Lineage. Organized as 4 Aero Squadron on 5 May 1917. Redesignated as 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 as: 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 as 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. Unkn, 5 May 1917-2 Jan 1919. 1 Lt Harry H. Young, 23 Jun 1919; Maj Karl H. Gorman, 22 Jul 1922-unkn; Capt R. E. O’Neill, by 1930; Maj Turner, c. May 1941; Capt Brooke E. Allen, Nov 1941; Maj Orin H. Rigley Jr., c. Jul 1942; Maj McLyle G. Zumwalt, 14 Apr 1943; Lt Col Robert F. Burnham, 1 Aug 1943; Maj Leo J. Foster Jr., 7 Sep 1943; Maj John F. Zinn Jr., 20 Nov 1943; Maj William R. McKinley, c. Jan 1944; Maj Orville G. Adams, 18 Apr 1944; Capt Dick R. Longino, 5 Aug 1944; Maj Pat J. Patterson, 5 Oct 1944; Maj George S. Luketz, 28 Jun 1945-unkn. Lt Col James F. Whitney, 6 Nov 1996; Lt Col Curtiss R. Petrek, 5 Nov 1997; Lt Col Paul S. Land, 12 Jul 1999; Lt Col Robert C. O’Neal, 11 Apr 2001; Lt Col Andrew J. Cernicky, 13 Dec 2002; Lt Col Stephen Moulten, 29 Jun 2004; Lt Col Troy A. Van Bemmelen, 24 Mar 2006; Lt Col Edward F. Martignetti, 29 Apr 2008; Col Alexis Mezynski, 14 May 2010; Lt Col Ron W. Bodine, 30 Jun 2011-.
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, between 7 Dec 1941 and 3 Dec 1943. Served as a training unit for 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. After activation in 1996, trained B-2 aircrews. Deployed aircraft and aircrews to Kosovo region for Operation Allied Force, Mar-May 1999. Flew long duration combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Oct 2007.
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]. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2005-31 May 2007; 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2008; 1 Jun 2008-31 May 2009; 1 Jun 2009-31 May 2010; l Jun 2010-31 May 2011. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1995-31 May 1997; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001; 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2005. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 4 Jan 2013.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Jun 2011.
Supersedes statement prepared on 15 May 2007.
Emblem. Approved on 19 Jun 1931; newest rendition approved on 26 Mar 1997.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.