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Constituted as 448th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 Apr 1943. Activated on 1 May 1943. Prepared for duty overseas with B-24's. Moved to England, Nov-Dec 1943, and assigned to Eighth AF. Entered combat on 22 Dec 1943, and until Apr 1945 served primarily as a strategic bombardment organization, hitting such targets as aircraft factories in Gotha, ball-bearing plants in Berlin, an airfield at Hanau, U-boat facilities at Kiel, a chemical plant at Ludwigshafen, synthetic oil refineries at Politz, aircraft engine plants at Rostock, marshalling yards at Cologne, and a buzz-bomb assembly plant at Fallersleben. Took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944. In addition to strategic operations, flew interdictory and support missions. Bombed V-weapon sites, airfields, and transportation facilities prior to the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944, and on D-Day attacked coastal defenses and choke points. Struck enemy positions to assist the Allied offensive at Caen and the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul. Dropped supplies to airborne troops near Nijmegen during the airborne attack on Holland in Sep. Bombed transportation and communications centers in the combat zone during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. Dropped supplies to troops at Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945. Flew last combat mission on 25 Apr, attacking a marshalling yard at Salzburg. Returned to the US in Jul 1945. Redesignated 448th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Aug 1945. Equipped with B-19's. Assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21 Mar 1946. Inactivated on 4 Aug 1946.
Allotted to the reserve. Activated on 19 Apr 1947. Redesignated 448th Bombardment Group (Light) in Jun 1949. Ordered to active duty on 17 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 21 Mar 1951.
Redesignated 448th Fighter-Bomber Group. Allotted to the reserve. Activated on 18 May 1955.
Squadrons. 41st: 1947-1949. 711th: 1949-1951; 1955-. 712th: 1943-1946; 1947-1951. 713th: 1943-1946; 1947-1951; 1955-. 714th: 1943-1946; 1947-1951. 715th: 1943-1946.
Stations. Gowen Field, Idaho, 1 May 1943; Wendover Field, Utah, c. 3 Jul 1943; Sioux City AAB, Iowa, c. Sep-Nov 1943; Seething, England, c. 1 Dec 1943-c. Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, c. 15 Jul 1945; McCook AAFld, Neb, c. 8 Sep 1945; Ft Worth AAFld, Tex, c. Dec 1945-4 Aug 1946. Long Beach Mun Aprt, Calif, 19 Apr 1947-21 Mar 1951. Dallas NAS, Tex, 18 May 1955-.
Commanders. Col James M Thompson, c. 25 May 1943; Col Gerry L Mason, 3 Apr 1944; Col Charles B Westover, 14 Nov 1944; Lt Col Lester F Miller, 27 May 1945-unkn; Col John G Ericksen, Sep 1945-4 Aug 1946.
Campaigns. American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. None.
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
The 448th Bombardment Group (H) was activated 25 May at Gowan Field, Boise, Idaho.
During its 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 James McK. Thompson 25 May 1943 - 1 April 1944 (MIA)
Colonel Gerry L. Mason 3 April1944 - 13 November 1944
Colonel Charles B. Westover 14 November 1944 -
Training was accomplished at Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics, Orlando, Florida, Gowen Field, Idaho, Wendover Field, Utah, and
Army Air Base, Sioux City, Iowa. The Group started their long journey to England early in November 1943 and arrived at Army Air Force Station 146, Seething, Norfolk, 17 November.
The Group’s first operational mission was flown 22 December 1943 and its final mission on 25 April 1945. During this period the Group flew
7707 sorties on 262 operational missions, dropping 15,272 tons of bombs on enemy installations in Germany and German-occupied Europe. Fortyfour enemy fighters were destroyed while 135 of the Group’s B-24’s were lost on operational flights.
The 448th Bombardment Group (H) participated in the following campaigns:
Air Offensive Europe 22 December 1943 - 5 June 1944
Normandy Campaign 6 June 1944 - 24 July 1944
Rhineland Campaign 25 July 1944 - 14 September 1944
Ardennes Campaign 16 December 1944 - 25 January 1945
Central Europe Campaign 22 March 1945 - 25 April of 1945
While at Seething the 448th Bombardment Group (H) was composed of:
Hq. 448th Bombardment Group (H)
712th Bombardment Squadron
713th Bombardment Squadron
714th Bombardment Squadron
715th Bombardment Squadron
2d Air Division Weather and Relay Flight (Provisional) (attached)
862nd Chemical Company Air Operations (attached)
1232nd Quartermaster Company Air Operations (attached)
58th Station Complement (attached)
262nd Medical Dispensary Aviation (attached)
459th Sub-Depot (attached)
2102nd Engineer Aviation Fire Fighter Platoon (attached)
1193rd Military Police Company (attached)
1596th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company (attached)
The following members of the 448th Bombardment Group (H) gave their lives for their country in the Air War over Europe, 1943 - 1945.
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