Captain Cramer's outfit, although known as the 29th Bombardment Squadron while at Aguadulce, relieved and assumed the identity and equipment of the 74th Bombardment Squadron at Guatemala City, Guatemala, on January 22. The "old" 74th Squadron was transferred to Aguadulce and assumed the identity of the 29th Bombardment Squadron, per Special Orders Number 2, Headquarters, VI Bomber Command, January 4, 1943.

The staff officers and Advance Echelon of Captain Cramer's unit were flown to Guatemala City, C.A. on January 17. The balance of the Squadron then proceeded to Balboa via truck and embarked for San Jose, Guatemala. The trip from San Jose to camp was made by train. This contingent arrived January 22. The new Squadron, upon its arrival, became known as the "new" 74th, and a few days later, the "old" 74th moved out.

The flying personnel of the "new" 74th were sent to the Operational and Replacement Unit (ORU) at Rio Hato, R. de P., for ten days of indoctrination which included information on the area and general training suitable for a new organization coming into this area.

The 44th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), at that time, was also assigned to Guatemala City, and being the senior unit, was in operational control and controlled all tactical flights. The "new" 74th immediately began flying sea patrols, along with and under the direction of the 44th Bombardment Squadron. The "new" 74th took over the planes (B-17Es) formerly operated by the "old" 74th. The B-17Es were gradually replaced by B-24Ds both in the "new" 74th and the 44th.

The 29th and 74th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) were released from assignment with the 40th Bombardment Group and reassigned to the 6th Bombardment Group; and the 25th and 395th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) were assigned from the 6th Bombardment Group to the 40th Bombardment Group, under the authority of General Orders No. 31, Headquarters Sixth Air Force, May 12, 1943

The 44th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) moved out of Guatemala City on or about, June 1, for redeployment to the United States with the departing 40th Bomb Group The whole burden of the patrols, at that time, fell to the "new" 74th.

Major Charles W. Bagstad assumed command of the 74th Bombardment Squadron on June 6.

The VI Bomber Command ordered a practice exercise on June 9, 1943. 3rd Bombardment Squadron personnel, who were present at Guatemala City to ferry a B-17 to Salinas, were placed under the operational control of the 74th for the duration of the problem. Captain Merrill R. Cook of the 3rd Bombardment Squadron, piloting a 74th aircraft, along with a mixed crew, took off for patrol at 0530, June 11. Captain Cook's aircraft lost an engine about twenty miles off the coast. The aircraft, in spite of all efforts to keep it flying, crashed at sea and exploded. Killed in the crash were Capt. Cook; 2d.Lt.Max H. Gee, Bombardier (74th); SSgt. Woodrow L. Moorman, Assistant Engineer (74th); Sgt. William A. Anderson, Gunner (3rd); Sgt. Audrey A. Flippo, Radar Operator (74th); and Cpl. James R. Harter, Student Radar Operator (74th). Survivors of the crash included 2d.Lt.E. M. Steele, Co-pilot (3rd); 2d.Lt.Kirkendall Carlton, Navigator (3rd); Sgt. William Walsh, Radio Operator (3rd); and SSgt. Richard C. Brown, Assistant Radio Operator (74th). A near-by tanker rescued the survivors. Despite rather complete statements by the survivors, no cause for the crash was ever determined.

The 74th Bombardment Squadron had eight assigned B-24D aircraft on July 1.

2d.Lt.Wayne Lowe, a first pilot, died on July 2, as a result of injuries received when his motorcycle hit a police stand in the middle of an intersection in Guatemala City the night before. He was buried in the local cemetery with a military funeral.

Late in July, all of the 74th's planes were grounded for technical order compliance, and the Third flew three of its planes to Guatemala City to be used for patrol while the 74th planes were grounded.

