Pursuant to instructions contained in Restricted War Department Letter AG-322 (5-18-43) OB-I-AFRPG-M, 19 May 1943, Subject: constitution and activation of certain Army Air Forces Units, the following units, having been constituted and assigned to the Second Air Force, are activated as indicated:
DATE OF
UNIT STATION OF ACTIVATION ACTIVATION
HQ. 457th BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) AAB, GEIGER FIELD, WASH. 1 JULY 1943
748th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) AAB, GEIGER FIELD, WASH. 1 JULY 1943
749th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) AAB, GEIGER FIELD, WASH. 1 JULY 1943
750th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) AAB, GEIGER FIELD, WASH. 1 JULY 1943
751st BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) AAB, GEIGER FIELD, WASH. 1 JULY 1943
General Order number 78 was by command of Major General Johnson by Aubry L. Moore, Colonel, G. S. C., Chief of Staff.
October 1st, 1943 – Captain Edward P. Clark was the first commanding officer of the 748th Squadron. Captain Clark was replaced after a mid-air collision of two planes on December 23rd, 1943. All the crew of one plane were killed. The other plane returned safely to the field at Ephrata Airbase.
December 24th, 1943 – Captain Leroy Watson, Jr. assumed command of the squadron and continued until he was promoted to Group Operations Officer on March 7th, 1944.
March 7th 1944 – Major George C. Hozier assumed command of the squadron. He and his crew were shot down by flak on a mission to Nijmegen, Holland on September 17th, 1944. All were POW’s.
Hozier, George C.
Squadron Commander
September 17th, 1944 – Major Jacob M. Dickenson assumed command of the squadron after Major Hozier was shot down over Holland. He remained in command until October 27th, 1944.
October 27th, 1944 – Lt. Col. Wilbur D. Snow assumed command and remained in command until he completed his tour and returned to the USA in March 1945.
March 1945 – Major Edward Dozier assumed command in Mar 1945 and was leading a mission to Inglestadt on April 5th, 1945. Shortly after takeoff, one of his engines caught fire. Major Dozier attempted to return and land at his field but crashed and burned on the landing approach. All but one of the crew were killed.
April 5th, 1945 – Major James A Maguire assumed command of the squadron on April 5th, 1945 after the death of Major Dozier. Major Maguire remained commander until the squadron was dismissed.
