator squadron in late 1943. assigned to II Bomber Command for training in B-24 Liberators. Primarily trained in Nebraska and received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in March 1944.

Deployed to Southern Italy in April 1944; entered combat in May 1944, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives. Also carried out some support and interdiction operations. Struck bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations in August 1944 to aid the invasion of Southern France. Hit communications lines and other targets during March and April 1945 to support the advance of British Eighth Army in northern Italy.

Returned to the United States in May 1945, being programmed for deployment to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) as a B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy Bombardment Squadron. Many combat veterans of MTO demobilized upon arrival in the United States, and a small cadre of personnel reformed at Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota at the end of May. Reassigned to Second Air Force for training in Iowa. Retained on active duty after Japanese capitulation and assigned to Continental Air Forces, being stationed at Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas in September.

Transferred to Strategic Air Command in March 1946. Personnel shortages and budget reductions led to squadron inactivation in August 1946, equipment and personnel reassigned to other SAC units.

Lineage

• Constituted 829th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 September 1943

Activated on 20 September 1943

Redesignated 828th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 August 1945

Inactivated on 4 August 1946

Assignments

• 485th Bombardment Group, 20 September 1943 – 4 August 1946

Stations

• Fairmont Army Airfield, Nebraska, 20 September 1943 – 11 March 1944
• Venosa Airfield, Italy, c. 30 April 1944-c. 9 May 1945
• Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa, 24 July 1945
• Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas, 8 September 1945 – 4 August 1946.

Aircraft

• B-24 Liberator, 1943–1945
• B-29 Superfortress, 1945–1946

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.