494th Bombardment Group
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| 494th Bombardment Group | |
|---|---|
 494th Bombardment Wing (SAC) Insignia |
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| Active | 1943 - 1946 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Bombardment |
| Part of | Strategic Air Command |
The 494th Bombardment Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces organization. It served primarily with the Seventh Air Force in the Pacific.
During the Cold War, the United States Air Force 494th Bombardment Wing, Heavy was a Strategic Air Command bombardment wing.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] World War II Operational Units
- 864th Bomb Squadron
- 865th Bomb Squadron
- 866th Bomb Squadron
- 867th Bomb Squadron
[edit] Aircraft Flown
- B-24 Liberator 1943-1946
- B-52 Stratofortress 1963-1966
- KC-135 Stratotanker 1963-1966
[edit] Stations Assigned
- Wendover Field, UT 1 Dec 1943 - 15 Apr 1944
- Mountain Home AAFld, ID 15 Apr 1944 - 2 June 1944
- Barking Sands, TH 15 Jun 1944 - 30 Sep 1944
- Angaur 30 Sep 1944 - 24 Jun 1945
- Yontan, Okinawa 24 Jun 1945 - 8 Dec 1945
- Ft Lawton, WA 2-4 Jan 1946
- Sheppard AFB, TX 15 Nov 1963 - 1 Apr 1966
[edit] Operational history
[edit] World War II
Constituted as 494th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 Sep 1943. Activated on 1 Dec 1943. Trained for combat with B-24's. Moved to Hawaii in Jun 1944 for additional training. Assigned to Seventh Air Force and moved to Palau late in September.
Helped to construct a base of operations on Angaur, then entered combat on 3 Nov 1944 with attacks against Japanese airfields on Yap and Koror. Conducted strikes on other bypassed enemy installations in the Pacific and against the Japanese in the Philippines. Late in 1944 hit gun emplacements, personnel areas, ant storage depots on Corregidor and Caballo at the entrance to Manila Bay; bombed radio installations and power plants at Japanese bases in the Philippines; and attacked enemy-held airfields, including Clark Field on Luzon. Early in 1945 struck airfields on Mindanao and ammunition and supply dumps in the Davao Gulf and Illana Bay areas.
Moved to Okinawa in Jun 1945. Engaged primarily in attacks against enemy airfields on Kyūshū until V-J Day. Also participated in incendiary raids, dropped propaganda leaflets over urban areas of Kyūshū and struck airfields in China, in southern Korea, and around the Inland Sea of Japan.
Transported personnel and supplies from Manila to Tokyo after the war. Returned to the US in Dec 1945. Inactivated on 4 Jan 1946.
[edit] Cold War
Established as the 494th Bombardment Wing, Heavy and activated November 15, 1963. Organized February 1, 1963 at Sheppard AFB, Texas.
The 494th acquired the B-52D Stratofortress (864th BS) and KC-135 Stratotanker (900th ARS) which were previously assigned to the 4245th Strategic Wing. The wing conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling operations to meet operational commitments of Strategic Air Command.
Inactivated April 1, 1966.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
