528th Squadron USAF

Brief History

The squadron was activated at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona on 3 November 1942 as one of the four original squadrons of the 380th Bombardment Group. After training with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, the squadron moved to the Southwest Pacific Theater in April 1943. The squadron and the rest of the 380th Group was attached to the RAAF. It trained RAAF crews on the operation of the Liberator. The 380th Bomb Group of which the Squadron was part was also known as The Flying Circus and The King of the Heavies.

From its home at Fenton airfield in the Northern Territory, the 528th attacked Japanese installations in the Netherlands East Indies and the Bismark Archipelago, including airfields, ground installations and factories. In August 1943, it participated in a series of raids on oil refineries in Balikpapan. During April and May of 1944, the unit conducted a series of raids on enemy airfields in western New Guinea to support landings in the Hollandia area.

On 23 April 1944, on a bombing run over Noemfoor Island, five aircraft of the 528th participated in a pitched battle with twenty-five Japanese fighters and a very hot battle ensued for the next hour. The squadron claimed twelve of the enemy fighters destroyed. All five of the Liberators managed to make it back to Fenton, although heavily damaged. The squadron was not without losses though, one dead and six wounded.

The squadron was relieved from attachment to the RAAF and moved to the Philippines in February 1945. Operating from Mindoro, the squadron provided air support for ground forces on Luzon, and attacked industrial targets in Formosa, ground installations along the China coast and transportation targets in French Indochina. It also continued its attacks on refineries in Borneo. In August 1945, the squadron moved to Okinawa. Following V-J Day, the squadron flew reconnaissance missions over Japan and it also flew prisoners of war from Japan to Manila.

Battle Honours

• Distinguished Unit Citation - Balikpapan oil refineries
• Distinguished Unit Citation - Hollandia area landings

Air Crew

• Alfred Arthur Shepherd RAAF 27 Jul - 6 Oct 1944