Air Force Combat Units of WWII

AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITMROUPS 289Trained with P-39, P-47, and other aircraft.Moved to England, Mar-Apr 1944.Assigned to Ninth AF. Redesignated404th Fighter Group in May 1944. Becameoperational on I May 1944 and,using P-47’s, helped to prepare for theNormandy invasion by bombing andstrafing targets in France. Provided topcover for landings in Normandy on 6 and7 Jun 1944 and continued operations fromEngland until Jul 1944. Moved to theContinent and operated in close support ofground troops until the end of the war,supporting the Allied breakthrough at StLo in Jul 1944, the drive through Hollandin Sep 1944, Allied operations during theBattle of the Bulge (Dec 1g44-Jan 1945),and the establishment of the Remagenbridgehead and the subsequent crossing ofthe Rhine in Mar 1945. Also flew interdictoryand escort missions, strafing andbombing such targets as troop concentrations,railroads, highways, bridges, ammunitionand fuel dumps, armored vehicles,docks, and tunnels, and coveringthe operations of B-ITS, B-24’~, and B-26‘sthat bombed factories, airdromes, marshallingyards, and other targets. Received aDUC for three armed reconnaissance missionsflown on 10 Sep 1944 when, despitebad weather and antiaircraft fire, thegroup attacked enemy factories, rollingstock, and communications centers to aidthe advance of ground forces. Receiveda French Croix de Guerre with Palm forassisting First Army at St Lo on 29, 30,and 31 Jul 1944 when the group, althoughsuffering severe losses from flak, continuouslyprovided cover for four armoreddivisions. Also cited by the Belgian governmentfor operations contributing tothe liberation of its people. After V-EDay, aided in disarming the German AirForce and in dismantling the enemy’s aircraftindustry. Returned to the US inAug. Inactivated on 9 Nov 1945.Redesignated 137th Fighter Group. Allottedto ANG (Okla) on 24 May 1946.Extended federal recognition on 18 Dec1947. Ordered to active duty on 10 Oct1950. Redesignated 137th Fighter-BomberGroup. Trained with F-84’s. Moved toFrance in May 1952 and assigned to UnitedStates Air Forces in Europe. Relievedfrom active service and returned, withoutpersonnel and equipment, to the control ofANG (Okla), on 10 Jul 1952.SQUADRONS. 125th: 1950-1952. 227th:1950-1952. 128th: 1950-1952. 455th:1943-1944. 506th (formerly 620th) : 1943-1945. 507th (formerly 621st) : 1943-1945.508th (formerly 622d) : 1943-1945. 623d:1943.