| 673d Bombardment Squadron | |
|---|---|
 National Museum of the USAFDouglas A-20 inSouthwest Pacific markings | |
| Active | 1943–1945 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Light bomber |
| Nickname | Flying Cowboys[1] |
| Engagements | South West Pacific Theater of World War II |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation |
| Insignia | |
| 673d Bombardment Squadron emblem[a][2] |  |
The673d Bombardment Squadron is an inactiveUnited States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with the417th Bombardment Group atItami Airfield, Japan, where it was inactivated on 5 November 1945.
DuringWorld War II, thesquadron operated in theSouthwest Pacific Theater as alight bomber unit during the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns. It was awarded both theDistinguished Unit Citation and thePhilippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat service.
The673d Bombardment Squadron was activated in the spring of 1943 atWill Rogers Field, Oklahoma as one of the original squadrons of the417th Bombardment Group[2][3] Thesquadron drew its initialcadre from the46th and416th Bombardment Groups. Once assigned, the 673d'skey personnel travelled toOrlando Army Air Base in mid-April where they received combat training from theArmy Air Forces School of Applied Tactics.[1]
The firstDouglas A-20 Havocs arrived to equip the squadron in mid-May along with some DB-7 export models of the Havoc. Initial training of the 673d was conducted by the 46th Bombardment Group, the Operational Training Unit at Will Rogers Field.[1] The unit then moved toDeRidder Army Air Base, Louisiana[3] for advanced training. From August to September the 673d operated with the II Tactical Air Division, givinglow level support to ground units onmaneuvers.[4] Once training was completed The squadron departed the San Francisco Port of Embarkation by ship on New Year's Day 1944.[5]
The squadron arrived in New Guinea in late January 1944, where it became part ofFifth Air Force. It began combat in March, operating in support of ground forces on New Guinea and strikingairfields, bridges, personnel concentrations, installations, and shipping in the area.[3] The 673d participated with other Fifth Air Force units in attacks on shipping and enemy airstrips nearHollandia on 16 April that resulted in the destruction of 298 enemy planes.[6]
The unit operated fromNoemfoor from September to December 1944, attacking airfields and installations onCeram,Halmahera, and western New Guinea.[3] Noemfoor operations included attacks onoil installations.[6] The squadron moved to the Philippines in December 1944 at the end of the New Guinea campaign. The unit'sground crews left Noemfoor by ship while the aircrew flew to the Philippines once the advance party had preparedMcGuire Field for use in late December.[7] While en route, the convoy transporting the ground echelon endured two Japanese air attacks.[8]
The squadron received aDistinguished Unit Citation for attacking Japanese convoys atLingayen between 30 December 1944 and 2 January 1945, an action that not only impaired enemy shipping and supply strength, but also helped to clear the way for the American invasion of Luzon.[3] During these attacks the 417th group sank 36,000 tons of shipping including a freighter, adestroyer escort and several transports.[9]
Until June 1945 the 673d supported ground forces and continued to attack enemy airfields, transportation, and installations onLuzon,Cebu,Negros, andMindanao. The squadron flew its last missions in July, dropping propaganda leaflets to Japanese troops on Luzon.[3] After the Philippines were secured, the group turned its attention to Japanese targets onFormosa in early 1945.[citation needed] It moved to Okinawa in August 1945 and toItami Air Base, Japan in November, where it was inactivated on 15 November 1945.[2][3]
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| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Distinguished Unit Citation | 30 December 1944-2 January 1945 | Philippine Islands[2] |
_Streamer.png) | Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation | 17 October 1944-4 July 1945 | [2] |
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | New Guinea | 28 January 1944 – 31 December 1944 | [2] |
| Leyte | 17 October 1944 – 1 July 1945 | [2] |
| Luzon | 15 December 1944 – 4 July 1945 | [2] |
| Southern Philippines | 27 February 1945 – 4 July 1945 | [2] |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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