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.

US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Organized as 1st Day Bombardment Group in France on 10 Sep 1918. Equipped with DH-4 and Breguet aircraft and entered combat on 12 Sep. Attacked troop concentrations and communications to interfere with the enemy’s movement of reinforcements and supplies to the front during the Allied offensive at St Mihiel. Also took part in the Meuse Argonne campaign, attacking the enemy behind the line, and conducting bombing operations that helped to protect Allied ground forces by diverting German pursuit planes from the battle zone. Participated in one of the great bombing raids of the war on 9 Oct when 353 Allied planes (including 200 bombers) under the command of William Mitchell struck a concentration point where German troops were preparing for a counterattack against the Allied offensive in the Meuse-Argonne area. Demobilized in France in Nov 1918, soon after the armistice.

Reconstituted (in 1924) and consolidated with a group that was organized in the US as 1st Day Bombardment Group on 18 Sep 1919 and redesignated 2d Bombardment Group in 1921. Used LB-5A, other aircraft during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Engaged in routine training; tested and experimented with equipment and tactics; participated in maneuvers; took part in Mitchell’s demonstrations of the effectiveness of aerial bombardment on battleships; flew mercy missions to aid victims f a flood in Pennsylvania in 1936 and victims of an earthquake in Chile in 1939; and made good-will flights to South America in the late 1930’s.

Redesignated 2d Bombardment Group (Heavy) in 1939. Trained with B-17’s. Served on antisubmarine duty for several months after the US entered World War 11. Moved to North Africa, Mar-May 1943, and remained in the theatre until after V-E Day, being assigned first to Twelfth and later (Dec 1943) to Fifteenth AF.

Flew many support and interdictory missions, bombing such targets as marshalling yards, airdromes, troop concentrations, bridges, docks, and shipping. Participated in the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia, Apr-May 1943; the reduction of Pantelleria and the preparations for the invasion of Sicily, May-Jul 1943; the invasion of Italy, Sep 1943; the drive toward Rome, Jan-Jun 194; the invasion of Southern France, Aug 1944; and the campaigns against German forces in northern Italy, Jun 1944-May 1945.

Engaged primarily in long-range bombardment of strategic targets after Oct 1943, attacking oil refineries, aircraft factories, steel plants, and other objectives in Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Rumania, and Greece. En route to bomb a vital aircraft factory at Steyr on 9 Feb 1944, the group was greatly outnumbered by enemy interceptors, but it maintained its formation and bombed the target, receiving a 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 Feb 1946.

Structure

Part of

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  5th Bomb Wing

  Wing
  The 5th Air Division (5th AD) originated on 19 October 1940 at McChord Field, Washington. Its initial mission was air defense of the northwest United States with three bombardment groups (12th, 17th and 39th) flying early B-17 Flying Fortresses (B-17C...

Encompassing

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  429th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  96th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  20th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  49th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Established		31 March 1921
Assigned 12th Air Force		March 1943
Based	Chateaudun-du-Rhumel	24 April 1943 – 7 June 1943
Based	Massicault	31 July 1943 – 2 December 1943
Assigned 15th Air Force		December 1943
Based	Amendola	9 December 1943 – 19 November 1945

Connections

People

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  Nilo Abel

  Military | Master Sergeant | Crew chief | 2nd Bomb Group
  Assigned to 429BS, 2BG, 15AF USAAF. Crew chief of B-17 42-38078 'Sweat Pea'. Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.

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  Warren Anderson

  Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio operator | 2nd Bomb Group
  Assigned to 20BS, 2BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Pilsen, Czech in B-17 42-97739 9-Dec-44; Hit by flak, partial crew bale-out, crash landed near Linz, Austria. Baled out and captured. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 10139 ...

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  Robert Arnold

  Military | Captain | Co-Pilot | 2nd Bomb Group
  Shot down 25 Feb 1944 in B-17 #42-31416 on mission to Regensburg, GR, Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 2576.

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  James Babek

  Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer | 2nd Bomb Group
  From Texas

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  John Bacsu

  Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 2nd Bomb Group
  Assigned to 49BS, 2BG, 15AF USAAF. On mission to Sofia 24-Jan-44, ditched off Civitanova in B-17 42-29645, 15 miles east of Bari RTD. 37 missions. Shot down on mission to Steyr, Austria in B-17 42-29638. Baled out Salzburg, Austria Prisoner Of War (POW...

