714th Bombardment Squadron

The 714th Bombardment Squadron was activated on 1 May 1943 as part of the 448th Bombardment Group. Initial training commenced at Gowen Field, Idaho, with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, followed by Phase 2 training at Wendover Field, Utah, and final training at Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa. The ground echelon set sail for England on the RMS Queen Elizabeth on 23 November, with the air echelon deploying via the southern ferry route.

Combat in Europe

Strategic Bombing Campaign

Beginning operations from RAF Seething on 22 December 1943, the squadron contributed to the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Key targets included:

• Ball bearing plants in Berlin
• Marshalling yards in Cologne
• V-1 flying bomb assembly plant at Fallersleben
• Aircraft factories in Gotha
• Chemical plant at Ludwigshafen
• Synthetic oil refineries near Pölitz
• Aircraft engine plants at Rostock

The squadron also played a role in Big Week, a concerted effort against German aircraft manufacturing from 20 to 25 February 1944.

Interdiction and Close Air Support

Beyond strategic bombing, the squadron carried out specific missions to support various critical operations:

• Operation Overlord: Targeted V-weapon launch sites, airfields, transportation facilities, coastal defenses, and choke points.
• Caen and Operation Cobra: Struck enemy positions to aid in allied assaults.
• Operation Market Garden: Dropped supplies during the attempt to seize a Rhine bridgehead.
• Battle of the Bulge: Attacked transportation and communication targets.
• Operation Varsity: Supported the airborne assault across the Rhine.

The squadron's final combat mission was on 25 April 1945, targeting a railroad yard near Salzburg, Austria.

Post-War Era and Inactivation

After the war, the air echelon returned to the U.S. in June 1945, and the ground echelon followed in July. The squadron reassembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, and began training with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

In December 1945, the squadron moved to Fort Worth Army Air Field, Texas, where it became part of the Strategic Air Command in March 1946. However, a reorganization in August led to its inactivation, with personnel and equipment transferred to the 327th Bombardment Squadron. The 714th Bombardment Squadron was officially inactivated at Long Beach Municipal Airport, California, on 21 March 1951.

Conclusion

The 714th Bombardment Squadron's contributions during World War II are marked by its success in the strategic bombing campaign and its adaptability in supporting key military operations. Its brief post-war tenure with the Strategic Air Command and subsequent inactivation conclude a significant chapter in U.S. military aviation history.