Air Force Combat Units of WWII

AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS-GROUPS 295vated the same day. Used A-20’s in preparingfor duty overseas. Moved toEngland, Feb-Mar 1944, and assigned toNinth AF. Bombed coastal defenses, V-weapon sites, airdromes, and other targetsin France, Apr-Jun 1944, in preparationfor the invasion of Normandy. Supportedground forces during the Normandycampaign by hitting gun batteries, raillines, bridges, communications, and otherobjectives. During Jul 1944, aided theAllied offensive at Caen and the breakthroughat St Lo with attacks on enemytroops, flak positions, fortified villages,and supply dumps. Suppcrted ThirdArmy’s advance toward Germany, Aug-Nov 1944, operating from bases in Francebeginning in Sep. Converted to A-26 aircraftin Dec and participated in the Battleof the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945) by attackinglines of communication and supply.Continued to operate against targetsin Germany until May 1945. Flew lastmission on 3 May, attacking an ammunitiondump in Czechoslovakia. Returnedto the US, Jun-Aug 1945. Znactivated on7 Nov 1945.SQUADRONS. 640th: 1943-1945. 641st:‘943-1945- 642d: 1943-1945- 643d: 1943-1945.STATIONS. Will Rogers Field, Okla, IJun 1943; Woodward AAFld, Okla, Oct1943; DeRidder AAB, La, c. 10 Dec 1943-10 Feb 1944; Little Walden, England, 7Mar 1944; Bretigny, France, Sep 1944;Laon/Couvron, France, Feb-Jun 1945;Seymour Johnson Field, NC, Aug 1945;Westover Field, Mass, c. 6 Oct-7 Nov1945.COMMANDERS. Col Preston P Pender,Jun 1943; Col Thomas R Ford, 4 Jul 1944-I945CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe ;Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;ArJennes-Alsace; Central Europe.DECORATIONS. None.INSIGNE. None.410th BOMBARDMENT GROUPConstituted as 410th BombardmentGroup (Light) on 16 Jun 1943. Activatedon I Jul 1943. Trained with A-20’s.Moved to England, Mar-Apr 1944, andassigned to Ninth AF. Entered combatin May 1944 and helped to prepare for theinvasion of Normandy by assaultingcoastal defenses, airfields, and V-weaponsites in France, and marshalling yards inFrance and Belgium. Supported the invasionin Jun by bombing gun positionsand railway choke points. Assistedground forces at Caen and St Lo in, Juland at Brest in Aug and Sep by attackingbridges, vehicles, fuel and ammunitiondumps, and rail lines. Moved to France inSep, and through mid-Dec struck defendedvillages, railroad bridges and overpasses,marshalling yards, military camps,and communications centers to support theAllied assault on the Siegfried Line. Participatedin the Battle of the Bulge, Dec1944-Jan 1945, by pounding marshalling