page_title: 731st Bombardment Squadron
hierarchical_section_title: 731st Bombardment Squadron
caption_attribution_description: The U.S. Air Force Douglas B-26B-50-DL Invader (s/n 44-34230) of the 3rd Bombardment Group (Light) in Korea. This aircraft was loaned to France in February 1954 for service in Indochina. It was returned to the USAF in October 1955 and scrapped.
context_page_description: The 731st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active during the Korean War, assigned to the 452d Bombardment Group but attached to the 3d Bombardment Group at Iwakuni Air Base, Japan, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1951.
  The squadron was first activated in 1943. After training in the United States with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, participating in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation during an attack on a German jet fighter base near Kaltenkirchen in April 1945. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.
  The squadron was activated again in the reserves in 1947. Two years later, it began to train with Douglas B-26 Invaders. In August 1950, the squadron was one of the first reserve units mobilized for the Korean War. After filling its ranks and undergoing intensive training, the squadron deployed to Far East Air Forces and began flying combat missions. It was awarded two additional DUCs for its operations in Korea.
context_section_description: The 731st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit.  It was last active during the Korean War, assigned to the 452d Bombardment Group but attached to the 3d Bombardment Group at Iwakuni Air Base, Japan, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1951.
  The squadron was first activated in 1943.  After training in the United States with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, participating in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany.  It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) during an attack on a German jet fighter base near Kaltenkirchen in April 1945.  Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.
  The squadron was activated again in the reserves in 1947.  Two years later, it began to train with Douglas B-26 Invaders.  In August 1950, the squadron was one of the first reserve units mobilized for the Korean War.  After filling its ranks and undergoing intensive training, the squadron deployed to Far East Air Forces and began flying combat missions.  It was awarded two additional DUCs for its operations in Korea.  In June 1951, the squadron was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to a regular unit that was simultaneously activated.
caption: B-26 Invader camouflaged for night operations in Korea
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