SSgt. Gilbert H. Kirchbaum, a tail gunner, died on August 1 in the crash of a B-17 piloted by 2d.Lt.William E. Christensen of the 3rd Bombardment Squadron. Upon landing, the wheels of the plane caught on the embankment of the south end of the runway, shearing the landing gear away. The plane skidded along the runway. SSgt. Kirchbaum was given a military funeral in the base cemetery.

The 74th Bombardment Squadron continued to fly daily patrols guarding the Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal, until the Navy took over these patrols on September 12, flying PBMs out of Corinto, Nicaragua.

The Squadron was released from assignment to the 6th Bombardment Group, and placed under the command jurisdiction of the VI Bomber Command on November 1, after the Headquarters of the 6th Bombardment Group and the VI Bomber Command were pooled.

The 74th Bombardment Squadron provided a plane and crew to the 29th Bombardment Squadron in December to assist with its patrols when the 29th was reduced to five planes because of the grounding of several of its airplanes.

The 74th, during most of 1943, continued to fly daily patrols guarding the Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal. These patrols were flown continuously from January 1943, the date of its arrival in Guatemala, until later in 1943 when the Navy began to take over complete patrol coverage. When engaged in patrol operations, the 74th Squadron flew four patrol lanes, sixty miles apart on a zig-zag course, to the Galapagos Islands, with the 29th Bombardment Squadron flying an opposing four-lane zig-zag to Guatemala City. These patrols were approximately 1,200 nautical miles in length. Later, the 74th flew loop patrols of approximately the same length, taking off and landing at Guatemala City.

The repair of the runway, which was to be completely rebuilt, started in January. The runway had a rather shallow foundation and unscientific drainage, and would not have been able to stand up under heavy planes through another rainy season. Consequently, as the runway was for limited use only during the construction period, four of the 74th's planes were transferred to France Field, complete with crews, under the command of Captain Earnest Bahnsen. While at France Field, the detachment was attached to the 10th Bombardment Squadron and engaged in anti-submarine patrol in the Caribbean.

The balance of the 74th's planes were transferred to San Jose, Guatemala, on January 24. The San Jose detachment was under the command of Captain Arthur L. Cushing, and engaged in routine training activities while at that location. The 74th, thus, was split into three parts- - the administrative and command center which remained at Guatemala City under Major Badstad, and the detachments at France Field and San Jose operated by Captains Bahnsen and Cushing, under Major Badstad's control.

The first flying accident involving any plane operated by a pilot assigned to the 74th occurred on January 31. The aircraft, being flown by 2d.Lt.Stewart P. Cline, operating out of San Jose, had been towing a sleeve target for gunnery training. After the gunnery period, Lt. Cline buzzed a small freighter lying off of San Jose. On Lt. Cline's second pass, one wing of his aircraft dropped and caught the top of a wave and the plane crashed and sank. There was no explosion, but the plane was terribly shattered. Only Pvt. W. J. Zakevich, the Radio Operator, survived the crash. Crew members who lost their lives in the crash included Lt. Cline, Pilot; 2d.Lt.Cecil M. Pleasant, Co-Pilot; SSgt. Harold B. Meyer, Engineer; Sgt. Charles G. Panegoutsos, Assistant Engineer; MSgt. Charles A. Bone, Crew Chief; and Cpl. A. R. Earnest, Reel Operator. The bodies of Lt. Pleasant, SSgt. Meyer, and MSgt. Bone were lost at sea and never recovered.

The 74th Bombardment Squadron continued its training activities through February, although the San Jose detachment was limited by engine changes and other maintenance work which was required on most of its planes at that time.

Major James D. Kemp was assigned to the 74th Bombardment Squadron on February 7.

Captains Craig M. Yengst and Ernest J. Bahnsen (temporary Captain, AUS AC) were promoted to the rank of Captain in the AUS, with rank dating from February 8, 1944.

