PLEASE SUPPORT THE 8AF.ORG PROJECT! [MORE]
Organized as 2d Wing on 4 Sep 1919. Served as an observation organization. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1921.
Activated on 8 Aug 1922. Redesignated 2d Bombardment Wing in 1929, 2d Wing in 1935, and 2d Bombardment Wing in 1940. 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 US. Inactivated on 5 Sep 1941.
Activated on 7 June 1942. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 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 Nov 1942 to June 1943. Ceased combat temporarily during Jul-Aug 1943 when its groups were on detached duty in the Mediterranean theater. Redesignated 2d Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Aug. Served on detached duty in the Mediterranean theater during Sep-Oct 1943. Resumed combat in the European theater in Oct 1943 and continued operations until Apr 1945. Redesignated 2d Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Jun 1945. Returned to the US in Aug. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.
Groups. 1st Pursuit: 1935-1941. 2d Bombardment: 1922-1941. 7th Bombardment (formerly 1st Army Observation): 1919-1921; 1933-1935. 8th Pursuit: 1932-1933, 1935-1941. 9th Bombardment: 1935-1940. 22d Bombardment: 1940-1941. 31st Pursuit: 1940-1941. 44th Bombardment: 1942-1943, 1943. 93d Bombardment: 1942-1943. 389th Bombardment: 1943-1945. 392d Bombardment: 1943. 445th Bombardment: 1943-1945. 453d Bombardment: 1944-1945.
Stations. Langley Field, Va, 4 Sep 1919-30 Sep 1921. Langley Field, Va, 8 Aug 1922-5 Sep 1941. Detrick Field, Md, 7 Jun-15 Aug 1942; Old Catton, England, c. 7 Sep 1942; Hethel, England, 14 Sep 1943; Alconbury, England, c. 12 Jun-c. 25 Aug 1945; McChord Field, Wash, 6 Sep-7 Nov 1945.
Commanders. Col Townsend F Dodd, 4 Sep-c. 5 Oct 1919; unkn, 1919-1921. Unkn, 1922-1924; Maj Oscar Westover, Sep 1924-c. Sep 1916; Lt Col Clarence C Culver, c. Sep 1926-unkn; Col Roy T Kirtland, Jul 1930-Jul 1932; Maj Byron Q Jones, 1934-unkn; Brig Gen Henry C Pratt, 1 Mar 1935; Brig Gen Gerald C Brant, 15 Mar 1937; Brig Gen Arnold N Krogstad, 31 Mar 1938-5 Sep 1941. Maj Justus K Hetsch, c. 13 Jul 1942; Col Harold D Smith, c. 10 Aug 1942; Brig Gen James P Hodges, 7 Sep 1942; Col Edward J Timberlake Jr, c. 15 Sep 1943; Brig Gen James P Hodges, 16 Sep 1943; Brig Gen Edward J Timberlake Jr, 4 Oct 1943; Col Milton J Arnold, 7 Aug 1944; Col James M Stewart, 10 May 1945; Col Eugene A Romig, 15 Jun 1945-unkn.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. None.
Insigne. Shield: On a hurt a griffin segreant within a diminished border argent. (Approved 5 Jan 1933.)
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
Most of these documents have been transcribed from official unit documents without corrections. Some material was difficult to read and transcribe, sometimes this is noted in the transcription. Spelling was not corrected. Documents are not meant to be a complete record, they are only what has been reasonbly-readable. Only document formatting may have been altered to enable better viewing on a web page with multiple devices.
2ND AIR DIVISION HEADQUARTERS MEMORIAL HISTORY
1. Commanders:
Major General J. P. Hodges, 22 Aug ’42 to 1 Aug ’44
Major General W.E. Kepner, 1 Aug ’44 to 13 May ’45
Brig. General W.R. Peck, 13 May ’45 to 31 May ‘45
11. Narrative:
1. The 2d Air Division, originating as the 2d Bombardment Wing evolving into the 2d Bombardment Division before attaining its present status, was activated at Detrick Field, Md., per G.O. No. 21, paragraph 1, dated 7 June 1942, Headquarter E.D.C., Mitchell Field, N.Y., consisting of one enlisted man.
