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THE 31ST BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) ASSOCIATION | ||
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The 31st Bombardment Squadron Association is composed of 31st veterans and others who have a keen interest in preserving the memories of the Squadron and its activities during World War II. The 31st was one of four squadrons flying collectively in that war as the 5th Bomb Group, a heavy bomb group in the 13th Air Force. The 13th was also known as "The Jungle Air Force" to reflect the fact that it operated out of facilities and air strips carved from the jungles of selected Pacific islands. The Squadron was initially organized on June 26, 1917. While not seeing combat in WW I, it served admirably in France as an aircraft maintenance squadron. Deactivated on April 14, 1919, the Squadron was reactivated and placed on the inactive list of the Regular Army in April 1923, as the 31st Bombardment Squadron. It was placed on the active list in 1931 and moved to Hawaii in 1938. On December 7, 1941 the Squadron was stationed at Pearl Harbor and suffered casualties, and the loss of personnel, when the Japanese made their infamous attack. In February 1942 the Squadron was assigned to the 7th Air Force. In early 1943 it was reassigned to the 5th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force-with which it flew combat missions until the end of WW II. Click here for more on the 31st Squadron. Among the most important missions flown by the 31st Squadron in WW II were those flown against Japanese operated oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo. The first of five strikes on this target by 5th Group B-24s was flown on September 30, 1944. The Group was led by the 31st Bomb Squadron with Colonel Thomas Musgrave in the lead plane. The mission was the longest strike by a formation of Air Force bombers to that date-- over 2600 miles without fighter escort. After successfully engaging the enemy and placing its bombs on target, the Group was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for exceptional courage and valor. Its actions that day substantially reduced the supply of fuel to Japanese forces in the Philippines, thereby saving many American lives.
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31ST MOTTO Glory on the
field of battle
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SMOKING RUINS, BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO AFTER BOMBING BY 5TH BOMB GROUP, OCTOBER 9, 1944
31st Officers President: Willie Martens (Acting) Vice President: Jim Berry--817-534-9797 Secretary/Historian: Joanne Emerick--785-675-3088, jemerick@ruraltel.net Treasurer: Jim Doty--423-775-3354, jdoty3354@charter.net Board of
Directors Director at Large:--Jim Berry 817-534-9797 Director at Large:--Lou Roffman, 951-784-1995 Director at Large: Courtney Clark 912-898-1684 ; Cell 912-344-8201 Immediate Past President: Bill Fallin
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Note: This site is managed by S. Sidney Ulmer.
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