408th Bomb Squadron | 22nd Bomb Group | "The Red Raiders" | 5th AAF

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408th Bomb Squadron | 22nd Bomb Group | "The Red Raiders" | 5th AAF

LINEAGE. Organized as 18th Aero Squadron on 20 Aug 1917. Redesignated, 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium Range) on 6 Dec 1939; 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 20 Nov 1940; 408th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 Apr 1942; 408th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 3
Feb 1944.

ASSIGNMENTS. 22d Bombardment Group, attached c. Sep 1940, and assigned 25 Feb 1942-29 Apr 1946.

STATIONS. Muroc, Calif, 9 Dec 1941-29 Jan 1942; Brisbane, Australia, 25 Feb 1942; Townsville, Australia, 7 Apr 1942; Ried River, Australia, 12
Apr 1942; Dobodura, New Guinea, 15 Oct 1943; Nadzab, New Guinea, 22 Dec 1943; Owi, Schouten Islands, 26 Ju1 1944; Leyte, c. g Nov 1944; Angaur, c. 1 Dec 1944; Samar, 14 Jan 1945; Clark Field, Luzon, 13 Mar 1945; Okinawa, c. 21 Aug 1945.

OPERATIONS. Antisubmarine patrols, Dec 1941-Jan 1942; combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, 21 Apr 1942-9 Jan 1943; 7 Oct 1943-30 Jul 1945.

CAMPAIGNS. Antisubmarine, American Theater; East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Papua; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

EMBLEM. On a yellow equilateral triangle, one point down, with a silver border, a winged eye above a sphere, both blue; coming from the eye and spreading fanwise over the sphere nine silver rays, spaced one and eight, terminating in the border. (Approved 9 Feb 1937.)

 

Type I | Embroidered on wool. Circa 1936-1937, when unit was designated 18th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron; Mitchel Field.

 

 

 

Type II | Painted leather.

 

 

Type III | Theater-made. Hand-painted leather.

 

Type IV | Theater-made. Australian embroidery on wool.

 

22nd Bomb Group | "The Red Raiders" | 5th AAF

 

 

 

Each of the four squadrons in the 22 Bomb Group had a variation of the "Red Raiders" insignia, the border color its assigned color used on aircraft markings. At some point, the 2d Bomb Squadron's color was changed to blue to reduce friendly-fire incidents.

 

 

SQUADRONS: 2nd (Red), 19th (White), 33rd (Yellow) and 408th (Green)

 

 

Related Posts:

 

2nd Bomb Squadron

 

19th Bomb Squadron

 

33rd Bomb Squadron

 

408th Bomb Squadron

 

 

 

Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II.

Watkins, Robert A. Battle Colors. Volume V.

408bs 22bg 5aaf