The U.S. Air Force’s 95th Wing has unveiled a new tail flash for its E-4B Nightwatch fleet, reviving the legendary “Square B” insignia carried by the famed 95th Bombardment Group during World War II. The historic marking was officially introduced on June 26 during the 95th Wing’s Heritage Week at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where members of the 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation joined active-duty Airmen and their families to witness the first E-4B displaying the distinctive emblem.
The Square B first appeared on Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers assigned to the 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy), one of the most distinguished units of the Eighth Air Force. The insignia debuted during the group’s participation in the first U.S. Army Air Forces deep-penetration bombing mission into Nazi Germany on August 17, 1943, when 24 B-17s bearing the marking attacked the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter factory at Regensburg. The mission came at a tremendous cost. Only eight of the Square B-marked bombers returned to England after battling heavy Luftwaffe fighter opposition throughout the raid. Activated on June 14, 1942, the 95th Bombardment Group compiled one of the most impressive combat records of the Second World War before being inactivated on August 28, 1945. During the conflict, the unit flew 8,625 sorties across 321 combat missions, dropped nearly 20,000 tons of bombs, and later delivered more than 450 tons of food during humanitarian relief missions to the starving population of the Netherlands. The group also became the only Eighth Air Force bomb group to receive three Presidential Unit Citations. Following the unit’s inactivation, the Square B disappeared from operational aircraft for more than eight decades.
Its return has been the result of a multi-year effort by a team of seven maintainers from the 95th Maintenance Group, who coordinated approvals, procurement, and installation of the new markings. “The Square B is more than a symbol,” said Col. Brian Hassler, commander of the 95th Maintenance Group. “It represents one of the most decorated Eighth Air Force bomb groups of World War II—a formation of Airmen who flew into the heart of danger over Europe and helped shape the outcome of the war through courage, discipline, sacrifice, and an unshakable commitment to one another,” Hassler emphasized that the new tail flash serves not only as a tribute to the wartime bomber crews but also as a reminder of the modern wing’s mission. “Though the platforms and operational environment have changed, the obligation to deliver combat credibility, readiness, and excellence has not,” he said.
The initial markings are produced from high-durability aviation vinyl at an estimated cost of approximately $2,500 per aircraft and will be installed on half of the E-4B fleet. As each aircraft undergoes scheduled depot-level repainting, the Square B will become a permanent part of its paint scheme. Master Sgt. Ethan Bell, superintendent of quality assurance for the 95th Maintenance Group, described the project as a source of pride for the maintainers responsible for keeping the specialized fleet mission-ready. “It is incredibly rewarding to be part of something this historic,” Bell said. “This marks the first major paint scheme redesign ever applied to the E-4B.” Today’s 95th Wing, activated at Offutt Air Force Base on February 25, 2025, provides national-level command and control for senior U.S. leaders. Its E-4B Nightwatch aircraft serve as the National Airborne Operations Center, providing a survivable airborne command, control, and communications platform capable of supporting the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff during national emergencies. By restoring the Square B to the E-4B fleet, the Air Force is creating a visible link between one of the Eighth Air Force’s most celebrated World War II bomb groups and the Airmen who continue to stand watch today, ensuring the legacy of the 95th Bombardment Group remains visible for future generations. For more information about the 95th Wing, visit www.afgsc.af.mil.
