381st Bomb Group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy) | |
|---|---|
| Active | |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Type | Heavy bombardment group |
| Role | Strategic bombardment |
| Part of | Eighth Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Ridgewell, UK |
The 381st Bomb Group (Heavy) was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. Classified as a heavy bombardment group, the 381st operated B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft.
From 30 June 1943 Ridgewell was used by the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Pueblo AAB, Colorado. The 381st was assigned to the 1st Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division. It's tail code was Triangle-L. It was the only long-term heavy bomber base of the Eighth Air Force in Essex.
The 381st Bomb Group consisted of the following operational squadrons flying B-17 Flying Fortresss :
- 532d Bomb Squadron (VE)
- 533th Bomb Squadron (VP)
- 534th Bomb Squadron (GD)
- 535th Bomb Squadron (MS)
The 381st Bomb Group operated chiefly against strategic objectives on the Continent. Specific targets included an aircraft assembly plant at Vélizy-Villacoublay, an airdrome at Amiens, locks at St Nazaire, an aircraft engine factory at Le Mans, nitrate works in Norway, aircraft plants in Brussels, industrial areas of Münster, U-boat yards at Kiel, marshalling yards at Offenberg, aircraft factories at Kassel, aircraft assembly plants at Leipzig, oil refineries at Gelsenkirchen, and ball-bearing works at Schweinfurt.
The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for performance on 8 October 1943 when shipyards at Bremen were bombed accurately in spite of persistent enemy fighter attacks and heavy flak, and received a second DUC for similar action on 11 January 1944 during a mission against aircraft factories in central Germany.
Aircraft from the 381st participated in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against enemy aircraft factories during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, and the Group often supported ground troops and attacked targets of interdiction when not engaged in strategic bombardment.
The Group supported the Normandy invasion in June 1944 by bombing bridges and airfields near the beachhead. Attacked enemy positions in advance of ground forces at Saint-Lô in July 1944. Assisted the airborne assault on Holland in September. Struck airfields and communications near the battle zone during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945. Supported the Allied crossing of the Rhine in March 1945 and then operated against communications and transportation in the final push through Germany.
After V-E Day, the 381st Bomb Group returned to Sioux Falls AAF, South Dakota in July 1945 and was deactivated on 28 August.
