396th Bombardment Group
Encyclopedia
The 396th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the Third Air Force
, being stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 May 1944.
Activated during World War II
initially as a Second Air Force
B-17 Flying Fortress operational training unit (OTU). Reassigned to Third Air Force
in November 1943 as a replacement training unit (RTU) when Second Air Force
switched to B-29 Superfortress
training.
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 assigned to the Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, being stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 May 1944.
Activated 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...
initially as a Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
B-17 Flying Fortress operational training unit (OTU). Reassigned to Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
in November 1943 as a replacement training unit (RTU) when Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
switched to B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The 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...
training.
Lineage
- Constituted as 396th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 29 January 1943
- Activated on 16 February 1943.
- Inactivated on 1 May 1944
- II Bomber CommandII Bomber CommandThe II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
, 16 February 1943 - Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 6 October 1943 - III Bomber CommandIII Bomber CommandThe III Bomber 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:...
, 5 November 1943 – 1 May 1944
- II Bomber Command
Components
- 592d Bombardment Squadron: 1943–1944
- 593d Bombardment Squadron: 1943–1944
- 594th Bombardment Squadron: 1943–1944
- 595th Bombardment Squadron965th Airborne Air Control SquadronThe 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron is part of the 552d Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the E-3 Sentry aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.-Mission:...
: 1943–1944
Stations Assigned
- Mountain Home AAFld, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, 16 February 1943 – 10 April 1943 - Moses Lake AABGrant County International AirportGrant County International Airport is a public use airport located five nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Moses Lake, in Grant County, Washington, United States. It is owned by the Port of Moses Lake....
, Washington, 10 April 1943 – 5 November 1943 - Drew FieldTampa International AirportTampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...
, FloriaFloriaFloria is a small village in the Selinoprovince of southwest Crete, Greece. Floria is part of theKandanos municipality and, according to the latest census, hasaround 60 inhabitants.On 23 May 1941 and while the Battle of Crete was unfolding,...
, 5 November 1943 – 1 May 1944