2. During the subsequent thirty days the total strength of this unit swelled to twenty-eight officers and eighty-one enlisted men. After a brief period of training at Detrick Field, on 15 August 1942 the cadre of the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 2d Bombardment Wing moved to Ft Dix, New Jersey, from where they proceeded to their port of embarkation, boarded the Queen Elizabeth and crossed the Atlantic in six days without incident. Arriving in Glasgow, Scotland at dusk, 6 September 1942, the unit immediately debarked and entrained for its station, Old Catton, a suburb of Norwich, Norfolk County, England, where it arrived 7 September 1942.
3. While the cadre of the Hq. & Hq. Sq’n, 2d Bombardment Wing, was in process of formation and transfer to the ETO. the 2d Bombardment Wing’s Headquarters was being established by the VIII Bomber Command with Colonel (now Brigadier General) Newton Longfellow in command and Old Catton as the location of its headquarters. While this organization existed only on paper it underwent some changes before the cadre arrived in the ETO. First its name was redesignated the 2d Provisional Bombardment Wing on 13 August 1942, and redesignated again the 2d Bombardment Wing 7 September 1942 when the cadre arrived. Secondly, its commander was succeeded by Colonel (now Major General) J. P. Hodges of Washington, D.C.
4. The first General Order was issued 7 September 1942 announcing the assumption of command by Colonel J.P. Hodges. By 11 September 1942 the staff had been organized and assigned to the presentation for, reception and training of the air and ground echelon units which were to be assigned to the Wing.
5. 22 September 1942 the initial assignment of the six airdromes (Bungay, Hardwick, Hethel, Shipdham, Tibenham and Wendling), was made to the 2d Bombardment Wing. (The first airdrome to be occupied was Shipdham 10 October 1942 by the 44th Bombardment Group). Higher headquarters, 14 January 1943, expanded the Wing into a Division and eight more airdromes (Attlebridge, Rackheath, North Pickenham, Seething, Halesworth, Horsham, Old Buckenham, Metfield) were assigned to a 2d Bombardment Wing at the same time.
6. In the meantime, on 6 December 1942, three squadrons of the recently assigned 93rd Bomb Group, fresh from 1st Bombardment Wing, had been sent to North Africa where they flew twenty-three missions and returned to the UK during the period from 26 February to 5 March 1943. Later, in June 1943, 93rd and 389th Bomb Groups were sent to participate in the second North African Expedition. These three groups returned to the UK, flew a few missions and then were sent on a third North African Expedition. The purpose of that mission was to furnish additional air support for relief of the grace situation which was facing the 5th Army at that time at Salerno, Italy. The mission was not completed before 4 October 1943.
7. The 2nd Bombardment Wing on 13 September 1943 had become the 2nd Bombardment Division with its headquarters at Horsham St. Faiths (later, 26 December 1943, was transferred to Ketteringham Hall, Norfolk, England, where it remained until its departure and return to the Z0I, 10-15 June 1945). By 11 June 1944 the new organization had acquired fourteen heavy bombardment groups and a total strength of 6,696 officers and 35,509 enlisted personnel.
8. 1 January 1945, the 2nd Bombardment Division had become the 2nd Air Division, comprising of twelve heavy bombardment groups, a fighter wing and five fighter groups with a total combined strength of 8,458 officers and 42,411 enlisted personnel or a grand total of 50,869 personnel.
