44th Reconnaissance Squadron

430th Bombardment Squadron
Emblem of the 430th Bombardment Squadron
Active	1917–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Role	Bombardment

The 430th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with the 502d Bombardment Group, based at Northwest Field, Guam. It was inactivated on 15 April 1946.

Established as the 44th Aero Squadron in June 1917, just after the United States' entry into World War I. The squadron's duties are unknown, eventually being assigned to Wright Field, Ohio apparently as a ground support unit. The squadron was demobilized in April 1919.

Reactivated in the Panama Canal Zone in April 1931 as the 44th Observation Squadron. It was the sole reconnaissance unit in the Canal Zone at the time, flying light reconnaissance aircraft over both approaches of the canal. The 44th was the first Air Corps unit to occupy Albrook Field after it opened in 1932-33.

It was redesignated as a Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 September 1937, had the suffix designation (Medium Range) added on 6 December 1939 and, on 20 November 1940 this was changed to (Heavy). The status of the unit changed from "assigned" to "Attached" to the 16th Pursuit Group from 1 February 1940. Later, on 20 November 1940, the unit was attached to the 9th Bombardment Group.

The Squadron had been amongst the first Canal Zone-based units to re-equip with the Douglas B-18 Bolo, which joined the unit as early as December 1938, although several veteran Thomas-Morse O-19C biplanes were still rendering good service as well. In June 1941, the Squadron began to receive Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress (38-266) from units in the United States upgrading to the C or D models. The Squadron moved from Albrook to Howard Field on 8 July, ending its nine-year stint at Albrook. There, with five B-18's, one B-18A and the B-17B, the Squadron commenced ultra-long range reconnaissance training in earnest.

The assignment to Howard Field was short lived and the squadron was moved Atkinson Field, British Guiana on 27 October 1941, the move didn't actually transpire until 4 November, the attachment to the 9th Bomb Group (H) continuing. Unfortunately, conditions at Atkinson were not adequate to support the B-17B, and it was left behind in Panama, being transferred to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron prior to the units departure.