599th Bombardment Squadron

History

The squadron was established at MacDill Field, Florida in April 1943 as one of the original squadrons of the 397th Bombardment Group, a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber group. It drew its initial cadre from the 21st Bombardment Group. The squadron trained under Third Air Force at stations in the southeastern United States. After completing its training by participating in the Tennessee Maneuvers, the squadron departed Hunter Field, Georgia for the European Theater of Operations on 12 March 1944.

The squadron was temporarily stationed at RAF Gosfield upon its arrival in England in early April 1944. On the 15th of the month, its parent group displaced the 363d Fighter Group at RAF Rivenhall and flew its first combat mission five days later. In preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, the squadron participated in Operation Crossbow, attacking V-1 flying bomb launch pads. It also struck bridges, coastal defenses, marshalling yards and airfields in northern France. On D-Day the squadron attacked strong points and bombed fuel dumps and other objectives to support ground forces throughout the Normandy Campaign.

In July 1944, the squadron participated in Operation Cobra, attacking German forces near Saint Lo, France during the Allied breakout there. In August, the squadron moved from England to Gorges Airfield, an Advanced Landing Ground in France. From there it attacked naval targets at Saint Malo and Brest. Once on the Continent, the squadron made frequent moves forward as the Allied forces advanced during the Northern France Campaign. By September the squadron began flying missions into Germany, attacking depots and defended areas.

During the Battle of the Bulge, the squadron struck enemy lines of communications. On 23 December 1944 the unit severed a railway bridge at Ediger-Eller, Germany, despite heavy flak and fighter opposition from the Luftwaffe. For this action it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. The squadron continued to fly missions to support the Allied drive into Germany until 20 April 1945, exactly one year after its first combat mission, having completed 239 combat missions.

After V-E Day the squadron returned to its former base at Peronne Airfield, France, and remained there until December, when it returned to the United States. Upon arrival at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey in late December, the squadron was inactivated.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 599th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 20 March 1943 : Activated on 20 April 1943
• Redesignated 599th Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. April 1944 : Inactivated on 22 December 1945

Assignments

• 397th Bombardment Group, 20 April 1943 – 22 December 1945

Stations

• MacDill Field, Florida, 20 April 1943
• Avon Park Army Air Field, Florida, 14 October 1943
• Hunter Field, Georgia, 1 November 1943 – 12 March 1944
• RAF Gosfield (Station 154), England, 5 April 1944
• RAF Rivenhall (Station 168), England, 15 April 1944
• RAF Hurn (AAF-492), England, 5 August 1944
• Gorges Airfield (A-26), France, c. 31 August 1944
• Dreux/Vernouillet Airfield (A-41), France, c. 16 September 1944
• Peronne Airfield (A-72), France, c. 7 October 1944
• Venlo Airfield (Y-55), Netherlands, 25 April 1945
• Peronne Airfield (A-72), France, 30 May – c. December 1945
• Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 21–22 December 1945

Aircraft

• Martin B-26 Marauder, 1943–1945

Awards and campaigns

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

References

1. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 679
2. Watkins, pp. 112–113
3. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 283–284
4. "Abstract, History 397 bombardment Group Apr 1943 – Mar 1944". Air Force History Index.
5. "Abstract, History 397 Bombardment Group Apr–May 1944". Air Force History Index.
6. Station numbers in Anderson
7. Station numbers in Johnson