9. The 2nd Air Division flew its first mission on 7 November 1942 and its last mission on 25 April 1945. It flew a total of 463 missions, dropping a total of 199,564 tons of bombs and is officially credited with destroying 1,139 German planes by the bombers. Some of the famous missions flown by the 2nd Division have been the attacks on Kiel, Germany 13 May 1943 when incendiaries were dropped for the first time in the ETO; Rome on 19 July, Ploesti, Roumania 1 August 1943, Gotha, Germany 24 February 1944, Berlin on 4 March 1944, St. Lo on 25 July 1944, the low-level Arnhem-Nimigen Supply Mission 18 September 1944, and many many others. During January, February and March 1945 the 2nd Air Division led the 8th Air Force in Bombing efficiency, rising to the incomparable record of having 57% of all its bombs fall within 1,000 feet of the target during those three months.
III. Stations and Arms:
(for this list - see under individual groups)
IV. Citations:
1. Although the 2nd Air Division has not received official notification of a Presidential Citation for the period of 18 March - 24 March 1945 (the crossing of the Rhine), the 8th Air Force has cited the entire Division for its effort.
HEADQUARTERS 2D COMBAT BOMB WING (H)
APO 558
N A R R A T I V E
The history of the 2d Combat Bomb Wing goes back to 25 March 1943 when it was activated as the 201st Provisional Combat Wing (HB). Brigadier General Edward J. Timberlake, Jr., then Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 93rd Bomb Group (H), assumed command the following day. The 44th and 93rd Bomb Groups were assigned to the new Wing, and the first operational mission was flown to Bordeaux on 17 May 1943.
Early in June preparations were begun for the outstanding low-level attack on the great Rumanian oil center at Ploesti, an operation known as “Tidal Wave”. Movement to Benghazi started on 20 June. By the end of the month the two groups together with the newly arrived 389th Bomb Group were established at their African bases. Because of the impending invasion of the soft under belly of Europe “Tidal Wave” was put aside and the operation known as “Husky”, the softening up of Italy, was taken up by the Wing. This continued until 20 July when “Tidal Wave” preparations were resumed. The actual attack was made on 1 August with outstanding results, but not without heavy losses being suffered. On the 14th of August “Post Husky”, a series of operations in support of the Sicilian Campaign began and continued until the 22nd of the month. On the 29th the Wing started back to England, arriving at Hethel on 2 September.
On 14 September 1943 the Wing was redesigned the 2d Combat Bomb Wing (H) and as much has continued to be known.
On 16 September General Timberlake was relieved of command of the Wing and took over command of 2dBombardment Division. Brigadier General James P. Hodges left the Division and took over the Wing, and next day the Wing and the three Groups set off for Tunis to cooperate with the forces employed in the Italian campaign. Four missions were flown from African bases. Back in England again General Hodges returned to Division and General Timberlake resumed command of the Wing on 4 October.
The 44th Group was transferred to the 14th Combat Bomb Wing (H) leaving the Wing with the veteran 93rd and 389th Groups. These were joined in November by the newly arrived 445th, and later the 93rd was transferred to the 20th Combat Bomb Wing (H). When the 453rd Group arrived from the Zone of Interior it joined the Wing.
The new Groups were rapidly and successfully oriented to operations in this Theater and the Wing continued to play an exceptionally important role in the great battle against Germany.
On 7 August 1944 General Timberlake departed for the Zone of Interior and was succeeded by Colonel Milton W. Arnold. Upon his return from the Zone of Interior in September General Timberlake took over command of the 20th Wing and Colonel Arnold remained in command of the Wing throughout the rest of its operational career, not leaving until 10 May when he moved to 2nd Air Division as Chief of Staff. He was succeeded by Colonel James M. Stewart.
During its career the 2d Combat Bomb Wing (H) has built up a record that is indeed enviable. It has participated with distinction in the following campaigns: Air Offensive Europe, Sicilian Campaign, Air Combat Ploesti-Rumania, Naples-Foggia Campaign, Campaign Normandy, Campaign Northern France and Campaign Germany. During these campaigns its aircraft have made 22,194 operational sorties, dropped 53,158.2 tons of bombs and scored claims against enemy aircraft of 488 destroyed, 90 probably destroyed and 124 damaged. War Department Unit Citations were given to the Groups participating in “Tidal Wave” and the 445th Group received a like recognition for its gallant performance on 24 February 1944 in the attack on Gotha.
