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Constituted as 392d Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 15 Jan 1943 and activated on 26 Jan. Trained with B-24's. Moved to England, Jul-Aug 1943, and assigned to Eighth AF. Began combat on 9 Sep 1943 and engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic objectives on the Continent until Apr 1945. Attacked such targets as an oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen, a marshalling yard at Osnabruck, a railroad viaduct at Bielefeld, steel plants at Brunswick, a tank factory at Kassel, and gas works at Berlin. Took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, being awarded a DUC for bombing an aircraft and component parts factory at Gotha on 24 Feb. Sometimes supported ground forces or carried out interdictory operations. Bombed airfields and V-weapon sites in France prior to the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944 and struck coastal defenses and choke points on D-Day. Hit enemy positions to assist ground forces at St Lo during the breakthrough in Jul 1944. Bombed railroads, bridges, and highways to cut off German supply lines during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. Dropped supplies to Allied troops during the air attack on Holland in Sep 1944 and during the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945. Flew last combat mission on 25 Apr 1945, then carried food to the Dutch. Returned to the US in Jun. Inactivated on 13 Sep 1945.
Redesignated 392d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Allotted to the reserve. Activated on 30 Jul 1947. Redesignated 392d Bombardment Group (Light) in Jun 1949. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1949.
Squadrons. 576th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949. 577th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949. 578th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949. 579th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949.
Stations. Davis-Monthan Field, Ariz, 26 Jan 1943; Biggs Field, Tex, 1 Mar 1943; Alamogordo AAB, NM, 18 Apr-18 Jul 1943; Wendling, England, Jul 1943-15 Jun 1945; Charleston AAFld, SC, 25 Jun-13 Sep 1945. Barksdale Field, La, 30 Jul 1947-10 Nov 1949.
Commanders. Col Irvine A Rendle, 26 Jan 1943; Col Lorin L Johnson, 21 Jun 1944; Lt Col Lawrence G Gilbert, 27 May 1945-unkn.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Gotha, Germany, 24 Feb 1944.
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
The 392nd Bombardment Group (H) was activated 26 January 1943 at Tucson, Arizona.
During the training period in the United States and its combat career in the European Theater of Operations the Group has been under the command of the following officers:
Colonel Irvine R. Rendle 26 January 1943 – 21 June 1944
Lt. Colonel (later Colonel) Lorin L. Johnson 21 June 1944 –
Training was accomplished at Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics, Orlando, Florida, Biggs Field, Texas, Alamogordo, New Mexico, with the combat crews receiving their final preparations for overseas duty at Topeka, Kansas. The Ground Echelon sailed from the New York Port of Embarkation on 25 July 1943 and joined the Air Echelon and their B-24 LIBERATORS 1 August at Army Air Force Station 118, Wendling, Norfolk, England.
The Group’s first operational mission was flown 9 September 1943 and its final mission on 25 April 1945. During this period the Group flew 8015 sorties on 285 operational missions, dropping 17,452 tons of bombs on enemy installations in Germany and German-occupied Europe. One hundred forty-four enemy fighters were destroyed while 184 of the Group’s B-24’s were lost on operational flights. In addition to its bombing missions the Group participated in two outstanding supply-dropping missions, in the Arnhem area, 18 September 1944, and the Wesel area, 24 March 1945.
The 392nd Bombardment Group (H) participated in the following campaigns:
Air Offensive Europe 9 September 1943 – 5 June 1944
Normandy Campaign 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944
Northern France Campaign 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944
Rhineland Campaign 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945
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Ardennes Campaign 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945
Central Europe Campaign 22 March 1945 – 25 April 1945
The Group received a War Department Citation for its outstanding performance on the mission of 24 February 1944 to Gotha, Germany.
While at Wendling the 392nd Bombardment Group (H) was composed of:
Hq. 392nd Bombardment Group (H)
576th Bombardment Squadron
577th Bombardment Squadron
578th Bombardment Squadron
579th Bombardment Squadron
465th Sub-Depot (attached)
10th Station Complement (attached)
1217th Quartermaster Company (attached)
1287th Military Police Company, Detachment A. (attached)
1825th Ordnance Company (attached)
2974th Finance Company (attached)
2101st Engineer Aviation Fire Fighter Platoon (attached)
586th Army Postal Unit
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