The First Bomb Wing arrived in the UK in July 1942. The wing command became the 1st Bomb Division in August 1943, while the wing was retitled the 1st Combat Bomb Wing.

US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Organized as 1st Pursuit Wing in France on 6 Jul 1918. Served in combat, Jul-Nov 1918. Operated first in the defensive sector near Toul. During the St Mihiel offensive in Sep, flew reconnaissance sorties, protected observation aircraft, attacked enemy observation balloons, strafed enemy troops, flew counter-air patrols, and bombed towns, bridges, and railroad stations behind the enemy’s lines. During the Meuse-Argonne offensive (26 Sep-1 1 Nov 1918) bombardment aircraft continued their attacks behind the lines while pursuit ships concentrated mainly on large-scale counter-air patrols. Demobilized in France in Dec 1918. Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 1st Wing, which was organized in the US on 16 Aug 1919 and was engaged in border patrol activities until it became an advanced flying training wing in 1922. Inactivated on 26 Jun 1924. Redesignated 1st Bombardment Wing in 1929. Activated on 1 Apr 1931. Redesignated 1st Pursuit Wing in 1933, 1st Wing in 1935, and 1st Bombardment Wing in 1940. Became one of the original wings of GHQAF in 1935 and conducted much of the Army’s pursuit, bombardment, attack and observation activities in the western part of the US until 1941.

Moved to England, Jul-Aug 1942, and became a heavy bombardment wing of Eighth AF. Redesignated 1st Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Aug 1943.

Commanding officers

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  Frank Armstrong

  Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding Officer; Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
  Commanded 97th BG from 31 July 1942 to 27 September 1942. ...

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  Haywood Hansell

  Military | Major General | Commander
  He worked under Eisenhower and Spaatz. He was experienced in Intelligence. He was the one who selected the crew of the 'Memphis Belle' to go back to America. One of the most important founders of the Strategic Heavy Bombing method. He helped formulate...

• 

  Newton Longfellow

  Military | Brigadier General | Commanding General, 8th Air Force Bomber Command
  Formerly command pilot. CG VIII Bomber Command 2 December 1942 to 30 June 1943. Awards: SS, WWII Victory, EAME, CBE (Commander British Empire).

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  Robert Williams

  Military | Brigadier General | Aerial Observer | 303rd Bomb Group

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  Woodrow Dunlop

  Military | Commander | 381st Bomb Group

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  Claude Duncan

  Military | Brigadier General | Commander
  Assumed command of the 1st Bombardment Wing on 27 July 1942. Replaced by Colonel Newton Longfellow on 21 August 1942 per 1st Bombardment Wing General Orders #5 dated 21 August 1942.

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  Laurence Kuter

  Military | General | Commander
  ADC to CG, 8th Air Force 8 - 23 November 1942. ADC to CG, 8th Bomber Command 24 November - 11 December 1943. CG 1st Combat Bomb Wing 1 - 31 December 1942

Structure

Part of

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  VIII Bomber Command

  Command
  VIII Bomber Command was constituted and activated in 1942. It oversaw heavy bombardment operations until February 1944, when it was redesginated as the 8th Air Force.

Encompassing

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  301st Bomb Group

  Group
  Activated 3-February-1942 at Geiger Field, Washington and equipped with B-17s. On 27-May-1942 the ground unit moved to Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, and the aircraft went to Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base), California for...

• 

  305th Bomb Group Can Do

  Group
  The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...

• 

  306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers

  Group
  Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...

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  351st Bomb Group

  Group
  The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...

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  379th Bomb Group

  Group
  The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...

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  91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars

  Group
  The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...

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  92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few

  Group
  The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...

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  93rd Bomb Group

  Group
  93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they...

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  97th Bomb Group

  Group
  The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the...

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

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  1st Bomb Division

  Division
  The groups under the command of the 1st Bomb Wing came under the command of the 1st Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Established		6 July 1918
Based	Brampton Grange	July 1942 – 19 August 1942
Based	Bassingbourn	August 1942 – 30 August 1943
Redesignated		30 August 1943

Citations

None