2d Bombardment Wing (World War II)
Encyclopedia
The 2d Bombardment Wing is an inactive organization of the United States Army Air Forces
. Its last assignment was with the Continental Air Forces, based at McChord Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
As the 2nd Wing, the unit was one of the original wings of the GHQ Air Force on 1 March 1935. During World War II
, it was the primary B-24 Liberator
heavy strategic bombardment wing of VIII Bomber Command
and later, Eighth Air Force
.
VIII Bomber Command
Reactivated as a heavy bomber command and control organization in June 1942. Moved to England, August–September 1942, and became a heavy bombardment wing of Eighth AF. In the fall of 1942, helped to train bombardment groups assigned to Twelfth AF.
Served in combat in the European theater from November 1942 to June 1943. Ceased combat temporarily during July–August 1943 when its groups were on detached duty in the Mediterranean theater. Served on detached duty in the Mediterranean theater during September–October 1943. Resumed combat in the European theater in October 1943 and continued operations until April 1945
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. Its last assignment was with the Continental Air Forces, based at McChord Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
As the 2nd 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 the primary B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy strategic bombardment wing 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 2nd Wing on 4 September 1919
- Inactivated on 30 September 1921.
- Activated on 8 August 1922
- Redesignated 2nd Bombardment Wing in 1929
- Redesignated 2nd Wing on 1 March 1935
- Redesignated 2nd Bombardment Wing in 1940
- Redesignated 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) 31 August 1943
- Redesignated 2nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) June 1945
- Inactivated on 5 September 1941
- Activated on 7 June 1942
- 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...
, 4 September 1919 – 30 September 1921; 8 August 1922 - 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...
, 2 July 1926 - General Headquarters Air Force, 1 March 1935
- Northeast Air District, 19 October 1940 – 5 September 1941
- I Bomber Command, 7 June 1942
- 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...
, 7 September 1942 - 2d Bombardment Division, 16 August 1943
- Redesignated as: 2d Air Division, 19 December 1944 – 25 August 1945
- Continental Air Forces, 6 September – 7 November 1945
Stations
- Langley Field, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 4 September 1919 – 30 September 1921; 8 August 1922-5 September 1941 - Detrick Field, MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, 7 June – 15 August 1942 - Old CattonOld CattonOld Catton is a suburban village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk which lies to the north-east of central Norwich. The parish is bounded by the Norwich International Airport at Hellesdon to the west and Sprowston to the east...
(AAF-108), England, c. 7 September 1942 - RAF HethelRAF HethelRAF Hethel is a former World War II airfield used by the US during the Second World War in Norfolk, England situated located 7 miles south west of Norwich.-USAAF use:...
(AAF-114), England, 14 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. 12 June-c. 25 August 1945 - McChord Field, Washington, 6 September – 7 November 1945.
Components
- 1st Pursuit Group, 1935–1941
- 2d Bombardment Group, 1922–1941
- 7th Bombardment (formerly 1st Army Observation) Group, 1919–1921; 1933–1935
- 8th Pursuit Group, 1932–1933,1935–1941. 1935–1941
- 9th Bombardment Group, 1935–1940
- 22d Bombardment Group, 1940–1941
- 31st Pursuit Group, 1940–1941
VIII Bomber Command
- 44th Bombardment Group, September 1942-1 January 1945
- Attached to: IX Bomber Command (Libya, Tunisia), 28 June – 4 October 1943
- 93d Bombardment Group, 6 December 1942 – 12 June 1945
- 389th Bombardment Group, 11 June 1943 – 30 May 1945
- Attached to IX Bomber Command (Libya, Tunisia), 3 July – 3 October 1943
- 392d Bombardment Group, July 1943-15 June 1945
- 445th Bombardment Group, 4 November 1943 – 28 May 1945
- 453d Bombardment Group, 23 December 1943 – 9 May 1945
Operations
Established at Langley Field in 1919. Served as an observation organization. Reactivated in 1922, being engaged primarily in bombardment activities for more than a decade. Became one of the original wings of GHQAF in 1935 and conducted much of the Army's pursuit, bombardment, and observation operations in the eastern part of the United States.Reactivated as a heavy bomber command and control organization in June 1942. Moved to England, August–September 1942, and became a heavy bombardment wing of Eighth AF. In the fall of 1942, helped to train bombardment groups assigned to Twelfth AF.
Served in combat in the European theater from November 1942 to June 1943. Ceased combat temporarily during July–August 1943 when its groups were on detached duty in the Mediterranean theater. Served on detached duty in the Mediterranean theater during September–October 1943. Resumed combat in the European theater in October 1943 and continued operations until April 1945