The 415th Bomb Squadron was established as a B-24 Liberator Reconnaissance Squadron in early 1942. Initially, it was engaged in antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. Later, it was redesignated as a Heavy Bombardment Squadron, and was trained by the 3rd Air Force. The 415th deployed to Egypt in June, 1942, over the South Atlantic Transport Route, transiting from Morrison Field, Florida, though the Caribbean, to Brazil. Then, it performed the trans Atlantic crossing from Brazil to Liberia, Africa, then, east across central Africa to the Sudan. Lastly, the 98th Bomb Group reformed with their ground echelon, which traveled by ship around the Cape of Good Hope, joining with the air echelon in British Palestine in 1942. [2]



The 415th was assigned to the newly formed 9th Bomber Command. They operated out of airfields at Cairo, Egypt, Tunis, Tunisia, Tobruk, and Benghazi, Libya, supporting the British Eighth Army in it's western desert campaign to drive the German army out of North Africa, in preparation for the invasion of Sicily and Italy. It also staged long range strategic bombardment missions on enemy military and industrial targets in Sicily, Italy, and the Southern Balkan States, including bombing the German controlled oil fields at Ploești, Romania, in mid 1943. [2]



After the large mission to Ploesti, the 415th Bomb Squadron was assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force in southern Italy, and continued strategic bombing raids on occupied France, Southern Germany, Austria, and targets in the Balkans. In the summer of 1944, the squadron participated in the invasion of southern France, assisted in the Soviet advance into the Balkans, and supported the partisans and guerrillas in Yugoslavia and neighboring countries. [3]



The squadron returned to the United States in May, 1945, having been redesignated as a B-29 Superfortress heavy bombardment squadron and began training for deployment to the central Pacific area to conduct strategic bombing missions over the Japanese home islands. Training continued until the unit was deactivated at the end of July, 1945. It's equipment and personnel were merged into the other three squadrons of its host 98th Bomb Group. [4]