William Nelson Malone Bomber Pilot

Here is information on William Nelson Malone that I’ve been able to glean other the years:

W. N. Malone flew a B-24 Liberator 13th Army Air Corp. (Air Force was created in September 18, 1947), 5th Bomb Group Heavy, 31st squadron, south Pacific theater, he flew around Sumar Philippines to Borneo area and did NOT attack Japan directly.

Here is a site for the information following the site: “Bomber Barons” (5th Bombardment Group) https://pacificwrecks.com/units/usaaf/5bg/index.html

5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) "Bomber Barons"

U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF)

NOTE: Kathy has a banner with the above on it, however, it is black and white not color.

Background

During World War II, the 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) "Bomber Barons" (5th BG) operated the B-24 Liberator in the South Pacific (SOPAC) comprised of Headquarters Squadron (HQ), 23rd Bombardment Squadron (23rd BS), 31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS), 72nd Bombardment Squadron (72nd BS) and 394th Bombardment Squadron (394th BS). Nicknamed "Bomber Barons" the motif was a skull with wings with "Kiai O Kalewa" (Hawaiian for "Guardians of the Upper Realm").

Commanding Officers (C. O.)

Lt. Col. Edwin B. Bobzien (April 1941–January 1942)

Col. A. W. Meehan (January 1942–October 1942)

Lt. Colonel B. E. Allen (November 1942–August 1943)

Lt. Colonel Marion D. Unruh (August 1943–December 30, 1943)

Lt. Col J. C. Reddoch, Jr. (December 30, 1943–August 1944)

Col. T. C. Musgrave (August 1944–February 1945)

Lt. Col. A. W. James (February 1945–March 1945)

Lt. Col. I. J. Haviland (March 1945–July 1945)

Lt. Col. A. W. James (July 1945–January 1947)

Wartime History

The 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) nicknamed "Bomber Barons" operated in the South Pacific (SOPAC) during World War II. At the start of the Pacific War, assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF). During 1943 assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF). On June 15, 1944 became part of the Far East Air Force (FEAF) until the end of World War II.

Headquarters Squadron (HQ)

During 1941, the 31st BS was part of the 7th Air Force and based at Hickam Field. During 1942 assigned to Mokuleia Field. On December 1, 1942 transfers to Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo.

On December 30, 1943 lost is B-24D "Pretty Prairie Special" 41-24186 piloted by Lt. Colonel Marion D. Unruh. Nine of the crew are captured and become Prisoners Of War (POW). Only Unruh survived captivity until the Pacific War.

31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS)

During 1941, the 31st BS was part of the 7th Air Force and based at Hickam Field operating B-18 Bolo and B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers. On December 7, 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu, the squadron suffered four Killed In Action (KIA) and nine Wounded In Action (WIA).

On May 23, 1942 the 31st BS transferred to Kipapa Field.

On November 30, 1942 arrived at Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo and began flying combat missions in the South Pacific. On January 17, 1943 arrives at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and later Carney Field. By early 1943, the squadron began flying only B-24 Liberators. On February 2, 1944 transferred to Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island.

On August 12, 1943 nine B-24s from the 31st BS plus sixteen B-24's from the 307th BG escorted by eight P-40s of the 44th FS and 22 F4Us from VMF-124 flew a bombing mission over Kahili (Buin) on Bougainville. The bombers drop 520 x 100lbs bombs on the runway and revetment areas and claim twenty aircraft destroyed on the ground. Returning, the formation is attacked by roughly 30 A6M Zeros over Ballale.

On March 13, 1944 the squadron returns to Carney Field on Guadalcanal. On April 21, 1944 transfered to Momote Airfield on Los Negros Island. On August 20, 1944 to Wakde Airfield on Wakde Island. Operated from Pitu Airfield on Morotai Island. On March 17, 1945 transferred to Guiuan Airfield on Samar Island in the eastern Visayas Islands of the Philippines until the end of the Pacific War.

This article includes the reference to Sumar operations near the end of the war. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/31st_Test_and_Evaluation_Squadron

So much information in the above site that you can look up yourself so I won’t copy and paste any information from it.