Constituted as 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 Mar 1943.
Activated on 1 Apr 1943. Prepared for combat with B-24's. Moved to
England, Oct-Dec 1943, for service with Eighth AF. Entered combat on 13
Dec 1943 by attacking U-boat installations at Kiel. Operated primarily as
a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended, striking such
targets as industries in Osnabruck, synthetic oil plants in lutzendorf,
chemical works in Ludwigshafen, marshalling yards at Hamm, an airfield at
Munich, an ammunition plant at Duneberg, underground oil storage
facilities at Ehmen, and factories at Munster. Participated in the Allied
campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb
1944, being awarded a DUC for attacking an aircraft assembly plant at
Gotha on 24 Feb. Occasionally flew interdictory and support missions.
Helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by bombing airfields,
V-weapon sites, and other targets; attacked shore installations on D-Day,
6 Jun 1944. Supported ground forces at St Lo by striking enemy defenses in
Jul 1944. Bombed German communications during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec
1944-Jan 1945. Early on 24 Mar 1945 dropped food, medical supplies, and
ammunition to troops that landed near Wesel during the airborne assault
across the Rhine; that afternoon flew a bombing mission to the same area,
hitting a landing ground at Stormede. On occasion dropped propaganda
leaflets and hauled gasoline to France. Awarded the Croix de Guerre with
Palm by the French government for operations in the theater from Dec 1943
to Feb 1945. Flew last combat mission on 25 Apr 1945. Returned to the US,
May-Jun. Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945.
Redesignated 445th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Allotted to the
reserve. Activated on 12 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.
Redesignated 445th Fighter-Bomber Group. Allotted to the reserve.
Activated on 8 Jul 1952.
Squadrons. 15th: 1947-1949. 700th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949; 1952-. 701st:
1943-1945; 1947-1949; 1952-. 702d: 1943-1945; 1947-1949; 1952-. 703d:
1943-1945; 1947-1948.
Stations. Gowen Field, Idaho, 1 Apr 1943; Wendover Field, Utah, 8 Jun
1943; Sioux City AAB, Iowa, 8 Jul-20 Oct 1943; Tibenham, England, 4 Nov
1943-28 May 1945; Ft Dix AAB, NJ, 9 Jun-12 Sep 1945. McChord Field, Wash,
12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Buffalo, NY, 8 Jul 1952; Niagara Falls Mun Aprt,
NY, 15 Jun 1955-.
Commanders. Col Robert H Terrill, 1 Apr 1943; Col William W Jones, 25
Jul 1944-12 Sep 1945.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;
Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Gotha, Germany, 24 Feb 1944.
French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, a snorting bison, proper, winged argent, with
streaks of fire proper, issuing from his horns and nostrils, in base three
stars of the third. Motto: The Bison Wing. (Approved 7 Sep 1955.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 |
