2nd Bomb Group

Group
media-7317.jpeg UPL 7317 B-17G-25-DL #42-38078 "Sweet Pea"
2nd Bomb Group - 429th Bomb Squadron - 15th AF

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 7317 - B-17G-25-DL #42-38078 "Sweet Pea" 2nd Bomb Group - 429th Bomb Squadron - 15th AF

Served on antisubmarine duty for several months after the U.S. entered World War II. In October 1942 was re-designated as 2d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and earmarked for combat. The group was transferred on paper to Geiger Field, Washington, where it was re-organized and trained with new personnel.











A B-17G of the 96th BS, 2d BG, dropping its bombs.

The group was made up of four Squadrons, the 20th, 49th, 96th, and the 429th. In November 1942, the squadrons were sent to satellite bases in Montana for additional training as units, the 20th to Great Falls, the 49th to Lewistown, the 96th to Glasgow, and the 429th to Cut Bank. This was the third and final phase of training.



The 2d Bombardment Group and squadrons left their satellite bases on 13–14 March 1943 arriving at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey 17–18 March 1943 for debarkation overseas. The Flight Echelon left the above bases for Morrison Field West Palm Beach, Florida; Natal, Brazil; Marrakech, Morocco and arriving at Navarin, Algeria on 22 April 1943. The Ground Echelon were disbursed at Camp Kilmer in several ships arriving at Casablanca and Port Lyautey in March/April 1943, thence motor and train convoy to Navarin, Algeria. Was initially assigned to Twelfth Air Force.



It arrived at Chateau D'un, Algeria on 27 April 1943. The first mission on 28 April 1943 was to Terranova, Sardinia. The 2d Bombardment Group departed Chateau D'un after flying 25 missions and arrived at Ain M'Lila, Algeria on 17 June 1943 and flew 25 missions from that base. The group departed for Massicault, Tunisia on 31 July 1943 and flew 56 missions from that base.











2d Bombardment Group B-17s form up and begin their climb to altitude from Amendola Airfield, Italy, 1944

Missions flown included bombing such targets as marshalling yards, airdromes, troop concentrations, bridges, docks, and shipping. Participated in the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia, April–May 1943; the reduction of Pantelleria and the preparations for the invasion of Sicily, May–July 1943; and the invasion of Italy, September 1943.



Moved to Italy in December 1943 and continued operations as part of Fifteenth Air Force. Operated primarily from Amendola Air Base in Foggia. Engaged primarily in long-range bombardment of strategic targets in Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Rumania, and Greece. Participated in the drive toward Rome, January–June 1944; the invasion of Southern France, August 1944, and the campaigns against German forces in northern Italy, June 1944 – May 1945. En route to bomb an aircraft factory at Steyr, Austria on 24 February 1944, the group was greatly outnumbered by enemy interceptors, but it maintained its formation and bombed the target, receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the performance. On the following day, while on a mission to attack aircraft factories at Regensburg, it met similar opposition equally well and was awarded a second DUC.



Served as part of the occupation force in Italy after V-E Day. Inactivated in Italy on 28 February 1946. Group gunners claimed 279 victories of German and Italian aircraft. Flew 406 combat missions; 146 aircraft lost.

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Established

31 March 1921

Based

Chateaudun-du-Rhumel 24 April 1943 - 7 June 1943

Based

Massicault 31 July 1943 - 2 December 1943

Based

Amendola 9 December 1943 - 19 November 1945

Other

Assigned 12th Air Force

Other

Assigned 15th Air Force

Encompassing

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 429th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15070644
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32236175 / O-749416
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33758700
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 429th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 429th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38275569
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 96th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 20th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added connections to the group's squadrons.
See: http://www.2ndbombgroup.org/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

2nd Bomb Group: Gallery (32 items)