445th Operations Group
(940 total words in this text)
(2306 Reads)
[1]Lineage
Established as 445 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 Mar 1943. Activated on 1 Apr 1943. Redesignated 445 Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945. Redesignated 445 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 445 Fighter-Bomber Group on 24 Jun 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 8 Jul 1952. Redesignated 445 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 6 Sep 1957. Inactivated on 25 Sep 1958. Redesignated: 445 Military Airlift Group on 31 Jul 1985; 445 Operations Group on 1 Aug 1992. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Aug 1992. Inactivated on 1 May 1994. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1994.
Assignments
II Bomber Command, 1 Apr 1943; Second Air Force, 6 Oct 1943; Eighth Air Force, c. 2 Nov 1943; VIII Bomber Command, 5 Nov 1943; 2 Bombardment Division, 9 Nov 1943; 2 Combat Bombardment Wing, Nov 1943; Air Transport Command, 9 Jun-12 Sep 1945. 305 Bombardment Wing (later, 305 Air Division), 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. 445 Fighter-Bomber (later, 445 Troop Carrier) Wing, 8 Jul 1952-25 Sep 1958. 445 Airlift Wing, 1 Aug 1992-1 May 1994. 445 Airlift Wing, 1 Oct 1994-.
Components
Squadrons. 15: 1 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949. 89 Airlift: 1 Oct 1994-. 356 Airlift: 1 Oct 1994-. 357: 16 Nov 1957-25 Mar 1958. 700: 1 Apr 1943-12 Sep 1945; 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949; 8 Jul 1952-25 Sep 1958 (detached 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958). 701: 1 Apr 1943-12 Sep 1945; 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949; 8 Jul 1952-1 Jul 1957; 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958. 702: 1 Apr 1943-12 Sep 1945; 1 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949; 8 Jul 1952-1 Jul 1957; 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958. 703: 1 Apr 1943-12 Sep 1945; 1 Jan-28 May 1948. 729 Airlift: 1 Aug 1992-1 May 1994. 730 Airlift: 1 Aug 1992-1 May 1994.
Stations
Gowen Field, ID, 1 Apr 1943; Wendover Field, UT, 8 Jun 1943; Sioux City AAB, IA, 8 Jul-20 Oct 1943; Tibenham, England, 4 Nov 1943-28 May 1945; Ft Dix, NJ, 9 Jun-12 Sep 1945. McChord Field (later, AFB), WA, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Buffalo, NY, 8 Jul 1952; Niagara Falls Muni Aprt, NY, 15 Jun 1955; Memphis Muni Aprt, TN, 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958. Norton AFB, CA, 1 Aug 1992; March AFB, CA, 1 Jul 1993-1 May 1994. Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1 Oct 1994-.
Commanders
Col Robert H. Terrill, Apr 1943; Col William W. Jones, 25 Jul 1944-12 Sep 1945. Col John Cerny, c. 1947-1949. Unkn, 8 Jul 1952-c. 1954; Lt Col William G. Blum, c. 1954; Lt Col Maurice R. Patterson, c. 1957; unkn, 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958. Col David B. Walker, l Aug 1992; Lt Col Timothy J. Wrighton, 5 Jan-c. 1 Apr 1994; Apparently not manned, 1 Apr-1 May 1994. Col Louis D. Wright, 1 Oct 1994; Unkn, 27 Mar-2 May 1998; Col James F. Blackman, 3 May 1998-.
Aircraft
B-24, 1943-1945. AT-6, 1947-1949; AT-11, 1947-1949; B-29, 1947-1949. Primarily T-6, 1952-1955; F-51, 1953-1954; F-80, 1953-1956; F-84, 1955-1957; C-119, 1957-1958. C-141, 1992-1994. C-141, 1994-.
Operations
Trained in the US with B-24 Liberators before moving to England, Oct-Dec 1943, for service with Eighth Air Force. Entered combat on 13 Dec 1943 by attacking U-boat installations at Kiel, Germany. Operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended, striking industrial targets, airfields, ammunition plants, oil facilities, and other military targets. Participated in the Allied campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for attacking an aircraft assembly plant at Gotha, Germany, on 24 Feb. Occasionally flew interdictory and support missions. Helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by bombing airfields, V-weapon sites, and other targets; attacked shore installations on D-Day. Supported ground forces at St Lo by striking enemy defenses in Jul 1944. Bombed German communications during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. Early on 24 Mar 1945, dropped food, medical supplies, and ammunition to troops that landed near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine; that afternoon flew a bombing mission to the same area, hitting a landing ground at Stormede. On occasion dropped propaganda leaflets and hauled gasoline to France. Awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm by the French government for operations in the theater from Dec 1943 to Feb 1945. Flew last combat mision on 25 Apr 1945. Trained in the Reserve as a very heavy Bombardment Group, 1947-1949 and as a Fighter-Bomber Group, 1952-1957. Redesignated as a Troop Carrier Group in Sep 1957 and began training in C-119 aircraft. In mid-November 1957 the Group was separated from the parent wing, which moved to Georgia while the group and two squadrons moved to Tennessee. From 1 Oct 1994, trained for and flew strategic airlift missions worldwide, performing channel flights and special assignment airlift missions. Participated in various contingency and humanitarian operations and training exercises. Also tested the laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system.
Service Streamers
None.
Campaign Streamers
World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers
None.
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation: Gotha, Germany, 24 Feb 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 21 Aug 2001.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1998.
Emblem
Group will use the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll.
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