Re-equipped with North American A-36 Apache dive bombers and deployed to New Guinea as part of Fifth Air Force.

In the Southwest Pacific the squadron attacked Japanese strong points and tactical positions and targets of opportunity in support of MacArthur's campaign along the north coast of New Guinea; then advancing into the Netherlands East Indies and Philippines as part of the Island Hopping campaign.

It flew several combat operations with the B-32 in spite of the de facto cease-fire that had been called following the bombing of Nagasaki.

After VJ-Day, the surviving B-32 aircraft were ordered to return to the United States, ending the test program.

The squadron was reactivated as a B-29 Superfortress unit in the reserves in 1947, but lack of funding and personnel led to rapid inactivation.