The flying hour total of officers as of February 29 was 57,636:55, for an average of 1,372:19 per officer. Many pilots were ahead of the average, including Capt.Willis L. Bond (2,041 hours), Capt.Arthur L. Cushing (2,031), Capt.Max W. Williams (1,921), Capt.John W. Adair (1,57), Maj.. Charles W. Bagstad (1,826), Capt.Charles M. Cramer (1,765), Capt.Ernest J. Bahnsen (1,699), and 2d.Lt.Laurell I. Arnold (1,688). The enlisted flight personnel had a total; of 63,374:45 flight hours, giving an average of 823:02 per man. Many enlisted men had high hourage, including TSgt. Wilding G. Harris (1,789:40), SSgt. Stewart Robinson (1,756), Sgt. J. H. Graichen (1,692:20), SSgt. Robert F. Huffman (1,681:45), Sgt. D. M. Dobbin (1,675:55), and Sgt. Alex J. Jakob (1,543:20).

The 74th Bombardment Squadron flew 9,682.09 hours of tactical mission between January 1, 1943, and February 29, 1944. This flying was logged in the 74th's aircraft, and did not include flights in the aircraft of other Squadrons that amounted to considerable hours. The 74th flew well over 1,500,00 miles of actual tactical work over water without any accidents (NOTE: The plane lost June 11, 1943 was being piloted by pilots of another Squadron).

The Squadron's flight performance during this period was a remarkable achievement, considering the adverse weather conditions encountered, as well as the physical limitations of the field itself. The weather during the rainy season (May to November) was not good. The Guatemala City field was reached from the coast, through a pass guarded on the west by a 12,000-foot extinct volcano, and on the east by an 8,500-foot peak. The floor of the pass was approximately 6,000 feet in length and the elevation of the runway was 4,852 feet. During the rainy season, the pass closed in between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m., and the field also was subject to heavy, low ceilings. In addition to local weather, the flight crews had to contend with the tropical front, which at times, was as far north as 8 degrees or 9 degrees N latitude. During the patrols, this front would vary in intensity. Every flight would usually be on instruments, at least part of the time, and on bad days, as many as four or five hours of continuous bad weather instrument flying had to be done.

The 74th Bombardment Squadron had been relegated to the role of a stand-by striking force by February 1944, and it was difficult to keep the Squadron motivated. The following is an extract from the unit history for the period January 1, 1943 to February 29, 1944: "It is difficult to keep these men eager with the routine training that the Squadron is occupied with at the present time. Further, when a tactical organization remains static in a "quiet sector" like this for 14 months, it causes available promotions to fall quite a bit short of the number of men deserving them. The job has been done well without the incentive provided by more active conditions."

The Air Medal was awarded to all crewmembers that had flown a total of at least 200 hours of combat patrol time. The award was made in June 1943, and based on meritorious achievement while participating in long range patrol flights over the Pacific and Caribbean approaches to the Panama Canal.

The strength of the 74th Bombardment Squadron by the end of February was 361, which included 63 officers and 298 enlisted men.

The Cadre returned from School at AAFSAT, Orlando, Florida, on March 19. The academic work at school was excellent, and the group as a whole felt that they learned many new and useful ideas.

Captain Ernest J. Bahnsen was relieved from assignment and duty with the Sixth Air Force on March 26, 1944, and ordered to report to the Control Officer, Air Gateway, Brownsville, Texas, for reception station assignment.

Major James D. Kemp became Commanding Officer of the 74th Bombardment Squadron on March 26, relieving Major Bagstad.

The afternoon and evening of March 31, the San Jose detachment had a "Beer Bust" and "Steak Fry."

Major James D. Kemp flew his staff to Albrook Field, CZ, on April 2 for a conference with VI Bomber Command regarding the movement of the 74th Bombardment Squadron from Guatemala. Major Kemp and staff returned to Guatemala on April 4, and packing became the order of the day for the next week. Squadron personnel worked furiously building crates, burning old papers and documents, scrubbing buildings, and turning in supplies. Captain Max W. Williams flew a small detachment from Guatemala to Rio Hato, R. de P., on April 7 for the purpose of taking over the supplies at that base until the 74th arrived. The detachment that had been at France Field since January moved to Rio Hato Air Base on April 10. The main movement of personnel from Guatemala began April 14 and was completed April 17. All personnel were moved by air. Equipment and footlockers were moved by boat.

