333d Bombardment Group

Constituted as 333d Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 9 Jul 1942 and activated on 15 Jul. Assigned to Second AF and equipped with B-17's. Served first as an operational training and later as a replacement training unit. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944.

Redesignated 333d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Activated on 7 Jul 1944. Assigned to Second AF. Trained for combat with B-29 aircraft. Moved to the Pacific theater, Jun-Aug 1945, and assigned to Eighth AF. AAF operations against Japan terminated before the group could enter combat. For a time after the war the group ferried Allied prisoners of war from Japan to the Philippine Islands. Inactivated on Okinawa on 28 May 1946.

Squadrons. 435th: 1944-1946. 460th: 1944-1946. 466th: 1942-1944. 467th: 1942-1944. 468th: 1942-1944. 469th: 1942-1944. 507th: 1944-1946.

Stations. Topeka, Kan, 15 Jul 1942; Dalhart AAFld, Tex, 22 Feb 1943-1 Apr 1944. Dalhart AAFld, Tex, 7 Jul 1944; Great Bend AAFld, Kan, 13 Jan-18 Jun 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, 5 Aug 1945-28 May 1946.

Commanders. Unkn, Jul-Aug 1942; Col Leo W De Rosier, c. 25 Aug 1942; Lt Col Ted Faulkner, 1943; Lt Col Donald W Saunders, Sep 1943; Maj Walter D Atkins, 3 Jan 1944-unkn. Capt Harry J Whelchel, 26 Jul 1944; Col Milton F Summerfelt, 11 Aug 1944; Lt Col Ray H Martin, 15 Aug 1945-unkn.

Campaigns. American Theater; Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Decorations. None.

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986