673d Bombardment Squadron

673d Bombardment Squadron
National Museum of the USAF Douglas A-20 in Southwest Pacific markings
Active	1943–1945
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Role	Bombardment
Nickname(s)	Flying Cowboys
Engagements	South West Pacific Theater of World War II
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
673d Bombardment Squadron Emblem (apoproved 20 July 1943)

The 673d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with the 417th Bombardment Group at Itami Airfield, Japan, where it was inactivated on 5 November 1945.

During World War II, the squadron operated in the Southwest Pacific Theater as a light bombardment unit during the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns. It was awarded both the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat service.

The 673d Bombardment Squadron was activated in the spring of 1943 at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma as one of the original squadrons of the 417th Bombardment Group The squadron drew its initial cadre from the 46th and 416th Bombardment Groups. Once assigned, the 673d's key personnel travelled to Orlando Army Air Base in mid-April where they received combat training from the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics.

The first Douglas A-20 Havocs arrived to equip the squadron in mid-May along with some DB-7 export models of the Havoc. Initial training of the 673d was conducted by the 46th Bombardment Group, the Operational Training Unit at Will Rogers Field. The unit then moved to DeRidder Army Air Base, Louisiana for advanced training. From August to September the 673d operated with the II Tactical Air Division, giving low level support to ground units on maneuvers. Once training was completed The squadron departed the San Francisco Port of Embarkation by ship on New Year's Day 1944.