Lineage

Organized as 4 Aero Squadron on 5 May 1917. Redesignated Squadron B, Post Field, OK, on 22 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 2 Jan 1919. Reconstituted and consolidated (1924) with the 4 Aero Squadron which was organized on 23 Jun 1919. Redesignated: 4 Squadron (Observation) on 14 Mar 1921; 4 Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 4 Reconnaissance Squadron on 25 Jan 1938; 4 Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium Range) on 6 Dec 1939; 4 Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940; 394 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942; 394 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy by Sept 1944. Inactivated on 29 Apr 1946. Redesignated 394 Combat Training Squadron on 22 Oct 1996. Activated on 6 Nov 1996.

Assignments

Eastern Department, 23 Jun 1919; 2 (later 5) Observation Group, 15 Dec 1919 (attached to Eastern Department until 8 Jan 1920); Hawaiian Department, 31 Jan 1922, (divisional aviation for Hawaiian Division, Feb 1922-Jan 1927); 5 Composite (later, 5 Bombardment) Group, assigned 11 Jan 1927, attached 12 Oct 1938, assigned 25 Feb 1942-29 Apr 1946. 509 Operations Group, 6 Nov 1996-.

Stations

Ft Sam Houston, TX, 5 May 1917; South San Antonio, TX, May 1917; Ft Sill, OK, 24 Sep 1917; Post Field, OK, Nov 1917-2 Jan 1919. Hazelhurst Field, NY, 23 Jun 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, Nov 1919-8 Jan 1920; Luke Field, TH, 24 Jan 1920; Schofield Barracks, TH, 6 Feb 1922; Luke Field, TH, 11 Jan 1927; Hickam Field, TH, 1 Jan 1939; Bellows Field, TH, c.30 May 1942; Hickam Field, TH, 24 Jul 1942; Bellows Field, TH, 28 Sep-17 Nov 1942; Fiji, 25 Dec 1942 (operated from Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal, 3-19 Jan 1943, and 25 Apr-5 Jun 1943); Guadalcanal, c.28 Jun 1943 (operated from Munda, New Georgia, c.28 Feb-9 Apr 1944); Momote Airfield, Los Negros, 13 Apr 1944; Wakde, c.25 Aug 1944; Noemfoor, c.27 Sep 1944; Morotai, 1 Nov 1944; Samar, c.2 Mar 1945; Clark Field, Luzon, Dec 1945-29 Apr 1946. Whiteman AFB, MO, 6 Nov 1996-.

Commanders


Aircraft

Apparently included R-4, JN-4, and JN-6, during period 1917-1919. Primarily DH-4 during period 1919-1929; in addition to O-19 and OA-1, included B-12 and P-12 during period 1929-1937; primarily B-18 during period 1938-1941; B-17, 1941-1942; LB-30, 1942; B-17, Nov 1942-1943; B-24, 1943-1945. B-2, 1996-.

Operations

Evidently served as observer training unit, 1918-1919. Flew patrols over the Pacific, 7 Dec 1941-3 Dec 1943. Trained B-17 pilots, Jan-May 1942. Combat in South and Southwest Pacific at various times between 4 Jan 1943 and 3 Apr 1944. Combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, 18 Apr 1944-12 Aug 1945. Trained B-2 aircrews, 1996-.

Service Streamers

None.

Campaign Streamers

World War II: Central Pacific; Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citations: Woleai Island, 18 Apr-15 May 1944; Borneo, 30 Sep 1944. Navy Presidential Unit Citation: [1942]. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).

Emblem

Approved on 19 Jun 1931.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 30 Oct 1997

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Nov 1996