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Constituted as 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 Sep 1943. Activated on 1 Oct 1943. Trained for combat with B-24's. Moved to England in Apr 1944 and assigned to Eighth AF. Entered combat on 11 May 1944, and throughout the month operated primarily against industrial targets in central Germany. Attacked airfields and V-weapon launching sites in France during the first week in Jun. Bombed coastal defenses in Normandy on 6 Jun 1944 and attacked bridges, railroads, and other interdiction targets in France until the middle of the month. Resumed bombardment of strategic targets in Germany and, except for support of the infantry during the St Lo breakthrough on 25 Jul 1944, continued such operations until Aug 1944. Transferred, less personnel and equipment, to another station in England on 5 Aug 1944 and assumed personnel, equipment, and the Carpetbagger mission of a provisional group that was discontinued. Operated chiefly over southern France with B-24's and C-47's, engaging in Carpetbagger operations, that is, transporting agents, supplies, and propaganda leaflets to patriots. Ceased these missions on 16 Sep 1944 to haul gasoline to advancing mechanized forces in France and Belgium. Intermittently attacked airfields, oil refineries, seaports, and other targets in France, the Low Countries, and Germany until Feb 1945. Meanwhile, in Oct 1944, began training for night bombardment operations; concentrated on night bombing of marshalling yards and goods depots in Germany, Feb-Mar 1945. Ceased these missions on 18 Mar 1945 to engage in Carpetbagger operations over Germany and German-occupied territory, using B-24, A-26, and British Mosquito aircraft to drop leaflets, demolition equipment, and agents. Received a DUC for these operations, performed at night despite adverse weather and vigorous opposition from enemy ground forces, 20 Mar-25 Apr 1945. Also cited by the French government for similar operations over France in 1944. Flew its last Carpetbagger mission in Apr 1945 and then ferried personnel and equipment to and from the Continent until Jul. Returned to the US, Jul-Aug 1945. Redesignated 492d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 17 Oct 1945.
Squadrons. 406th: 1945. 856th: 1943-1945. 857th: 1943-1945. 858th: 1943-1944, 1944-1945. 859th: 1943-1945.
Stations. Alamogordo AAFld, NM, 1 Oct 1943-1 Apr 1944; North Pickenham, England, 18 Apr 1944; Harrington, England, 5 Aug 1944-8 Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 14 Aug 1945; Kirtland Field, NM, 17 Aug-17 Oct 1945.
Commanders. Col Arthur Pierce, 19 Oct 1943; Maj Louis C Adams, 17 Dec 1943; Col Eugene H Snavely, 16 Jan 1944; Col Clifford Heflin, 13 Aug 1944; Lt Col Robert W Fish, 16 Aug 1944; Col Hudson H Upham, 17 Dec 1944; Lt Col Jack M Dickerson, c. 7 Jun 1945; Lt Col Dalson E Crawford, 30 Aug-Oct 1945.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany and German-occupied territory, 20 Mar-25 Apr 1945. French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
Group Commanders:
Colonel Arthur J. Price 19 October ’43 to 26 January ‘44
Colonel Eugene H. Snavely 26 January ’44 to 13 August ‘44
or Departure from 2 BD
11. Narrative:
1. The official life of the 492nd Bombardment Group began on 1 October 1943, the date of its activation by authority of G. O. 135, Hq. 2d AF, dated 22 September 1943. Actual organization and training began when Colonel Arthur J. Pierce assumed command of the 492nd Group at Clovis Army Base, New Mexico, on 19 October 1943. A few days later, 9 and 11 November 1943, key personnel of the groups were ordered to AAF School of Applied Tactics, Orlando, Florida. On 9 December 1943, all personnel on flying status were sent to Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, while all other personnel went to Army Air Base, Great Bend, Kansas. The 492nd Bomb Group was designated an air echelon of an Operational Training Unit on the 26 January 1944, instead of a complete OTU within itself. This made it necessary to build a new and different type of organization. During the early months of 1944, the 492nd Group was rapidly welded into an efficient well organized unit so that by 17 March 1944, it had passed all POM inspections and was ready for movement overseas to the British Isles.
2. The air echelon of the 492nd Bomb Group began its overseas movement from Alamogordo, New Mexico, on 1 – 4 April 1944, with Col., Eugene H. Snavely piloting the lead aircraft. The flight itinerary took them via the southern route which included stops in Florida, Brazil, French Morocco and to North Pickenham, Norfolk County, England, where all aircraft in the Group landed safely between 18 April and 1 May 1944.
