Lineage

Established as 34th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 34th Bombardment Group, Heavy, c. 15 Feb 1944. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Consolidated (31 Jan 1984) with the 34th Tactical Group, which was established, and activated, on 19 Jun 1963. Organized on 8 Jul 1963. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 Jul 1965. Redesignated 34th Training Wing on 30 Sep 1994. Activated on 31 Oct 1994.

Assignments

2d Bombardment Wing, 15 Jan 1941; 4th Bombardment Wing, 3 Jun 1941; 1st Bomber Command, 5 Sep 1941; 2d (later, Second) Air Force, 27 Jan 1942; 16th Bombardment Training (later, 16th Bombardment Operational Training) Wing, c. 15 Dec 1942; 93d Combat Bombardment Wing, c. 26 Apr 1944; 45th Combat Bombardment Wing, 24 May 1945; 20th Bombardment Wing, 18 Jun-28 Aug 1945. Pacific Air Forces, 19 Jun 1963; 2d Air Division, 8 Jul 1963-8 Jul 1965. United States Air Force Academy, 31 Oct 1994-.

Components

Group. 34th Operations: 31 Oct 1994-.

Squadrons. 1st Reconnaissance (later, 391st Bombardment): attached 15 Jan 1941-24 Feb 1942, assigned 25 Feb 1942-28 Aug 1945. 1st Air Commando: 8 Jul 1963-8 Jul 1965. 4th: 15 Jan 1941-28 Aug 1945. 7th: 15 Jan 1941- 28 Aug 1945. 8th Bombardment (Tactical): attached 5 Aug-3 Nov 1964. 13th Bombardment (Tactical): attached 5 Aug-3 Nov 1964; 17 Feb-16 May 1965. 18th: 15 Jan 1941-28 Aug 1945. 19th Tactical Air Support: 8 Jul 1963- 8 Aug 1964; 21 Oct 1964-8 Jul 1965. 602d Fighter (Commando): 18 Oct 1964-8 Jul 1965.

Stations

Langley Field, VA, 15 Jan 1941; Westover Field, MA, 29 May 1941; Pendleton Field, OR, 27 Jan 1942; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, c. 13 May 1942; Geiger Field, WA, 4 Jul 1942; Ephrata, WA, 1 Dec 1942; Blythe, CA, 15 Dec 1942-Apr 1944; Mendlesham, England, c. 26 Apr 1944-c. 25 Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, Aug-28 Aug 1945. Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 8 Jul 1963-8 Jul 1965. United States Air Force Academy, CO, 31 Oct 1994-.

Commanders

Maj John W. Monahan, 15 Jan 1941; Lt Col Harold D. Smith, 1 Mar 1941; Maj Ford J. Lauer, 9 Jan 1942; Col Ralph E. Koon, 12 Feb 1942; Maj Irvine A. Rendel, 21 Jul 1942; Maj John A. Rouse, 24 Feb 1943; Lt Col John E. Carmack, 15 Sep 1943; Col Ernest F. Wackwitz, Jr., c. 5 Jan 1944; Col William E. Creer, 8 Sep 1944; Lt Col Eugene B. Lebailly, 29 May-c. Aug 1945. None (not manned), 19 Jun-7 Jul 1963; Col Coleman O. Williams, 8 Jul 1963; Col Robert L. Loughry, 12 Nov 1963; Col Benjamin S. Preston, Jr., 1 Feb 1964; Col William E. Bethea, 20 Jun 1964; Col Philip Brooks, 8 Jun-8 Jul 1965.

Aircraft

PT-47, 1941; LB-30, 1941; B-18, 1941; B-17, 1941-1942, 1944-1945; B-24, 1942-1944. O-1, 1963-1965; U-10, 1963-1965; B-26, 1963-1964; RB-26, 1963-1964; T-28, 1963-1964; C-47, 1963-1965; A-1, 1964-1965; B-57, 1964, 1965.

Operations

Flew patrol missions along the east coast after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Served as a replacement training unit from mid-1942 until the end of 1943, and then prepared for overseas duty with B-24s. Moved to England in Apr 1944 and entered combat on 23 May 1944. Helped to prepare for the Normandy invasion by bombing airfields in France and Germany and supported the landing by attacking coastal defenses and communications targets. Supported ground forces at St Lo, 24-25 Jul, and attacked V- weapons sites, gun emplacements, and supply lines throughout the summer of 1944. Converted to B-17s and engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic objectives from Oct 1944 to Feb 1945. In Mar 1945, the 34th turned to interdicting enemy communications and supporting Allied ground forces. After V-E Day, carried food to flooded areas of Holland and transported prisoners of war from German camps to Allied centers. Returned to the US in the summer of 1945 and inactivated. Organized at Bien Hoa in Jul 1963, with the primary mission of training Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) personnel in counterinsurgency operations. Provided training for RVNAF strike pilots, forward air controllers, and observers. Also augmented the RVNAF war effort by flying a variety of combat missions, including close air support, escort and interdiction, psychological warfare, paradrop and aerial supply, forward air control and tactical liaison. Pioneered combat implementation of tactical weapons and munitions that came to typify the war, such as the A-1 Skyraider, the minigun, the daisycutter, and the gunship. Aircrews of the 1st Air Commando Squadron performed the first combat tests of the FC-47 gunship beginning Dec 1964. While under the group's control, aircrews of the 8th and 13th Bombardment Squadrons flew the first jet airstrikes of the war on 19 Feb 1965. In Mar 1965, changes in the rules of engagement brought a dramatic increase in combat sorties flown by the group and a concomitant expansion of other responsibilities. Finally, with the mission of the 34th outgrowing the manning capabilities of group structure, it was replaced by the 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing in Jul 1965.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Vietnam: Vietnam Advisory; Vietnam Defensive.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: [8 Jul] 1963-31 Jul 1964.

Emblem

Azure, a compass rose Or; all within a diminished bordure of the like. Attached below the shield a White scroll edged with a narrow Yellow border and inscribed " VALOR TO VICTORY " in Blue letters. Approved on 4 November 1941.