417th Bombardment Squadron

417th Bombardment Squadron
Douglas B-18B with radome replacing nose gunner position
Active	1939-1944
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Role	Bombardment
Engagements	American Theater: Antisubmarine Campaign
Insignia
417th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 13 January 1943)

The 417th Bombardment Squadron is a United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with the 25th Bombardment Group at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico where it was inactivated on 20 June 1944.

The squadron was established in September 1939 the 27th Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range), a B-17 Flying Fortress reconnaissance squadron at Langley Field, Virginia. The 27th deployed to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico in November. On Puerto Rico, it was assigned to the 13th Composite Wing, and was redesignated as the 27th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 20 November 1940. The unit performed a number of long-range missions down the Antilles Islands chain, including frequent trips to St. Croix.

After the Pearl Harbor Attack, elements were attached to the 25th and 40th Bombardment Groups. On 16 February, the Squadron had been assigned to the Antilles Air Task Force. "A" Flight of the Squadron was deployed to Camaguey Airfield, Cuba in April 1942, and a detachment was at Vernam Field, Jamaica.

On 7 May 1942, the squadron was redesignated as the 417th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) while attached to the 25th Bombardment Group and the squadron was heavily involved in antisubmarine sweeps in the waters around Cuba, the Windward Passage, and the Cayman Trench.