The second predecessor of the 89th was constituted as the 89th Observation Squadron on the inactive list in 1935.
 In October 1936, the two squadrons were consolidated as the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, but remained inactive until 1940.
 The squadron was activated and assigned to General Headquarters Air Force at March Field, California, but attached to the 17th Bombardment Group.
  The squadron was reassigned to Northwest Air District in June 1940, with its primary mission being reconnaissance with a secondary mission of bombardment.
  It was initially equipped with Douglas B-18 Bolos, but soon converted to Douglas B-23 Dragons.

In 1941, the squadron replaced its B-23s with North American B-25 Mitchells.
 After Japan attack on Pearl Harbor, the 89th flew antisubmarine patrols off the Oregon and Washington coastline.

The 89th moved to Lexington County Airport, South Carolina in early 1942 to perform antisubmarine patrols over southeast Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico.
 There it became the fourth bombardment squadron of the 17th group as the 432d Bombardment Squadron.
 Meanwhile, aircrews from the squadron trained with its B-25s at Hurlburt Field, Florida for the Doolittle Raid.
 Some aircrews from the squadron participated in the raid, while the balance of the squadron transitioned into Martin B-26 Marauders, and completed training in Louisiana before being deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations shortly following Operation Torch, the North Africa invasion.

During December 1942 the squadron became part of XII Bomber Command.
 It engaged in combat operations over North Africa supporting American and later Allied ground forces in Tunisia.
 The unit flew interdiction and close air support, bombing bridges, rail lines, marshalling yards, harbors, shipping, gun emplacements, troop concentrations and other enemy targets, helping defeat Axis forces in North Africa.

During 1943, the 432d participated in the reduction of Pantelleria.
 It supported Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily and Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy.
 During the drive toward Rome, the squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its attacks on airfields near Rome on 13 January 1944.
 It was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its operations in Italy between April and June.

The unit provided tactical air support in the liberation of Sardinia and Corsica.
 From airfields in Corsica, the 432d supported Allied ground forces during Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August 1944.
 It moved to Southern France and bombed enemy targets during the Allied drive northward.
 It earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing attacks on enemy defenses near Schweinfurt, Germany just before the end of the war on 10 April 1945.

The squadron remained in Europe after German capitulation.
 It became part of the occupation forces, and participated in the disarmament of Germany after V-E Day.
 It was assigned to the American Occupation Zone in Austria.
   The squadron returned to France to stage for its return to the United States, where it was inactivated in late November 1945.
The second predecessor of the 89th was constituted as the 89th Observation Squadron on the inactive list in 1935.  In October 1936, the two squadrons were consolidated as the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, but remained inactive until 1940.  The squadron was activated and assigned to General Headquarters Air Force at March Field, California, but attached to the 17th Bombardment Group.   The squadron was reassigned to Northwest Air District in June 1940, with its primary mission being reconnaissance with a secondary mission of bombardment.   It was initially equipped with Douglas B-18 Bolos, but soon converted to Douglas B-23 Dragons.
In 1941, the squadron replaced its B-23s with North American B-25 Mitchells.  After Japan attack on Pearl Harbor, the 89th flew antisubmarine patrols off the Oregon and Washington coastline.
The 89th moved to Lexington County Airport, South Carolina in early 1942 to perform antisubmarine patrols over southeast Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico.  There it became the fourth bombardment squadron of the 17th group as the 432d Bombardment Squadron.  Meanwhile, aircrews from the squadron trained with its B-25s at Hurlburt Field, Florida for the Doolittle Raid.  Some aircrews from the squadron participated in the raid, while the balance of the squadron transitioned into Martin B-26 Marauders, and completed training in Louisiana before being deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations shortly following Operation Torch, the North Africa invasion.
During December 1942 the squadron became part of XII Bomber Command.  It engaged in combat operations over North Africa supporting American and later Allied ground forces in Tunisia.  The unit flew interdiction and close air support, bombing bridges, rail lines, marshalling yards, harbors, shipping, gun emplacements, troop concentrations and other enemy targets, helping defeat Axis forces in North Africa.
During 1943, the 432d participated in the reduction of Pantelleria.  It supported Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily and Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy.  During the drive toward Rome, the squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its attacks on airfields near Rome on 13 January 1944.  It was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its operations in Italy between April and June.
The unit provided tactical air support in the liberation of Sardinia and Corsica.  From airfields in Corsica, the 432d supported Allied ground forces during Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August 1944.  It moved to Southern France and bombed enemy targets during the Allied drive northward.  It earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing attacks on enemy defenses near Schweinfurt, Germany just before the end of the war on 10 April 1945.
The squadron remained in Europe after German capitulation.  It became part of the occupation forces, and participated in the disarmament of Germany after V-E Day.  It was assigned to the American Occupation Zone in Austria.    The squadron returned to France to stage for its return to the United States, where it was inactivated in late November 1945.
89th Attack Squadron