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  Harold Barth

  Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 2nd Bomb Group
  Assigned to 49BS, 2BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Blechhammer in B-17 44-6176 A/C flak hit #2 engine, crashed Mechnitz. Baled out and captured. Prisoner of War (POW) 7-Aug-44. MACR 7470 Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

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  Thomas Barton

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 2nd Bomb Group

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  Harold Beall

  Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 2nd Bomb Group

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  Clarence Bolt

  Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner/Flight Engineer | 2nd Bomb Group
  Shut down on 24/1/44 in A/C 42-5411 ‘SHADY LADY’ on Mission to Sofia, Bulgaria. Prisoner of War (POW).

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  Robert Bredesen

  Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 2nd Bomb Group
  On 19 March 1944 his B-17 #42-38143 was involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31823 and ditched in Adriatic Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).

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Aircraft

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  36-149

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  The initial flight of the aircraft took place on 2-Dec-36, but with Stan Umstead, five days later nosed over during landed but was not too badly damaged. Delivered 49BS/2BG Langley 1-Mar-37; 4000 Base Unit Wright Fd 1938; transferred 19BG March Fd, Oct...

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  36-150

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered 96BS/2BG Langley 1-Mar-37; transferred 19BG March Fd, but force landed due to engine failure 8-Oct- 40; with Lee Coates force landed base 2-Dec-40; Albuquerque 16-Jul-42; 66 flights; Written off 30-Dec-42. [aircraft No. 60] Never saw combat. ...

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  36-151

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered 49BS/2BG Langley 28-Mar-37; transferred 20BS; took part in goodwill trip to South America 1938; transferred 19BG March Field Oct-40; Amarillo 21-Nov-42; 64 flights; Written off 15-Jan-43 after surviving a spin. [aircraft No. 80]. Never saw...

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  36-152

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered 20BS/2BG Langley 27-Mar-37; transferred 19BG March Fd Oct-40; Hendricks Fd, Sebring 6-Feb-42; force landed base with W.R. George; 65 flts; Written off 13-Apr-42. [aircraft No. 50] Aircraft never served in combat. ...

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  36-155

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered 2BG/HQ Langley 1-Jun-37; used by CO Major Bob Olds from 28-May-37; took part on goodwill trip to South America 1938; transferred 19BG March Fd Oct-40; then Langley, force landed with Warren Wilkinson at Lively Fd, VA 1-Jan-42; Amarillo 12-Nov...

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  36-156

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered 20BS/2BG Langley 17-Jun-37; transferred 19BG March Fd Oct-40; public relations trip to Grand Union High School, McClelland Fd 4-Jul-41; 66 flts; Written off 2-Apr-42. [aircraft No. 51] This aircraft never served in combat and was never posted...

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  36-157

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered 2BG Langley 6-Jun-37; with Bill Bentley force landed ? due to severe icing conditions 6-Jul-37; transferred 19BG March Fd Oct-40; with John Turner crash landed east of San Jacinto, Cal. on 46th flt during a violent thunderstorm 18-Dec-40....

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  41-24345

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Assigned 326BG/92BG Bovingdon /42; 342BS/97BG Polebrook 8/42; Maison Blanche, Alg 20/11//42; 20BG/2BG Massicault, Tun 14/11/43; Missing in Action Athens {5m} 20/12/43 with Bill Slaughter, Co-pilot: Bob Ogletree, Bombardier: Clarry Lanham, Flight...

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  41-24361

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Assigned RAF [FA676] but transferred 301BG Westover 18/7/42; Podington 6/8/42; Tafaraoui, Alg 24/11/42; 96BS/2BG Massicault, Tun {38m} 348BS/99BG Oudna, Tun 28/3/44 {52m}; 840BS/483BG Tortorella, It 31/3/44; {98m in total} Returned to the USA 11/6/44;...

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  41-24364

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Assigned RAF [FA679]; Assigned 353BS/301BG 16/3/42; transferred 32BS Westover 6/8/42; Podington, UK 6/8/42; Tafaraoui, Alg 24/11/42 {64m}; 429BS/2BG Massicault, Tun 14/11/43; Amendola, It 9/12/43; Missing in Action Fano 15/1/44 with Bill Pederson,...

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Citations

Distinguished Unit Citation - for outstanding performance maintaining formation in the face of overwhelming opposition on a mission to Steyr, Austria 24 February 1944

Distinguished Unit Citation - for outstanding performance on a mission to Regensburg, Germany 25 February 1944