72d Bombardment Squadron, Medium & 72d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy

Organized as 72nd Aero Squadron on 18 Feb 1918. Demobilized on 11 Jul 1919. Reconstituted, and consolidated (1924) with the 72nd Bombardment Squadron, which was constituted on 6 Feb 1923. Activated on 1 May 1923. Redesignated: 72nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 Dec 1939; 72nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940; 72nd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 6 Mar 1944; 72nd Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 30 Apr 1946. Inactivated on 10 Mar 1947.

Insignia approved on 14 Feb 1924. USA chenille made.

Stations. Hickam Field, TH, 4 Jan 1939; Bellows Field, TH, 11 Dec 1941-18 Sep 1942; Espiritu Santo, 24 Sep 1942 (operated from Guadalcanal, 4 Oct 1942-8 Aug 1943; 7 Oct-15 Nov 1943; 13 Dec 1943-27 Jan 1944); Munda, New Georgia, 9 Jan 1944; Momote Airfield, Los Negros, 15 Apr 1944; Wadke, c. 19 Aug 1944; Noemfoor, 27 Sep 1944; Morotai, 24 Oct 1944; Samar, 20 Mar 1945; Clark Field, Luzon, Dec 1945-10 Mar 1947.