Air Force Combat Units of WWII

278 AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR I1and synthetic oil refineries at Merseburg.Sometimes flew interdictory and supportmissions. Bombed the coast near Caenfifteen minutes before the landings inNormandy on 6 Jun 1944. Attackedenemy artillery in support of groundforces during the breakthrough at St Loin Jul. Cut German supply lines duringthe Battle of the Bulge, Dec ~w-Jan1945. Hit airfields in support of the airborneassault across the Rhine in Mar 1945.Flew last combat mission on 20 Apr 1945.Dropped food supplies to the Dutch duringthe week prior to V-E Day. Returned tothe US in Aug. Inactivated on 28 Aug'945.SQUADRONS. 568th: 1943-1945. 569th:1943-1945. 570th: 1943-1945. fi7ZSt.'1943-1945.STATIONS. Geiger Field, Wash, 26 Jan1943; Great Falls AAB, Mont, 6 Jun-4 Jul1943; Framlingham, England, Jul 1943-4Aug 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 12-28Aug 1945.COMMANDERS. Col Edgar M Whittan,26 Jan 1943; Col Frederick W Ott, 21 Apr1944; Col Joseph A Miller, 17 Sep 1944;Lt Col George W Von Arb Jr, 23 May1945; Maj John A Angotti, 26 run-Aug1945.CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe ;Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citations:Germany, 17 Aug 1943; Germany,I4 OCt 1943.INSIGNE. None.391st BOMBARDMENT GROUPConstituted as 3g1st BombardmentGroup (Medium) on 15 Jan 1943 andactivated on 21 Jan. Trained with B-26'sfor duty in Europe with Ninth AF.Moved to England, Jan-Feb 1944. Enteredcombat on 15 Feb 1944 and duringthe ensuing weeks bombed targets suchas airfields, marshalling yards, bridges,and V-weapon sites in France and the LowCountries to help prepare for the invasionof Normandy. Attacked enemy defensesalong the invasion beaches on 6 and 7Jun 1944. From Jun to Sep, continuedcross-Channel operations, which includedattacks on fuel dumps and troop concentrationsin support of Allied forces duringthe breakthrough at St Lo in Jul 1944, andstrikes on transportation and communicationsto block the enemy's retreat to theeast. Began flying missions from bases on