1st Bombardment Wing (World War II)
Encyclopedia
The 1st Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. It was the first wing formed in the reorganized United States Army Air Service
, created in August 1919 to control three groups patrolling the border with Mexico
after revolution broke out there. Its last assignment was with the Continental Air Forces, based at McChord Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
As the 1st Wing, the unit was one of the original wings of the GHQ Air Force on 1 March 1935. During World War II
, it was one of the primary B-17 Flying Fortress heavy strategic bombardment wings of VIII Bomber Command
and later, Eighth Air Force
.
VIII Bomber Command
* Note: Reassigned to Twelfth Air Force
Reactivated in 1919. Engaged in border patrol activities until it became an advanced flying training wing in 1922. Inactivated in 1924. Reactivated in 1931 as the 1st Bombardment Wing, then became the 1st Wing on 1 March 1935 as a component of GHQ Air Force, and conducted much of the Army's pursuit, bombardment, attack, and observation activities in the western part of the US until 1941.
Moved to England, July–August 1942, and became a heavy bombardment wing of Eighth AF. Served in combat in the European theater from August 1942 until 25 April 1945, receiving a DUC for an attack on aircraft factories in Germany on 11 January 1944. Returned to the US in August 1945. Inactivated On 7 November 1945.
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
, created in August 1919 to control three groups patrolling the border with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
after revolution broke out there. Its last assignment was with the Continental Air Forces, based at McChord Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
As the 1st Wing, the unit was one of the original wings of the GHQ Air Force on 1 March 1935. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it was one of the primary B-17 Flying Fortress heavy strategic bombardment wings of VIII Bomber Command
VIII Bomber Command
The VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
and later, Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
.
Lineage
- Organized as 1st Pursuit Wing in France on 6 July 1918
- Demobilized in France in December 1918.
- Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 1st Wing, which was organized in the US on 16 August 1919
- Inactivated on 26 June 1924.
- Redesignated 1st Bombardment Wing in 1929
- Activated on 1 April 1931
- Redesignated 1st Pursuit Wing in 1933
- Redesignated 1st Wing 1 March 1935
- Redesignated 1st Bombardment Wing 19 October 1940
- Redesignated 1st Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in August 1943
- Redesignated 1st Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in June 1945
- Inactivated On 7 November 1945
Assignments
- United States Army Air ServiceUnited States Army Air ServiceThe Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
, 1918; 1919–1924 - United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air CorpsThe United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, 1 April 1931 - General Headquarters Air Force, 1 March 1935
- Southwest Air District, 19 October 1940
- IV Bomber CommandIV Bomber CommandThe IV Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fourth Air Force, based at San Francisco, California. It was inactivated on 31 March 1944.-Lineage:...
, 1 September 1941 - VIII Bomber CommandVIII Bomber CommandThe VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
, 19 August 1942 - 1st Bombardment Division, 13 September 1943
- Redesignated: 1st Air Division: 19 December 1944 – 26 August 1945
- Continental Air Forces, 6 September – 7 November 1945
Stations
- Gengault Aerodrome, ToulToulToul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin....
, France, 6 July 1918 - Chaumont-Sur-Aire, France, c. 24 September 1918-unkn
- Kelly Field, Texas, 16 August 1919 – 26 June 1924
- March Field, California, April 1931
- Tucson Municipal Airport, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 27 May 1941 – July 1942
- Brampton Grange (AAF-103), England, c. 19 August 1942
- RAF BassingbournRAF BassingbournRAF Bassingbourn is a former military airbase located in Cambridgeshire approximately north of Royston, Hertfordshire and south west of Cambridge. During World War II it served first as an RAF station and then as a bomber base of the U.S. Eighth Air Force...
(AAF-121), England, September 1943 - RAF AlconburyRAF AlconburyRAF Alconbury is an active Royal Air Force station in Cambridgeshire, England. The airfield is adjacent to the Stukeleys [Great and Little] and located about northwest of Huntingdon; about north of London....
(AAF-102), England, c. 26 June-c. 26 August 1945 - McChord Field, Washington, c. 6 September – 7 November 1945.
Components
- 1st Pursuit Group, 1919–1922; 1933–1935
- 2d (formerly 1st) Bombardment Group, 1918; 1919–1922
- 2d Pursuit Group, 1918
- 3d Pursuit Group, 1918
- 3d Attack (formerly 1st Surveillance) Group, 1919–1924
- 7th Bombardment Group, 1931–1933, 1935–1941
- 8th Pursuit Group, 1933–1935
- 17th Bombardment Group, 1931–1941
- 19th Bombardment Group, 1935–1941
- 10th Pursuit Group, 1939–1941
- 35th Pursuit Group, 1940–1941
- 41st Bombardment Group41st Bombardment GroupThe 41st Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Seventh Air Force stationed at Manila, Philippines. It was inactivated on 27 January 1946....
, 1941
VIII Bomber Command
- 91st Bombardment Group, September 1942-23 June 1945
- Attached to: 201st Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, February-13 September 1943
- 92d Bombardment Group, August 1942-13 September 1943
- Attached to: 102d Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, May-13 September 1943
- 93d Bombardment Group, 6 September – 6 December 1942
- 97th Bombardment Group*, August-9 November 1942
- 301st Bombardment Group*, 9 August – 2 September 1942
- 303d Bombardment Group303d Bombardment GroupThe 303d Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 303d Bombardment Wing, being stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. It was de-activated on 16 June 1952....
, 10 September 1942 – 13 September 1943
- Attached to: 102d Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, February–May 1943
- Attached to: 103d Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, May-13 September 1943
- 305th Bombardment Group, September 1942-13 September 1943
- Attached to: 102d Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, February-13 September 1943
- 306th Bombardment Group, September 1942-13 September 1943
- Attached to: 101st Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, February–June 1943
- Attached to: 102d Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, June-13 September 1943
- 351st Bombardment Group, May 1943-1 November 1943
- Attached to: 101st Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, May-13 September 1943
- 379th Bombardment Group, May-13 September 1943
- Attached to: 103d Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, May-13 September 1943
- 381st Bombardment Group, June 1943-1 January 1945
- Attached to: 101st Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, June-13 September 1943
- 384th Bombardment Group, June-13 September 1943
- Attached to: 103d Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, June-13 September 1943
- 398th Bombardment Group, 22 April 1944 – 22 June 1945
- 482d Bombardment Group, 20 August 1943 – 24 June 1945
* Note: Reassigned to Twelfth Air Force
Operations
Organized at Toul Airdrome, France, during World War I. Served in combat, July–November 1918. Operated first in the defensive sector near Toul. During the St Mihiel offensive in Sep, flew reconnaissance sorties, protected observation aircraft, attacked enemy observation balloons, strafed enemy troops, flew counter-air patrols, and bombed towns, bridges, and railroad stations behind the enemy's lines. During the Meuse-Argonne offensive (26 September – 11 November 1918) bombardment aircraft continued their attacks behind the lines while pursuit ships concentrated mainly on large-scale counter-air patrols.Reactivated in 1919. Engaged in border patrol activities until it became an advanced flying training wing in 1922. Inactivated in 1924. Reactivated in 1931 as the 1st Bombardment Wing, then became the 1st Wing on 1 March 1935 as a component of GHQ Air Force, and conducted much of the Army's pursuit, bombardment, attack, and observation activities in the western part of the US until 1941.
Moved to England, July–August 1942, and became a heavy bombardment wing of Eighth AF. Served in combat in the European theater from August 1942 until 25 April 1945, receiving a DUC for an attack on aircraft factories in Germany on 11 January 1944. Returned to the US in August 1945. Inactivated On 7 November 1945.