Air Force Combat Units of WWII

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280 AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR I1Moved to England, Jul-Aug 1943, andassigned to Eighth AF. Began combat on9 Sep 1943 and engaged primarily in bombardmentof strategic objectives on theContinent until Apr 1945. Attacked suchtargets as an oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen,a marshalling yard at Osnabruck, a railroadviaduct at Bielefeld, steel plants atBrunswick, a tank factory at Kassel, andgas works at Berlin. Took part in theintensive campaign of heavy bombersagainst the German aircraft industry duringBig Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, beingawarded a DUC for bombing an aircraftand component parts factory at Gotha on4 Feb. Sometimes supported groundforces or carried out interdictory operations.Bombed airfields and V-weaponsites in France prior to the Normandy invasionin Jun 1944 and struck coastaldefenses and choke points on D-Day. Hitenemy positions to assist ground forces atSt Lo during the breakthrough in Jul1944.Bombed railroads, bridges, and highwaysto cut off German supply lines during theBattle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945.(Light) in Jun 1949. lnactivated on 10NOV 1949.SQUARDRONS. 576th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949. 577th: 1943-1945 ; 1947-1949-578th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949- 579th:194-1945 ; 1947-1949-STATIONS. Davis-Monthan Field, Ariz,26 Jan 1943; Biggs Field, Tex, I Mar 1943;Alamogordo AAB, NM, 18 Apr-18 Jul1943; Wendling, England, Jul1943-15 Jun1945; Charleston AAFld, SC, 25 Jun-13Sep 1945. Barksdale Field, La, 30 Jul1947-10 NOV 1949.COMMANDERS. Col Irvine A Rendle, 26Jan 1943; Col Lorin L Johnson, 21 Jun1944; Lt Col Lawrence G Gilbert, 27 May1945-unkn.CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe;Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citation:Gotha, Germany, 24 Feb 1944.INSIGNE. None.393d BOMBARDMENT GROUPConstituted as 393d Bombardmentto during Group (Heavy) on 29 Jan 1943. Activatedthe air attack On in Sep '944 and on 16 Feb 1943. Assigned to Second AF.during the airborne assault across the Equipped with ~ - ~ ~ served 3 ~ . as an opera-Rhine in Mar '945. last 'Ombattional training unit until Aug 1943, thenmission on 25 APr 1945, then carried fwd became a replacement training unit. Zntothe Dutch. Returned to the US in Tun. activated on I Apr 1944.Inactivated on 13 Sep 1945. SQUADRONS. 580th: 1943-1944. 58zst:Redesignated 392d Bombardment 1943-1944. 582d: 1943-1944. 583d: 1943-Group (Very Heavy). Allotted to the 1944.reserve. Activated on 30 Jul 1947. Re- STATIONS. Geiger Field, Wash, 16 Febdesignated 392d Bombardment Group 1943; Gowen Field, Idaho, 3 Mar 1943;
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS-GROUPS 28 1Wendover Field, Utah, Apr 1943; SiouxCity AAB, Iowa, 11 Jun 1943; KearneyAAFld, Neb, I Aug 1943; Sioux City AAB,Iowa, 7 Nov 1943-1 Apr 1944.COMMANDERS. Col Chester P Gilger,Feb 1943; Lt Col George A Blakey, 15 Sep1943-1 Apr 1944.CAMPAIGNS. American Theater.DECORATIONS. None.INSIGNE. None.394th BOMBARDMENT GROUPcConstituted as 394th BombardmentGroup (Medium) on 15 Feb 1943. Activatedon 5 Mar 1943. Trained with B-26‘s.Moved to England, Feb-Mar 1944, andassigned to Ninth AF. Entered combat inMar 1944 and helped to prepare for the invasionof Normandy by hitting V-weaponsites, marshalling yards, bridges, airdromes,and gun emplacements. On D-Day, 6 Jun, bombed gun positions at Cherbourg;afterward, struck communications,fuel supplies, and strong points in supportof the Normandy campaign. Aidedthe breakthrough at St Lo by bombingtargets in the area on 25 Jul 1944. Receiveda DUC for operations from 7 tog Aug 1944 when the group made fiveattacks against strongly fortified targetsin northern France, knocking out anammunition dump and four railroadbridges. Capt Darrell R Lindsey wasawarded the Medal of Honor for leadinga formation of B--26s over one ofthese bridges on g Aug. During theflight, Lindsey’s plane was hit and the rightengine burst into flames. Knowing thatthe gasoline tanks could explode at anymoment, he continued to lead the formationuntil the bomb run had been made,then ordered his crew to bail out. Thebombardier, the last man to leave theplane, offered to lower the wheels so thatLindsey might escape through the nose ofthe aircraft, but realizing that this couldthrow the plane into a spin and hinder thebombardier’s chances to escape, Lindseyrefused the offer and remained with hisB-26 until it crashed. After moving tothe Continent late in Aug 1944, the grouphit strong points at Brest and then beganto operate against targets in Germany.Took part in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec1g44-Jan 1945, by hitting communicationsto deprive the enemy of supplies andreinforcements. Bombed transportation,storage facilities, and other objectives untilthe war ended; also dropped propagandaleaflets. Remained in the theater to servewith United States Air Forces in Europe
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--334 '\459th BOMBARWENT GROUPF.-/.
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370 AIR FOR CE COMBAT UNITS OF WORL
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372 AIL FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD
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40671st FIGHTER WINGConstituted as
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414 AIR FOR( :E COMBAT UNITS OF WOR
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~~436 AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WOR
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FIRST AIR FORCEAIR FORCESConstitute
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AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS-AZR FORCES 4
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AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS-AIR FORCES 4
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APPENDIXES
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APPENDIX 11:THEATERS AND CAMPAIGNSU
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APPENDIX 111:Air Force units, like
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INDEX OF UNITSAn asterisk (") indic
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INDEX OF UNITS 49742d Bombardment,"
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INDEX OF UNITS 499123d Fighter-Bomb
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INDEX OF UNTTS 501406th Bombardment
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INDEX OF UNITS17th Bombardment, 385
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INDEX OF UNITS309th Air, 4Ig310th A
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Air Force Combat Units of WWII

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