Air Force Combat Units of WWII

AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS-GROUPS 269engine factory at Le Mans, nitrate worksin Norway, aircraft plants in Brussels, industrialareas of Munster, U-boat yards atKiel, marshalling yards at Off enberg, aircraftfactories at Kassel, aircraft assemblyplants at Leipzig, oil refineries at Gelsenkirchen,and ball-bearing works atSchweinfurt. Received a DUC for performanceon 8 Oct 1943 when shipyardsat Bremen were bombed accurately inspite of persistent enemy fighter attacksand heavy flak. Received second DUCfor similar action on 11 Jan 1944 during amission against aircraft factories in centralGermany. Participated in the intensivecampaign of heavy bombers against enemyaircraft factories during Big Week, 20-25Feb 1944. Often supported ground troopsand attacked targets of interdiction whennot engaged in strategic bombardment.Supported the Normandy invasion in Jun1944 by bombing bridges and airfields nearthe beachhead. Attacked enemy positionsin advance of ground forces at St Lo in Jul1944. Assisted the airborne assault onHolland in Sep. Struck airfields and communicationsnear the battle zone duringthe Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1g44-Jan 1945.Supported the Allied crossing of the Rhinein Mar 1945 and then operated againstcommunications and transportation in thefinal push through Germany. Returnedto the US, Jun-Jul 1945. Inactivated on28 Aug 1945.Redesignated 38 IS t BombardmentGroup (Very Heavy). Allotted to the re-serve. Activated on 24 Jul 1947. Inactivatedon 27 Jun 1949.SQUADRONS. 509th: 1948-1949. 5~0th:1948-1949. 5332d: 1942-1945; 1947-1949-533d: 1942-1945- 534th: 1942-1945 ; 1947-1948. 535th: 1942-1945 ; 1947-1949-STATIONS. Gowen Field, Idaho, 3 Nov1942; Ephrata, Wash, c. I Dec 1942; PyoteAAB, Tex, c. 3 Jan 1943; Pueblo AAB,Colo, c. 5 Apr-c. g May 1943; Ridgewell,England, Jun 1g43-Jun 1945; Sioux FallsAAFld, SD, Jul-28 Aug 1945. OffuttField, Neb, 24 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949.COMMANDERS. Col Joseph J Nazzaro,Jan 1943; Col Harry P Leber Jr, c. g Jan1944; Lt Col Conway S Hall, 6 Feb 1945-unkn.CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe;Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.DECORATIONS. Distinguished Unit Citations:Germany, 8 Oct 1943; Germany, 11Jan 1944.INSIGNE. None.382d BOMBARDMENT GROUPConstituted as 382d BombardmentGroup (Heavy) on 28 Oct 1942. Activatedon 3 Nov 1942. Assigned to SecondAF and equipped with B-24's. Servedfirst as an operational training and lateras a replacement training unit. Inactivatedon 31 Mar 1944.Redesignated 382d BombardmentGroup (Very Heavy). Activated on 25Aug I~M. Assigned to Second AF.