A complete list of the operational missions flown by the Wing is attached.
12 May 1945
LIST OF OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
Date Field Order Number Targets Attacked _
17 May 1943 201st Prov CW #1 Bordeaux Shipbuilding & Engineering shops
29 May 1943 201st Prov CW #2 LaPallice Port Area
2 July 1943 IX BC Lecce A/D; San Pancrazio A/D
5 July 1943 IX BC Messina M/Y
6 July 1943 IX BC Gerbini Satellite #6
7 July 1943 IX BC Gerbini Satellite #6
8 July 1943 IX BC Cantania Telephone & Telegraph
Buildings
9 July 1943 IX BC Comiso A/D; Maleme A/D
Date Field Order Number Targets Attacked _
10 July 1943 IX BC Catania M/Y; Vibo Valentia A/D
11 July 1943 IX BC Reggio Di Calabria A/D
12 July 1943 IX BC San Giovanni; Reggio DiCalabria
13 July 1943 IX BC Vibo Valentia A/D ; Crotone A/D
14 July 1943 IX BC Messina M/Y
15 July 1943 IX BC Foggia Main A/D; Foggia Satellite #1
16 July 1943 IX BC Bari A/D
17 July 1943 IX BC Naples M/Y
19 July 1943 IX BC Littorio M/Y
1 August 1943 IX BC #58 Ploesti Oil Refineries
14 August 1943 IX BC #59 Weiner Neustadt
16 August 1943 IX BC #60 Foggia Satellite #2
19 August 1943 IX BC #61 Foggia M/Y
21 August 1943 IX BC #62 Cancello A/D
6 Sept 1943 201st Prov CW #6 Diversion
7 Sept 1943 201st Prov CW #7 Leeuwarden A/D
9 Sept 1943 201st Prov CW #8 St Omer/Fort Rouge; St Omer/
Longueness
9 Sept 1943 201st Prov CW #9 *Conches
15 Sept 1943 201st Prov CW #12 Chartres; Chateau Dun A/D
21 Sept 1943 2CBW #1 Leghorn, Bastia
24 Sept 1943 2CBW #2 Pisa, M/Y
25 Sept 1943 2CBW #3 *Lucca & Albovola A/D’s
1 Oct 1943 2CBW #5 Wiener Neustadt
8 Oct 1943 2CBW #14 Vegasack Docks
9 Oct 1943 2CBW #15 Danzig Docks
10 Oct 1943 2CBW #16 Diversion
14 Oct 1943 2CBW #20 **Schweinfurt
18 Oct 1943 2CBW #22 Diversion
30 Oct 1943 2CBW #26 *Gelsenkirchen
3 Nov 1943 2CBW #27 Wilhelmshaven Docks
5 Nov 1943 2CBW #29 Munster M/Y
13 Nov 1943 2CBW #32 Bremen
16 Nov 1943 2CBW #33 Rjukan Power Plant
18 Nov 1943 2CBW #34 Kjeller A/D
Date Field Order Number Targets Attacked _
26 Nov 1943 2CBW #38 Bremen
30 Nov 1943 2CBW #39 *Solingen
1 Dec 1943 2CBW #40 Solingen
5 Dec 1943 2CBW #41 *Cognac A/D
11 Dec 1943 2CBW #42 Emden Docks
13 Dec 1943 2CBW #43 Kiel Docks
16 Dec 1943 2CBW #45 Bremen
20 Dec 1943 2CBW #46 Bremen
22 Dec 1943 2CBW #47 Osnabruck
24 Dec 1943 2CBW #49 Eclimeaux & Bonnieres Rocket Sites
30 Dec 1943 2CBW #50 Ludwigshaven
31 Dec 1943 2CBW #51 St Jean D’Angeley A/D; Landes DeBussac
4 Jan 1944 2CBW #52 Kiel Docks
5 Jan 1944 2CBW #53 Kiel Docks
7 Jan 1944 2CBW #55 Ludwigshafen
11 Jan 1944 2CBW #56 Lingen; Meppen
14 Jan 1944 2CBW #57 Yrench Bois Carre & Bommieres
Rocket Sites
21 Jan 1944 2CBW #61 Eclimeaux & Bannières
Rocket Sites
24 Jan 1944 2CBW #62 *Russelsheim; *Frankfurt
29 Jan 1944 2CBW #64 Frankfurt
30 Jan 1944 2CBW #65 Braunschweig
31 Jan 1944 2CBW #67 St Pol Siracourt Rocket Sites
