General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

(General Ordcrs 124, Hztldquarters Twcntieth Air li'orce. 10 December lWS, ns
approved by the Comlnnnder in Chief, United Spates .4rmy Forces, Pacific.)
9. The 39th Bo1,~bardnieat Group (VH) is cited for outstanding performance
of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. In prcpnration for a ruaximuln effort
bombing mission against the highly important Otake oil refincry and storage
arca on the Japanese home island of IIansllu, the ground persorrnel worked with
untiring rigor and exceptiurlal teehniral ability to bring their H-29 aircraft to
11eak operating efficiency. On 10 Mxy 1944 29 very heavy bombers of tile
$gth Dombnrdment Group (VH), nssignd to lrnd the cntire wing on this vilal
strike, took ofC from their base on Guam Owr more tlmn 1,500 miles of own
sea, nndauntcd by Ule dangers of the flight and lllc atlxck against a hearilg
defended priority targct in the heart of the mcmy mainland, they pressed an to
tb? initial point. On the bomb run, approximately 43 aggressire figlller attacks
were made on tile bombers, which were flyiw mittmat benefit of friendly escorl.
Gallantly fighting off this fierce resistance, the gunners deutroyed or damaged
10 of the attacking aiqi1:rnes. Hostile eround iustnllati~ns hurled intense and
the Inland Sea near ttie target, nddcd n shattering concentration of fink to the
Savage fire of Lhe ground batteries. Dcspitc this fnnaticni deferst?, which crippled
aircraft throughout the fonnntion, tlie determined crcms of the 3911~ Lfornbardmevt
Croup (VIf) presscd on unswervingly to the objcctire. From :m nrcrazre altitude
of 15,400 feet, they enscaded high explosive8 on tire oil retinery wit11 extreme
accuracy. Erel~ sq~ladrun hammered the target wilil ciireci hits, achieving
dewstating rcsults. On this bimha.drneut, one of the most successful ~lrrcisirm
aLtx1;~ of the Pacific air war, a vital soui'ce of high octane Easolne for the
Jagnnrse mar machine was rendered com]~ielelg inuperati\-e. The exceptional
resolntiou and courage erlcibited by tile colubnt mews an this iiighiy inqwrtant
strike against the enemy and the technical Mli and dcrotinn to duty of the
ground perso~lnel combined 10 forln a bvillinllt cliallter in Lllc history of the armed
ser~icea of the United Slntcs. Tlleir nctirms vcflrrt t~igtiest credit on the 39th
Bombwdnient Gi'mp (VH) and the Anny Sir Forces. (Gmeral Ol.ders 124,
Ilea(kpmrtcrs Twenlielh Air Force, 10 Dcccrnbrr 1946, as oi?~Im'ed by the
Colnrnander in Cliicf, United Stnlea Army Forces, Pacific.)
BY otmm OF THE SEVRETAUY OF W.4B :
OS~OIAL:
Enwarn F. WITSELL
Major General
TIE Adjlllant Gcnera1
AGO 3193D
DWIGIIT D. EISEXIIOWER
Chicf of Staff