After arriving at Rio Hato and unpacking, the Squadron was so spread out that it was decided to move all administrative offices (i.e., Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Orderly Room, Message Center, Mail Office, Communications, Operations, Intelligence, School Room, and Day Room) into one large building.

A new and intensive training schedule for the ground and flying personnel was launched. The flying crews were kept busy with gunnery and bombing, night-flying, and cross-country flights, landings and take-offs, and formation flying. Radar school, communications technique, intelligence lectures, rifle practice, and skeet shooting consumed the time of the ground crews. An athletic schedule of calisthenics, baseball, and swimming rounded out the full day.

The 74th Bombardment Squadron in April consisted of 57 officers, 336 enlisted men, and ten B-24D airplanes.

May was a training month. During the month, 366 practice bombs, ranging in size from thousand pounders to 100 pounds, were dropped. Operations scheduled formation flying, night flights, cross-countries, demonstration exhibitions, weather and tactical procedure flights, high altitude missions, and aerial gunnery flights. About a third of the 74th's planes were grounded for the month due to inability to obtain parts. The ground school schedule included training in blinker and code work, radar, navigation, malaria control, bombing, aircraft identification, skeet shooting, rifle and machine gun firing, radio navigation, Articles of War, and intelligence lectures.

The furlough and leave situation improved during this period. Three officers and five enlisted men who had been on furlough or leave in the United States returned to the Squadron in May; while seven officers and 13 enlisted men left for the U.S. on leave, furlough, or D.S. for the purpose of recuperation. Twelve enlisted men also spent 15-day local furloughs in Guatemala City during the month.

Brigadier General Ralph N. Wooten, Commanding General of the Sixth Air Force, was replaced by Brigadier General Edgar P. Sorenson.

The assigned strength of the 74th Bombardment Squadron in May was 61 officers, 344 enlisted men, and ten B-24D airplanes.

Fifty-five (55) of the 74th's most experienced enlisted men from the line were sent to the VI Bomber Command on June 6 for return to the United States for reassignment.

VI Bomber Command sent 55 replacement personnel, newly arrived from the United States, to the 74th on June 21.

The flying training program progressed to the stage of Group formations with the two Squadrons at Howard Field, CZ. Weather procedure, high altitude missions, Group bombing and special missions on San Jose Island were undertaken. Surprise attacks were made on various parts of the Panama Canal to give the different branches of the service that were defending the Canal some activities of a concrete nature. Sugar bombs were dropped on San Jose Island at different times, but on June 9 the real McCoy was dropped on that Island. Some night transitions were flown, but bad weather caused many of the flights to be canceled.

On June 8, a plane was sent to San Jose, Guatemala, to fly patrols between there and the Galapagos Islands.

Skeleton crews of combat teams of the different Squadrons flew the old LB-30s and B-17s from Panama to the States, and returned by transports.

As of June 30, the Squadron's gross flying hours were 59,551. Capt.Willis L. Bond had 2,208 hours; Capt. Arthur L. Cushing, 2,198 hours; Capt. Max W. Williams, 2,064 hours; Capt. John W. Adair, 1,969 hours; Maj. Charles M. Cramer, 1,898 hours; 1st. Lt. Laurell I. Arnold, 1,832 hours; and Maj. James D. Kemp had 2,091 flying hours to their credit.

Sixty-three (63) officers, 338 enlisted men, and ten B-24D airplanes were assigned to the Squadron, as of June 30.

The organization's morale was very, very low and sinking lower daily.

The 74th Bombardment Squadron sent planes to Vernam Field, Jamaica; Hato Field, Curacao; and Howard Field, CZ, on July 9, to fly anti-submarine patrols in the Caribbean. The planes returned from Jamaica on July 14 and from Curacao on July 15.