2 Feb 1944 2CBW #69 St Pol Siracourt Rocket Sites
3 Feb 1944 2CBW #70 *Emden
4 Feb 1944 2CBW #71 Frankfurt Area
5 Feb 1944 2CBW #72 Tour Armament Depot
6 Feb 1944 2CBW #73 Eclimeaux Rocket Sites
8 Feb 1944 2CBW #74 Watten Rocket Sites
9 Feb 1944 2CBW #75 *Gotha A/C
10 Feb 1944 2CBW #76 Gilze-Rijen A/D
11 Feb 1944 2CBW #77 ***Pasde Calais Military Installations
Date Field Order Number Targets Attacked _
12 Feb 1944 2CBW #78 St Pol Siracourt Rocket Sites
13 Feb 1944 2CBW #79 Siracourt & Bonnieres Rocket
Sites
15 Feb 1944 2CBW #81 St Pol Siracourt Rocket Sites
20 Feb 1944 2CBW #82 Braunschweig
21 Feb 1944 2CBW #83 Diepholz & Steinfeld A/D
22 Feb 1944 2CBW #84 *Gotha A/C factory
24 Feb 1944 2CBW #86 Gotha A/C factory
25 Feb 1944 2CBW #87 Furth A/D
29 Feb 1944 2CBW #90 Lottingham/Les Grandes Rocket
Sites
3 Mar 1944 2CBW #91 *Oranieburg A/D
5 Mar 1944 2CBW #93 Cognac A/D; Landes De Bussac
A/D
6 Mar 1944 2CBW #94 Berlin/Genshagen A/C Factory
8 Mar 1944 2CBW #96 Berlin/Erkner factory
Do you have WWII memorabilia that you are not sure what to do with it? The children don't want it? Then let us help you preserve this history by donating these items to the Army Air Corps Library and Museum. We are accepting donations in the form of uniforms, medals, ribbons, patches, photos, memorabilia, papers, gear and equipment. We also accept monetary donations to support our operations and long term plans. This website is part of the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, and as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit, your qualifying donations are tax deductible.
Historical Artifacts: We are looking for photos, documents and other types of artifacts including uniforms and gear of the 8th Air Force in World War II as well as other units and commands. We accept electronic/scans or originals of pictures and paper records. A General Order could be an award document that contains information on many servicemen. Special Orders may contain transfers or other information. Flight records, accident reports, maintenance logs, after action reports, pilot encounter reports, diaries and biorgraphies; all of these types of documents help us support or mission: preserving your history! Contact us today for instructions on sending us this material.
Are you an AAC, AAF or USAF Veteran, family member, historian or WW2 enthusiast? We Need YOU! Contact us today to see how you can help the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, a Texas Not-For-Profit Corporation. We need your help! We are looking for volunteers that can help us with the following tasks. Typing and Transcriptionists: One of our big projects is extracting data from the thousands of documents we have and putting this data into a database where we can display the information on a website such as this one.