410th Bombardment Group

Constituted as 410th Bombardment Group (Light) on 16 Jun 1943. Activated on 1 Jul 1943. Trained with A-20's. Moved to England, Mar-Apr 1944, and assigned to Ninth AF. Entered combat in May 1944 and helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by assaulting coastal defenses, airfields, and V-weapon sites in France, and marshalling yards in France and Belgium. Supported the invasion in Jun by bombing gun positions and railway choke points. Assisted ground forces at Caen and St Lo in Jul and at Brest in Aug and Sep by attacking bridges, vehicles, fuel and ammunition dumps, and rail lines. Moved to France in Sep, and through mid-Dec struck defended villages, railroad bridges and overpasses, marshalling yards, military camps, and communications centers to support the Allied assault on the Siegfried Line. Participated in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, by pounding marshalling yards, railheads, bridges, and vehicles in the battle area. Received a DUC for the effectiveness of its bombing in the Ardennes, 23-25 Dec 1944, when the group made numerous attacks on enemy lines of communications. Flew several night missions in Feb 1945, using B-26's as flare planes, an A-26 for target marking, and A-20's to bomb the objectives. Continued to fly support and interdictory missions, aiding the drive across the Rhine and into Germany, Feb-Apr 1945. Converted to A-26 aircraft, but the war ended before the group was ready to fly them in combat. Returned to the US, Jun-Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

Squadrons. 644th: 1943-1945. 645th: 1943-1945. 646th: 1943-1945. 647th: 1943-1945.

Stations. Will Rogers Field, Okla, 1 Jul 1943; Muskogee AAFld, Okla, Oct 1943; Laurel AAFld, Miss, Jan 1944; Lakeland AAFld, Fla, c. 8 Feb-c. 13 Mar 1944; Birch, England, c. 4 Apr 1944; Gosfield, England, c. 16 Apr 1944; Coulommiers, France, Sep 1944; Juvincourt, France, Feb 1945; Beaumont-sur-Oise, France, May-Jun 1945; Seymour Johnson Field, NC, Aug 1945; Myrtle Beach AAFld, SC, c. 5 Oct-7 Nov 1945.

Commanders. Unkn, 1 Jul-13 Aug 1943; Lt Col Clark L Miller, 13 Aug 1943; Col Ralph Rhudy, 17 Sep 1943; Col Sherman R Beaty, 3 Jul 1944; Col Robert J Hughey, Dec 1944-1945.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 23-25 Dec 1944.

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