The squadron was activated again in the reserves in 1947. Two years later, it began to train with Douglas B-26 Invaders. In August 1950, the squadron was one of the first reserve units mobilized for the Korean War. After filling its ranks and undergoing intensive training, the squadron deployed to Far East Air Forces and began flying combat missions. It was awarded two additional DUCs for its operations in Korea. In June 1951, the squadron was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to a regular unit that was simultaneously activated.
The squadron established itself at RAF Deopham Green in January 1944, and began operations on 4 February 1944 with a strike on an aircraft assembly plant near Brunswick. Its strategic targets included railroad marshalling yards near Frankfurt, aircraft factories near Regensberg and Kassel. the ball bearing factory at Schweinfurt and an oil refinery near Bohlen.[3] In September 1944, the squadron participated in the third shuttle mission, striking Chemnitz before landing in bases in the Soviet Union.[5]
Shortly before the end of the war, on 7 April, the squadron struck the jet fighter base at Kaltenkirchen, pressing the attack despite strong fighter opposition, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. It flew its last mission of the war on 21 April against marshalling yards at Ingolstadt.[3]
After V-E Day, in August 1945, the squadron returned to the United States (the ground echelon once again sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth)[4] and was inactivated at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota.[1]
Reserve duty and Korean War call-up
B-26 Invader camouflaged for night operations in Korea
The squadron was reactivated in the reserve at Long Beach Army Air Field, California in 1947 as a very heavy bomber squadron, but conducted proficiency flying with a variety of trainer airplanes under the supervision of the 416th AAF Base Unit (later the 2347th Air Force Reserve Training Center).[6][7] In a 1949 reorganization of the reserves, it became a light bomber squadron and began to equip and train with Douglas B-26 Invaders. The squadron was manned at only 25% of its authorized strength.[8]
The squadron was mobilized for the Korean War in August 1950 in the first wave of reserve mobilizations. To help bring it up to strength, the squadron was augmented by reservists assigned to the 448th Bombardment Wing, which was also stationed at Long Beach, but remained in reserve status until the following year.[9] The 731st was a squadron of one of the first two reserve wings to be mobilized,[d] and administrative provisions for mobilization proved inadequate, with numerous reservists never receiving the telegrams calling them to active duty.[10]
The unit moved to George Air Force Base, California for intensive training and to be brought up to full strength. In October, the squadron deployed to Iwakuni Air Base, Japan to begin combat operations.[1] The Air Force decided that, unlike the three other squadrons of the 452d Group, the 731st would be trained for night intruder operations. Although the squadron remained part of the 452d until inactivated, it was attached to the understrength 3d Bombardment Group upon its arrival in theater.[1][11] Four of its crews left George in mid-September and participated in combat operations with the 3d Group during October, although the first mission by the squadron was on 24 November. The 731st flew night bombing missions at all altitudes, using both visual and radar techniques. Its Invaders also flew close air support and armed reconnaissance flights. It also flew flare drop missions, operating Douglas C-47 Skytrains. By June 1951, the 731st had flown more than 9,000 hours of combat and 2,000 combat sorties.[12]
The remaining two squadrons assigned to the 3d Bombardment Group had also been put on night operations. In June 1951, the 3d was brought up to strength by the activation of the 90th Bombardment Squadron, and the 731st Squadron was inactivated while its personnel and aircraft transferred to the 90th and other elements of the 3d Group.[1][12]
Reactivation and deployment to Romania
Newly activated 731st Expeditionary Attack Squadron welcomes new commander
The unmanned vehicles fly intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as freedom of maneuver missions and integrate with joint and coalition forces in the region. The MQ-9s also participate in exercises that ensure interoperability with allied and partner nations.[14][13]
About 4 March 2021, the squadron, now designated the 731st Expeditionary Attack Squadron was activated at the base.[15] The squadron also participated in Operation Porcupine 2021, working together with the 510th Fighter Squadron, 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons, and the 606th Air Control Squadron.[16] The Reapers can be equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, two external fuel tanks, and a variety of sensor pods.[17]
On 14 July 2022, a squadron MQ-9 crashed in a field south of the base while conducting a routine mission in the region. The accident caused no injuries, or damage to structures.[17]
On 14 March 2023, an MQ-9 Reaper reportedly took off from a base in Romania on a scheduled reconnaissance mission over the Black Sea.[18][19] While over international waters, it was intercepted by two Russian Air ForceSukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighters. One of the Flankers damaged the Reaper drone causing it to crash.[20]
Lineage
Constituted as the 731st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943
Activated on 1 June 1943
Redesignated 731st Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 28 August 1945
Redesignated 731st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 12 July 1947
Redesignated 731st Bombardment Squadron, Light on 27 June 1949
Redesignated 731st Bombardment Squadron, Light, Night Attack on 1 August 1950
^At Romanian Air Force Base 71 with Detachment 2, 52d Expeditionary Operations Group during Exercise Dacian Reaper 20.
^Approved 26 October 1943. Description: On a medium blue disc, a large white cloud formation surmounted by a brown and tan falcon in flight, grasping two red aerial bombs in claws, all in front of a yellow lightning flash.
^The squadron did not use this code until the end of the war, although it had been assigned earlier. Instead, the squadron's aircraft only carried the individual aircraft letter, followed by a bar. Freeman, p. 289.
^Remote split operations, employ a launch-and-recovery ground control station for take-off and landing operations at the forward operating location (in this case operated by the 731st), while the crew based in continental United States (in this case, the 25th Attack Group) executes command and control of the remainder of the mission via beyond-line-of-sight links. Remote split operations result in a smaller number of personnel deployed to a forward location, consolidate control of the different flights in one location, and simplify command and control functions as well as logisticals. No byline (September 2020). "Creech AFB Fact Sheets: MQ-9 Fact Sheet". 432nd Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
^Although Maurer does not list any operational aircraft assigned to the squadron for the period 1947–1949, Air Force Historical Research Agency Factsheets for the 452d Group and its other three squadrons indicated they operated North American T-6 Texans and two-engine Beechcraft trainers during this period.
Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN978-0-87938-638-2.
United States
United States Air Force
_in_Korea.jpg)