3. The ground echelon left Alamogordo, New Mexico, 11 April 1944, arriving at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 14 April 1944 where final processing for overseas was soon completed. The echelon departed New York POE, N.Y. on the Queen Elizabeth 20 April 1944 and dropped anchor at Greenock, Scotland 26 April where they were transported by train and truck to N. Pickenham, Norfolk County, England, arriving midnight 28 April 1944.
4. By 11 May 1944, after several training missions, the 492d Bomb Group began “playing for keeps” when 30 aircraft in two echelons of 15 ships each was placed in the leading element as part of the 14th Combat Wing for its first operational mission over enemy held territory. The briefed target –Mulhouse area, France, was diverted, due to cloud cover, to the Auxerre, France marshalling yards and Belfort, France.
5. The 492nd Bombardment Group flew a total of 64 combat missions in the period 11 May 1944 to 7 August 1944. During this period the group dropped 3,756.89 tons of bombs, and was officially credited with destroying 21 German planes.
6. Missions flown by campaigns:
Date No. of missions
Air Offensive Europe . 4 July ’42 – 5 June ’44 15
Normandy Campaign. . . 6 June ’44 -24 July ’44 39
Northern France Campaign 25 July ’44 -14 Sep ’44 10
Germany Campaign. . . . 15 Sep ’44 – 8 May ’45 None
III. Station Other Arms and Services: (Following Arms and Services served under this Station Command:)
326th Station Complement Squadron
Det “A” 882d Chemical Co. (AO)
1450th Ordnance S&M Company
1234th Quartermaster Co. Service Group. (RS)
2967th Finance Detachment
479th Sub Depot C1. 1.
2108th Engineer Avn F/F Platoon
Det “143” 18th Weather Squadron
1261st MP Co. Aviation
Det “B” 1287th MP Co. (Avn)
856 Bomb Sq.
857 Bomb Sq.
858 Bomb Sq.
859 Bomb Sq.
The 492nd Bombardment Group (H) was activated 1 October 1943.
During its training period in the United States and its combat career in the European Theater of Operations it has been under the command of the following officers:
Colonel Arthur J. Price 19 October 1943 - 26 January 1944
Colonel Eugene H. Snavely 26 January 1944 - 13 August 1944
Training commenced in mid-October 1943 at Clovis, New Mexico. Key personnel received specialized training at Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics, Orlando, Florida, until early December when the flying personnel went to Alamogordo, New Mexico, and the rest went to Great Bend, Kansas, for further training. Later the entire Group completed its final training at Alamogordo. On 1 April 1944 the Air Echelon begam their long flight to England, flying their B-24 LIBERATORS there by way of Florida, Brazil and Africa. The Ground Echelon left Alamogordo by rail 11 April 1944 for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, then to the New York Port of Embarkation where the sea journey was begun on the QUEEN ELIZABETH 20 April 1944. Their base in England was at North Pickenham in Norfolk.
The Group’s first operational mission was flown on 11 May 1944 and its final mission was flown on 7 August 1944. During this period the Group flew 1606 sorties on 64 operational missions, dropping 3757 tons of bombs on enemy installations in Germany and German-occupied Europe. Twenty-one enemy fighters were destroyed by the Group’s gunners while 57 of the Group’s B-24’s were lost in operational flights.
The 492nd Bombardment Group (H) participated in the following campaigns:
Air Offensive Europe 11 May 1944 – 5 June 1944
Normandy Campaign 6 June 1944 -24 July 1944
Northern France Campaign 25 July 1944 -7 August 1944
While at North Pickenham the 492nd Bombardment Group (H) was composed of:
Hq. 492nd Bombardment Group (H)
856th Bombardment Squadron
857th Bombardment Squadron
858th Bombardment Squadron
859th Bombardment Squadron
326th Station Complement Squadron (attached)
Detachment “A”, 882nd Chemical Company (AO) (attached)
1450th Ordnance Company (attached)
1234th Quartermaster Company (attached)
2967th Finance Detachment (attached)
479th Sub-Depot (attached)
2108th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighter Platoon (attached)
Detachment 143, 18th Weather Squadron (attached)
1261st Military Police Company (attached)
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