444 Air Expeditionary Squadron (ACC)

Lineage. Constituted as 444 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942. Activated on 1 Jul 1942. Redesignated as 444 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 9 Oct 1944. Inactivated on 8 Dec 1945. Redesignated as 444 Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 26 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 9 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated as 444 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 6 Oct 1958. Activated on 1 Jan 1959. Discontinued on 15 Sep 1960. Redesignated as 444 Air Expeditionary Squadron, and converted to provisional status, on 13 May 2011.
 
Assignments. 320 Bombardment Group, 1 Jul 1942-8 Dec 1945. 320 Bombardment Group, 9 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. 320 Bombardment Wing, 1 Jan 1959-15 Sep 1960. Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at any time on or after 13 May 2011.
 
Stations. MacDill Field, FL, 1 Jul 1942; Drane Field, FL, 8-27 Aug 1942; Hethel, England, 4 Oct 1942; La Senia, Algeria, 8 Jan 1943; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 28 Jan 1943; Montesquieu, Algeria, 14 Apr 1943; Massicault, Tunisia, 29 Jun 1943; El Bathan, Tunisia, 29 Jul 1943; Decimomannu, Sardinia, c. 9 Nov 1943; Alto, Corsica, 19 Sep 1944; Dijon/Longvic, France, 11 Nov 1944; Dole/Tavaux, France, 2 Apr 1945; Berghof, Germany, 19 Jun 1945; Herzogenaurack, Germany, 23 Sep 1945; Clastres, France, c. Oct-28 Nov 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, c. 5-8 Dec 1945. Mitchel Field (later Mitchel AFB), NY, 9 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. March AFB, CA, 1 Jan 1959-15 Sep 1960.
 
Commanders. Unkn, 1 Jul 1942; Maj Richard E. Polk, 1 Jul 1943; Capt Theodore N. Dorman, 22 Jul 1943; Maj Jack A. Sims, 7 Aug 1943-unkn; Lt Col Robert A. Zaiser, unkn; Maj James L. McCrory, 21 Dec 1943; Lt J. C. Edwards, 16 Jan 1944; Maj Edwin H. Brewer, 22 Jan 1944; Capt Hue E. Nunnallee, 6 Jun 1944; Maj Ralph I. Berge, 31 Aug 1944; Maj H. G. Cahan, 1 Jan 1945; Maj C. W. McDonald, 6 May 1945-unkn. Unkn, 9 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Lt Col Gail D. Roberts, c. Jan 1959-unkn.
 
Aircraft. B-26, 1942-1945. B-47, 1959-1960.

Operations. Antisubmarine patrols in the Mediterranean, Feb-Mar 1943; combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) and the European Theater of Operations (ETO), 22 Apr 1943-1 May 1945. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the 12 May 1944 bombing of enemy concentrations near Fondi, Italy in support of Fifth Army's advance toward Rome. Received a second DUC for participating in a dawn-to-dusk attack on the Siegfried Line, 15 Mar 1945. Conducted global bombardment training, 1959-1960.
 
Service Streamers. None.
 
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater; Antisubmarine, EAME Theater.
 
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 12 May 1944; France, 15 Mar 1945. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Apr, May, and Jun 1944.
 
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through Jun 2011.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 15 Sep 1960.

Supersedes statement prepared in Sep 1960.

Emblem. Approved on 27 May 1960. Squadron should revise and request approval of an emblem to meet the standards of AFI 84-105, Chapter 3.

Prepared by Patsy Robertson.

Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.