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Constituted as 462nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jul 1943. Redesignated 462nd Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Nov 1943. Prepared for combat with B-29's. Moved to the CBI theater, via Africa, Mar-Jun 1944. Assigned to Twentieth AF in Jun 1944. Transported supplies over the Hump to staging fields in China before entering combat with an attack on railroad shops at Bangkok, Thailand, on 5 Jun 1944. On 15 Jun 1944 took part in the first AAF strike on the Japanese home islands since the Doolittle raid in 1942. Operating from India and China, bombed transportation centers, naval installations, iron works, aircraft plants, and other targets in Japan, Thailand, Burma, China, Formosa, and Indonesia. From a staging base in Ceylon, mined the Moesi River on Sumatra in Aug 1944. Received a DUC for a daylight attack on iron and steel works at Yawata, Japan, in Aug 1944.
Moved to Tinian in the spring of 1945 for further operations against targets in Japan. Participated in mining operations, bombardment of strategic targets, and incendiary raids on urban areas. Bombed industrial areas in Tokyo and Yokohama in May 1945, being awarded a DUC for the action. Received another DUC for a daylight attack on an aircraft plant at Takarazuka on 24 Jul 1945. Returned to the US late in 1945. Assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21 Mar 1946. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946.
Squadrons. 345th: 1945-1946. 768th: 1943-1946. 769th: 1943-1946. 770th: 1943-1946. 771st: 1943-1944.
Stations. Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, 1 Jul 1943; Walker AAFld, Kan, 28 Jul 1943-12 Mar 1944; Piardoba, India, 7 Apr 1944-26 Feb 1945; West Field, Tinian, 4 Apr-5 Nov 1945; MacDill Field, Fla, Nov 1945-31 Mar 1946.
Commanders. Unkn, 1 Jul-5 Aug 1943; Col Alan D Clark, 5 Aug 1943; Col Richard H Carmichael, 26 Aug 1943; Col Alfred F Kalberer, 20 Aug 1944-unkn.
Campaigns. American Theater; India-Burma; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Western Pacific; Central Burma.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Yawata, Japan, 20 Aug 1944; Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan, 23, 25, and 29 May 1945; Takarazuka, Japan, 24 Jul 1945.
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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Historical Artifacts: We are looking for photos, documents and other types of artifacts including uniforms, medals, insignia, gear, manuals, and training material. We accept electronic/scans or originals of pictures and paper records. A General Order could be an award document that contains information on many servicemen. Special Orders may contain transfers or other information. Flight records, accident reports, maintenance logs, after action reports, pilot encounter reports, diaries and biorgraphies; all of these types of documents help us support or mission: preserving your history! Contact us today for instructions on sending us this material. Contact Today
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