Air Force Combat Units of WWII

AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS-GROUPSthe Continent in Sep 1944, extending itsarea of operations into Germany and continuingits attacks against enemy railroads,highways, troops, bridges, ammunitiondumps, and other targets. Contributedvital assistance to ground forces during theBattle of the Bulge by attacking heavilydefended positions such as bridges andviaducts, 23-26 Dec 1944; for these missions,performed without fighter escort inthe face of intense flak and overwhelmingattacks by enemy aircraft, the group wasawarded a DUC. From Jan to May 1945,and using A-26‘s beginning in Apr, thegroup concentrated its attacks on the Germantransportation and communicationssystem. Flew its last mission on 3 May.Redesignated 391st Bombardment Group(Light) in Jul. Returned to the US inOct. Inactivated on 25 Oct 1945.Redesignated 11 ~th BombardmentGroup (Light). Allotted to ANG (Pa)on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognitionon 20 Dec 1948. Redesignated 111thComposite Group in Nov 1950, and 111thBombardment Group (Light) in Feb 1951.Ordered to active service on I Apr 1951.Assigned to Strategic Air Command.Trained with B-26 and B-29 aircraft.Redesignated I I Ith Strategic ReconnaissanceGroup (Medium) in Aug 1951.Converted to RB-29’s. Znactivated on 16Jun 1952. Returned to ANG (Pa), redesignatedI I Ith Fighter-Bomber Group,and activated, on I Jan 1953.SQUADRONS. rojd: 1951-1952. 117th:1951. 122d: 1951. 129th: 1951-1952.279IjOth: 1951-1952. 572d: 1943-1945-573d: 1943-1945. 5742h: 1943-1945.575th: 1943-1945-STATIONS. MacDill Field, Flay 21 Jan1943; Myrtle Beach Bombing Range, SC,24 May 1943; Godman Field, Ky, 4 Sep-31Dec 1943; Matching, England, 25 Jan 1944;Roye/Amy, France, 19 Sep 1944; Assche,Belgium, 16 Apr 1945; Vitry-en-Artois,France, 27 May-27 Jul1945; Camp Shanks,NY, Oct-25 Oct 1945. Philadelphia IntlAprt, Pa, I Apr 1951; Fairchild AFB,Wash, 10 Apr 1951-16 Tun 1952.COMMANDERS. Col Gerald E Williams,23 Jan 1943-1945. Col Joseph B McManus,I Apr 1951; Col Edward D Edwards, 24Jun 1951; Col S E Manzo, 8 Nov 1951-16Jun 1952.CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe;Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;Ardennes-Alsace ; Central Europe.DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citation:Germany, 23-26 Dec 1944.INSIGNE. Shield: Per bend or and azure,a bend counter compony sable and argentbetween in chief a Pegasus of the secondand in base a cluster of three feathers ofthe first surmcunted by a mullet of thefourth and third. Motto: VIRTUTEALISQUE-With Wings and Courage.(Approved 11 Jan 1954.)372d BOMBARDMENT GROUPConstituted as 392d BombardmentGroup (Heavy) on 15 Jan 1943 and activatedon 26 Jan. Trained with B-24’s.