Two B-24Ds were transferred from the 74th, one going to Fighter Command, and the other to the 3rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy).

Many men went on local leave to Mexico and Guatemala when furloughs were unfrozen. Later in the month, some men in the top three grades were permitted to take leave in the United States.

The 74th's patrols in the Caribbean did not produce any actual sighting of enemy submarines, but there were several good radar contacts.

On July 19, six of the 74th's planes and four planes from the 29th Bombardment Squadron flew a special mission over San Jose Island. Nine planes dropped eighty-six H.S. bombs. Practically all the bombs were duds because of faulty fuses. On July 25, another mission was flown over San Jose Island by nine planes, six from the 74th and three from the 29th Bombardment Squadron. This mission was successful. Reports from the Island indicated that the concentration was two hundred percent better than theoretical predictions.

At the end of July, there were 371 enlisted men and 63 officers assigned to the 74th, and seven B-24Ds and nine B-24Js.

2d. Lt.Albert C. Valaer drowned on August 21, while swimming at Rio Hato, R. de P.

All the 74th's B-24Ds were turned in to the Panama Air Depot (PAD) during August, and the Squadron rounded out its quota of twelve B-24Js.

Major James D. Kemp was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on August 2, and Captain Arthur L. Cushing was promoted to Major on the same date.

Lt. Col. Kemp announced that the 74th would move to the Galapagos Islands by September 1. On August 24, an advanced echelon flew to the "Rock" to clean barracks and put quarters into condition for the Squadron. The Air Echelon and air freight were moved on August 21, and the rest of the unit departed by boat on August 23, arriving at Galapagos on August 26.

The 74th's strength on August 31 was 387 enlisted men and 60 officers.

The Squadron flew many cross-country trips during the month to various points in and about this area. There was a nine-plane formation night flight to Havana, Cuba. A total of 134 men made this trip, many of them being ground personnel. Two nights were spent at Howard Field in the Canal Zone, and two were spent at Batista Field at Havana, Cuba.

Major Cramer took a plane and crew to Albrook Field to fly to Santiago, Chile, to accompany Lt. Gen. Brett on a mission to the south.

Major General Butler, Commanding General of the Sixth Air Force, visited the Galapagos Islands for an inspection. The 74th and 397th Bombardment Squadrons flew an eighteen-plane formation while General Butler was there.

Colonel Roberts from VI Bomber Command, Lt. Gen. Brett, and the President of Ecuador visited the Galapagos Islands during September.

Many complaints were received from enlisted men concerning the quantity of food served in the Mess Hall.

The 74th's strength on September 30 was 381 enlisted men and 61 officers. The Squadron operated twelve (12) B-24Js.

Twenty (20) officers and thirty (30) enlisted men, comprising five (5) complete combat crews, were ferried to Howard Field, CZ, on October 21, for transfer back to the United States for reassignment. These crewmembers were among the 74th Squadron's most experienced personnel, many of them having been in the area since December 22, 1942. Replacements for the five-transferred crews arrived in two increments on October 28 and 31. The first group included 25 enlisted men and 20 officers; and the second group, three enlisted men.

The 74th Bombardment Squadron held a contest among all Squadron personnel to come up with an official insignia. Many interesting and clever entries were received. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were Pfc.. James H. Fleming, 2d. Lt. Frank Y. Hutchison, and MSgt. Hugh D. Leamon. The prizes were awarded at a big Squadron party on October 14, at which time the full size insignia was unveiled. The official approval of the new insignia had not been obtained, and a copy of the insignia was to be forwarded with a copy of the Squadron history (NOTE: The Squadron's emblem, a frigate bird, had been approved August 23, 1934, apparently unknown to the 74th Squadron in 1944).

