Constituted as 446th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 Mar 1943.
Activated on 1 Apr 1943. Trained for overseas duty with B-14's. Moved to
England, Oct-Nov 1943, and assigned to Eighth AF. Operated chiefly against
strategic objectives on the Continent from Dec 1943 until Apr 1945.
Targets included U-boat installations at Kiel, the port at Bremen, a
chemical plant at Ludwigshafen, ball-bearing works at Berlin, aero-engine
plants at Rostock, aircraft factories at Munich, marshalling yards at
Coblenz, motor works at Ulm, and oil refineries at Hamburg. Besides
strategic missions, the group often carried out support and interdictory
operations. Supported the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944 by attacking
strong points, bridges, airfields, transportation, and other targets in
France. Aided ground forces at Caen and St Lo during Jul by hitting
bridges, gun batteries, and enemy troops. Dropped supplies to Allied
troops near Nijmegen during the airborne attack on Holland in Sep. Bombed
marshalling yards, bridges, and road junctions during the Battle of the
Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. Dropped supplies to airborne and ground troops
near Wesel during the Allied assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945. Flew
last combat mission on 25 Apr, attacking a bridge near Salzburg. Returned
to the US, Jun-Jul. Inactivated on 18 Aug 1945.
Redesignated 446th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Allotted to the
reserve. Activated on 16 Mar 1948. Redesignated 446th Bombardment Group
(Heavy) in Jun 1949. Ordered to active duty on 1 May 1951. Assigned to
Strategic Air Command. Inactivated on 25 Jun 1951.
Redesignated 446th Troop Carrier Group (Medium). Allotted to the
reserve. Activated on 25 May 1955.
Squadrons. 704th: 1943-1945; 1948-1951; 1955-. 705th: 1943-1945;
1941-1951; 1955-. 706th: 1943-1945; 1948-1949; 1955-. 707th: 1943-1945;
1948-1949.
Stations. Davis-Monthan Field, Ariz, 1 Apr 1943; Lowry Field, Colo, c.
8 Jun-Oct 1943; Flixton, England, c. 4 Nov 1943-c. Jul 1945; Sioux Falls
AAFld, SD, c. Jul-18 Aug 1945. Carswell AFB, Tex, 26 Mar 1948-25 Jun 1951.
Ellington AFB, Tex, 25 May 1955-.
Commanders. Lt Col Arthur Y Snell, 25 Apr 1943; Col Jacob Brogger, 28
Sep 1943; Col Troy W Crawford, 23 Sep 1944; Lt Col William A Schmidt, 4
Apr 1945-unkn. Unkn, 1 May-25 Jun 1951.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;
Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. None. Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 |
