338th Bombardment Group
Encyclopedia
The 338th Bombardment Group (338th BG) is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last active with Continental Air Command
, being based at O'Hare International Airport
, Illinois
. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last active with Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
, being based at O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
History
Activated as a training unit during World War II and trained replacement crews, using a variety of aircraft. Activated as a reserve B-29 unit in 1947, inactivated in 1949.Lineage
- Constituted as the 338th Fighter Group on 16 July 1942
- Activated on 22 July 1942
- Disbanded on 4 May 1944.
- Reconstituted, redesignated 338th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), on 5 May 1947
- Activated on 12 June 1947.
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949.
Assignments
- III Fighter CommandIII Fighter CommandThe III Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...
22 July 1942 – 4 May 1944 - Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
, 12 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
Components
- 42d Fighter42d Flying Training SquadronThe 42d Flying Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the Air Training Command, being stationed at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. The squadron was inactivated on December 15, 1991.-History:...
: 1947–1949. - 305th Fighter Squadron: 16 July 1942-4 May 1944
- 306th Fighter Squadron: 16 July 1942-4 May 1944
- 312th Fighter Squadron: 16 July 1942-4 May 1944
- 441st Fighter Squadron: 16 July 1942-4 May 1944
- 560th Bombardment Squadron: 1947–1949
- 561st Bombardment Squadron: 1947–1949
- 562d Bombardment: 1947–1949
- 563d Bombardment: 1947–1949.
Stations
- Dale Mabry FieldDale Mabry FieldDale Mabry Field was an early airfield located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States established in 1928 and replaced by Tallahassee Regional Airport. It was located at what is now Appleyard Drive and W...
, Florida, 22 July 1942 – 1 May 1944 - Orchard Place AprtO'Hare International AirportChicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, 12 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
Aircraft and Missiles
- P-39 Airacobra, 1942–1944
- P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1944
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
, 1942–1944 - P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
, 1942–1944 - B-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, 1947–1949