The squadron flew its last combat missions on 14 August when hostilities ended.
Also conducted raids against strategic objectives, bombing aircraft factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, and other targets in Japan. The squadron continued attacking urban areas with incendiary raids until the end of the war in August 1945, attacking major Japanese cities, causing massive destruction of urbanized areas. Until then the squadron flew conventional strategic bombing missions using high explosive bombs. The squadron continued to participate in wide area firebombing attack, but the first ten-day blitz resulting in the Army Air Forces running out of incendiary bombs. The squadron began combat missions over Japan on 25 February 1945 with a firebombing mission over Northeast Tokyo. Its mission was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands and the destruction of its war-making capability.įlew 'shakedown' missions against Japanese targets on Moen Island, Truk, and other points in the Carolines and Marianas. When training was completed moved to North Field Tinianin the Mariana Islands of the Central Pacific Area in January 1945 and assigned to XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force.
Activated on 1 April 1944 as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy bombardment squadron.
