528th, 529th, 530th and 531st Bomb Squadrons | 380th Bomb Group | 5th AAF | CBI

[walika]

528th, 529th, 530th and 531st Bomb Squadrons | 345th Bomb Group | 5th AAF | CBI

 

380th Bomb Group | "The Flying Circus"

Constituted as 380th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Oct 1942. Activated on 3 Nov 1942. Used B-24’s in preparing for overseas duty. Moved to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Apr-May 1943. Assigned to Fifth AF but attached to Royal Australian Air Force until Jan 1945. Although assigned to the Fifth AAF the 380th Bomb Group was attached for duty with the Royal Australian Air Force from July, 1943 to February, 1945, the longest-serving AAF unit under operational control of another Allied country during the war. It operated from the Northwest Area Command based in Darwin, NT, and conducted combat operations covering the entire Dutch East Indies which included bombing missions against oilfields in Borneo and job, matching or exceeding the distances of the Ploesti oilfield missions in Europe.

Trained Australian crews to operate B-24’s. Began combat operations in May 1943 by flying armed reconnaissance patrols. Operated from Australian bases for a year and a half, striking enemy airfields, ground installations, shipping, and industries in the Netherlands Indies and the Bismarck Archipelago. Received a DUC for a series of long-range attacks on oil refineries, shipping, and dock facilities in Balikpapan, Borneo, in Aug 1943.

Repeatedly bombed enemy airfields in western New Guinea during Apr and May 1944 in support of American landings in the Hollandia area, being awarded another DUC for this action. Moved in Feb 1945 to Mindoro where its missions included support for ground forces on Luzon and strikes on industries in Formosa, oil refineries in Borneo, railways and shipping in French Indochina, and ground installations on the China coast.

Moved to Okinawa in Aug 1945, and after V-J Day flew reconnaissance missions over Japan and ferried liberated prisoners of war from Japan to Manila. Returned to the Philippines in Nov 1945.

SQUADRONS. 528th: 1942-1946. 529th: 1942-1946. 530th: 1942-1946. 531st: 1942-1946.

AIRCRAFT. B-24.

STATIONS. Davis-Monthan Field, Ark, 3 Nov 1942; Biggs Field, Tex, 2 Dec 1942; Lowry Field, Colo, 4 Mar-c. 17 Apr 1943; Fenton, Australia, May 1943; Darwin, Australia, 9 Aug 1944; San Jose, Mindoro, 20 Feb 1945; Okinawa, c. 9 Aug 1945

CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive.

528th Bombardment Squadron | "Herky's Clowns"

EMBLEM. On a golden orange disc, thin border black, a caricatured figure with brown flight suit and aviator’s helmet, riding a blue aerial bomb with red and white bands on tail fins, falling to dexter base, and carrying a machine gun gray with perforated cooling jacket, emitting blue smoke from the barrel. (Approved 5 May 1943.)

 

Type I | Solid Embroidered.

 

Type II | Silkscreened on leather.

 

 

529th Bombardment Squadron | "Little Beavers"



530th Bombardment Squadron

EMBLEM. Over and through a light turquoise blue disc, border yellow orange, piped and edged black, BUGS BUNNY proper, holding a carrot aloft in right forepaw and riding a large tan and brown aerial bomb, falling to dexter base, all emitting speed lines to rear. (Approved 10 Jul 1943.) | Design by Leon Schlesinger, Warner Bros.

 

Type I | Australian embroidery on wool. | Design by Leon Schlesinger, Warner Bros.

 

 

Type II | Silkscreened on leather. | Design by Leon Schlesinger, Warner Bros.

 

 

Type III | Australian embroidery on wool. | Design by Leon Schlesinger, Warner Bros.

A variation in design, but believed to be the 530th due to attribution.

 

531st Bombardment Squadron

EMBLEM. Over and through a light turquoise blue disc, DONALD DUCK, proper, standing on a white cloud formation in base, outlined light turquoise blue, wearing an ultramarine blue jacket and sailor cap, brandishing left fist and hurling black fire bomb, fused yellow orange, with uplifted right hand. (Approved 20 Apr 1944.)

 

Type I | Australian embroidery on wool. | Design by Walt Disney Studios.

 

 

Type II | Incised leather, hand-painted. | Design by Walt Disney Studios.

 

Type III | Hand-painted on leather. | Design by Walt Disney Studios.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:
Maurer. Air Force Combat Squadrons of World War II.

Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II.

Watkins, Robert A. Battle Colors. Volume V.
The Flying Circus. 380th Bomb Group. Unit History.

 

 

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[walika]

Typographic error. These squadrons were in the 380th Bomb Group. The heading should read:

 

528th, 529th, 530th and 531st Bomb Squadrons | 380th Bomb Group | 5th AAF | CBI

 

[walika]

Type IV | Decal on leather.

[Johnny Signor]

On 4/19/2020 at 4:10 PM, walika said:

Type IV | Decal on leather.

This one I think is actually the emblem for the San Angelo Bombardier Training School, Texas , ....

[walika]

Yes, I agree. San Angelo Bombardier Training School. Thanks.