Emirau Island
The squadron departed for the South Pacific and its flight echelon arrived at Pago Pago on October 6, 1943. Beginning in December 1943, the squadron was part of Strike Command and operated out of airfields on Efate, Munda and Bougainville. During this time, they flew strikes against bypassed Japanese bases in the Solomon Islands including Rabaul. On June 24, 1944, the squadron moved to Emirau Island. They moved again to Green Island in July 1944.