Air Force Combat Units of WWII

AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS-GROUPS 319fensive; Western Pacific; Central Burma.DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citations:Yawata, Japan, 20 Aug 1944; Japan,10-14 May 1945; Japan, 24 Jul 1945-INSIGNE. None.445th BOMBARDMENT GROUPdpConstituted as 445th BombardmentGroup (Heavy) on 20 Mar 1943. Activatedon I Apr 1943. Prepared for combatwith B-24's. Moved to England, Oct-Dec1943, for service with Eighth AF. Enteredcombat on 13 Dec 1943 by attacking U-boat installations at Kiel. Operated primarilyas a strategic bombardment organizationuntil the war ended, strikingsuch targets as industries in Osnabruck,synthetic oil plants in Lutzkendorf, chemicalworks in Ludwigshafen, marshallingyards at Hamm, an airfield at Munich, anammunition plant at Duneberg, undergroundoil storage facilities at Ehmen, andfactories at Munster. Participated in theAllied campaign against the German aircraftindustry during Big Week, 20-25Feb 1944, being awarded a DUC for attackingan aircraft assembly plant atGotha on 24 Feb. Occasionally flew interdictoryand support missions. Helped toprepare for the invasion of Normandy bybombing airfields, V-weapon sites, andother targets; attacked shore installationson D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. Supported groundforces at St Lo by striking enemy defensesin Jul1g44. Bombed German communicationsduring the Battle of the Bulge, Dec1~4-Jan 1945. Early on 24 Mar 1945dropped food, medical supplies, and ammunitionto troops that landed near Weselduring the airborne assault across theRhine; that afternoon flew a bombing missionto the same area, hitting a landingground at Stormede. On occasion droppedpropaganda leaflets and hauled gasoline toFrance. Awarded the Croix de Guerrewith Palm by the French government foroperations in the theater from Dec 1943to Feb 1945. Flew last combat mission on25 Apr 1945. Returned to the US, May-Jun. Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945.Redesignated 445th BombardmentGroup (Very Heavy). Allotted to thereserve. Activated on 12 Jul 1947. Znactivatedon 27 Jun 1949.Redesignated 445th Fighter-BomberGroup. Allotted to the reserve. Activatedon 8 Jul 1952.SQUADRONS. Zgh: 1947-1949. 700th:1943-1945; 1947-1949; I952-. 7ozst: '943-