CWO Fred Helsley was transferred to Hq. & Hq. Squadron, VI Bomber Command, APO 825. 1st. Lt. Allen F. Smith, Radar Officer, and 2d.Lt.Francis J. Yorke, Technical Supply Officer, were transferred to the 74th from the 397th Bombardment Squadron at the Galapagos Islands. 2d.Lt.Gene A. Gauvreau, Navigator, transferred to the 74th from the States.

The furlough and leave situation improved in October. Three officers and five enlisted men returned from leave in the United States, while seven officers and 13 enlisted men left for the United States on leave, furlough, or detached service for the purpose of recuperation. The latter category of leave, plus the availability of air travel for key personnel, improved this important activity. In addition, 12 enlisted men spent a 15-day local furlough in Guatemala City.

The 74th received all of the replacements for the officers and enlisted aircrew members who returned to the United States in October.

The Squadron continued to operate under a "Phase Training" program similar to the 2nd Air Force training in

the United States. Its aircrews were reformed to distribute the experienced personnel among the new crewmembers as instructors.

All units of the Caribbean Defense Command, both air and ground, participated in a Command Post Exercise (CPX) between November 15 and 17. The problem concerned the defense of the Canal against a simulated enemy task force operating in the Caribbean. The 74th's role in the exercise was to fly from the Galapagos Islands to Howard Field, CZ, at night to join other elements of the Vl Bomber Command for an attack. Five (5) planes left from Galapagos at 7:30 PM, arriving at Howard Field after midnight; the balance of seven (7) planes with DEAD-RECKONING Navigators took off at 12:30 AM and arrived at Howard Field at dawn. The Squadron's first element of five (5) planes was fueled immediately while the crews were fed and briefed, after which they took off again at approximately 3:00 AM. The 74th's planes were to form over Howard Field at 15,000 feet in night formation with planes from the other three bombardment squadrons. The weather was stacked up over 17,000 feet, and this combined with a very dark night, made it impossible for the 74th's planes to form. Lt. Col. Kemp. the Squadron C.0., in charge of the 74th formation, gave all the 74th planes a heading to follow from their individual positions, and they flew that heading until it was light enough to circle and form. After forming, a formation attack was made on the task force. The later element of seven (7) planes then joined planes of the other Squadrons in a daylight formation attack, which was followed the next night by another night attack by the first Group The foul weather, added to the normal difficulty of night formation flying, made this mission a difficult one. The experience of the Squadron's older personnel was of prime importance in the successful completion of the assigned mission.

The Squadron's strength on November 30 was 377 enlisted men, 62 officers, and one Warrant Officer.

Leaves and furloughs to the United States continued for the officers and enlisted men. As one group returned, another departed. This liberal leave policy, plus promotions for six officers and 51 enlisted men, and a great improvement in the quality and quantity of the chow improved the morale of the enlisted men.

With the passing of December, the former Squadron "X" personnel who joined the 74th Bombardment Squadron in January 1942, had completed their second year in the area, although approximately fifty percent of the enlisted men, and seventy-five percent of the officers had left the Squadron. Three other officers had been lost by accident.

The "Phase Training" program continued at a rapid pace during the month, with local flying, Command Post Exercises, cross-countries to Guatemala and Panama, and much ground school.

Ten (10) of the unit's planes took off for a Command Post Exercise on December 18. The exercise lasted through December 23.

There was a peculiar down draft on the south end of the Galapagos runway on the afternoon of December 18. As 1st. Lt. Laurell I. Arnold took off in "007," the nose of his plane was forced down on the runway after he was airborne. It was a miracle that the crew and plane were not destroyed. Lt. Arnold managed to get the ship into the air. It was thought by all who saw it that Lt. Arnold would have to make a crash landing, but he made a perfectly normal landing. Somebody said to Lt. Arnold that they were glad that he made it O.K. He thought for a moment and said, "Why shouldn't we have made it? There were twelve Christian gentlemen in the plane and we all go to Church on Sundays."

The Air Base was put on a full red alert at noon on December 29.

The 74th's strength as of December 31 was 379 enlisted men, and 61 officers. The 74th operated twelve B-24Js.

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