Constituted as 493d Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 Sep 1943. Activated
on 1 Nov 1943. On 1 Jan 1944 transferred, less the air echelon and without
personnel and equipment, to England where personnel were assigned. Joined
by the air echelon in May 1944. Served in combat with Eighth AF, May
1944-Apr 1945, using B-14's until they were replaced with B-17's in Sep
1944. Operated chiefly against industrial and military installations in
Germany, attacking an ordnance depot at Magdeburg, marshalling yards at
Cologne, synthetic oil plants at Merseburg, a railroad tunnel at
Ahrweiler, bridges at Irlich, factories at Frankfurt, and other strategic
objectives. Additional operations included striking airfields, bridges,
and gun batteries prior to and during the invasion of Normandy in Jun
1944; hitting enemy positions to assist ground forces south of Caen and at
St Lo in Jul 1944; bombing German fortifications to cover the airborne
attack on Holland in Sep 1944; attacking enemy communications during the
Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945; and assisting the airborne assault
across the Rhine in Mar 1945. Flew last combat mission, an attack on
marshalling yards at Nauen, on 20 Apr 1945. Returned to the US in Aug.
Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945.
Squadrons. 860th: 1943-1945. 861st: 1943-1945. 862d: 1943-1945. 863d:
1943-1945.
Stations. McCook AAFld, Neb, 1 Nov 1943; Elveden Hall, England, 1 Jan
1944; Debach, England, Apr 1944-6 Aug 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 12-28
Aug 1945.
Commanders. Col Elbert Helton, 1 Nov 1943; Col Robert B Landry, 16 Feb
1945; Lt Col Shepler W Fitzgerald Jr, 5 Jun-28 Aug 1945.
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 |
