456th Bomb Group History

Constituted as 456th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 May 1943. Activated on 1 June 1943. Trained with B-24s for duty overseas. Moved to Italy, Dec 1943-Jan 1944. Began combat with Fifteenth AF in Feb 1944, operating chiefly against strategic targets until late in Apr 1945. Early operations included attacks against such objectives as marshalling yards, aircraft factories, railroad bridges, and airdromes in Italy, Austria, and Rumania. Received a DUC for performance at Wiener Neustadt on 10 May 1944: when other groups turned back because of adverse weather, the 456th proceeded to the target and, withstanding repeated attacks by enemy interceptors, bombed the manufacturing center. Helped to prepare the way for and supported the invasion of Southern France during Jul and Aug 1944. At the same time, expanded previous operations to include attacks on oil refineries and storage facilities, locomotive works, and viaducts in France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Balkans. Received second DUC for a mission in Hungary on 2 Jul 1944 when the group braved severe fighter attacks and antiaircraft fire to bomb oil facilities at Budapest. In Apr 1945 bombed gun positions, bridges, roads, depots, and rail lines to support US Fifth and British Eighth Army in their advance through Italy. Transported supplies to airfields in Northern Italy after V-E day. Returned to the US in Jul 1945. Redesignated 456th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 17 Oct 1945.

Allotted to the reserve. Activated on 12 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.

Redsignated 456th Troop Carrier Group (Medium). Activated on 1 Dec 1952. Assigned to Tactical Air Command and equipped with C-119s. Inactivated on 1 Mar 1955.

Squadrons.
744th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949; 1952-1955.
745th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949; 1952-1955.
746th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949; 1952-1955.
747th: 1943-1945; 1947-1949.

Stations.
Wendover Field, Utah, 1 Jun 1943; Gowen Field, Idaho, 14 Jul 1943; Bruning AAFld, Neb, c. 30 Jul 1943; Kearns, Utah, c. 11 Sep 1943; Muroc AAB, Cailf, Oct-Dec 1943; Cerignola, Italy, Jan 1944; Stornara, Italy, Jan 1944-Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 1 Aug 1945; Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, 17 Aug-17 Oct 1945. McChord Field, Wash, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Miami Intl Aprt, Fla, 1 Dec 1952; Charleston AFB, SC, 15 Aug 1953-1 Mar 1955.

Commanders.
Unkn, 1 Jun-14 Jul 1943; Col Thomas W Steed, 14 Jul 1943; Lt Col Joseph G Russel, 16 Jul 1944; Col Thomas W Steed, Oct 1944; Lt Col Robert C Whipple, c. 19 May 1945-unkn; Col George E Henry, 31 Aug 1945; Col John W White, 4 Sep 1945-unkn; Col Leonard J Barrow Jr, c. Dec 1952; Lt Col Malcolm P Hooker, c. Feb 1953; Col Jay D Bogue, 1953-1 Mar 1955.

Campaigns.
Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley

Decorations.
Distinguished Unit Citations: Wiener Neustadt, Austria, 10 May 1944; Budapest, Hungary, 2 Jul 1944.
 

The above information is from Air Force Combat Units of World War II, edited by Maurer Maurer, published by Chartwell Books, Raritan Center, Edison, NJ, USA (originally published 1961 by US Gov’t. Printing Office, Washington, DC)
 

Combat Squadron History

744th Bombardment

Lineage
Constituted 744th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Redesignated 744th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Aug 1945. Inactivated on 17 Oct 1945. Activated in the reserve on 12 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 744th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 15 Oct 1952. Activated on 1 Dec 1952. Inactivated on 9 Jul 1956. Redesignated 744th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), and activated, on 15 Nov 1962. Organized on 1 Feb 1963.

Assignments.
456th Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1943-17 Oct 1945. 456th Bombardment Group, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. 456th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Dec 1952; 456th Troop Carrier Wing, 1 Mar 1955-9 Jul 1956. Strategic Air Command, 15 Nov 1962; 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing, 1 Feb 1963-.

Stations.
Wendover Field, Utah, 1 Jun 1943; Gowen Field, Idaho, 14 Jul 1943; Bruning AAFld, Neb, 2 Jul 1943; Kearns, Utah, 9 Sep 1943; Muroc AAB, Cailf, 2 Oct-4 Dec 1943; Italy, 11 Jan 1944; Stornara, Italy, 27 Jan 1944-19 Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 1 Aug 1945; Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, 17 Aug-17 Oct 1945. McChord Field, Wash, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Miami Intl Aprt, Fla, 1 Dec 1952; Charleston AFB, SC, 15 Aug 1953; Shiroi, Japan, 10 Nov 1955, Ardmore AFB, Okla, 6 Jun-9 Jul 1956; Beale AFB, Calif, 1 Feb 1963-.

Aircraft.
B-24, 1943-1945. C-119, 1952-1956. B-52, 1963-.

Operations.
Combat in MTO and ETO, 10 Feb 1944-26 Apr 1945. Special reconnaissance, conducted by 1st Air Division, Strategic Air Command, 1955-1956.

Service Streamers.
None.

Campaigns.
Air Offensive, Europe; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Decorations.
Distinguished Unit Citations: Wiener Neustadt, Austria, 10 May 1944; Budapest, Hungary, 2 Jul 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Apr 1955-20 Mar 1956.

Emblem.
None.
 

745th Bombardment

Lineage
Constituted 744th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Redesignated 744th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Aug 1945. Inactivated on 17 Oct 1945. Activated in the reserve on 12 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 745th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 15 Oct 1952. Activated on 1 Dec 1952. Inactivated on 9 Jul 1956.

Assignments.
456th Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1943-17 Oct 1945. 456th Bombardment Group, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. 456th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Dec 1952; 456th Troop Carrier Wing, 1 Mar 1955-9 Jul 1956.

Stations.
Wendover Field, Utah, 1 Jun 1943; Gowen Field, Idaho, 14 Jul 1943; Bruning AAFld, Neb, 2 Jul 1943; Kearns, Utah, 9 Sep 1943; Muroc AAB, Cailf, 2 Oct-4 Dec 1943; Italy, 11 Jan 1944; Stornara, Italy, 27 Jan 1944-19 Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 1 Aug 1945; Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, 17 Aug-17 Oct 1945. McChord Field, Wash, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Miami Intl Aprt, Fla, 1 Dec 1952; Charleston AFB, SC, 15 Aug 1953; Shiroi, Japan, 10 Nov 1955, Ardmore AFB, Okla, 6 Jun-9 Jul 1956.

Aircraft.
B-24, 1943-1945. C-119, 1952-1956.

Operations.
Combat in MTO and ETO, 10 Feb 1944-26 Apr 1945. Special reconnaissance, conducted by 1st Air Division, Strategic Air Command, 1955-1956.

Service Streamers.
None.

Campaigns.
Air Offensive, Europe; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Decorations.
Distinguished Unit Citations: Wiener Neustadt, Austria, 10 May 1944; Budapest, Hungary, 2 Jul 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Apr 1955-20 Mar 1956.

Emblem.
None.
 
 

746th Bombardment

Lineage
Constituted 744th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Redesignated 744th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Aug 1945. Inactivated on 17 Oct 1945. Activated in the reserve on 12 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 746th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 15 Oct 1952. Activated on 1 Dec 1952. Inactivated on 9 Jul 1956.

Assignments.
456th Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1943-17 Oct 1945. 456th Bombardment Group, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. 456th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Dec 1952; 456th Troop Carrier Wing, 1 Mar 1955-9 Jul 1956.

Stations.
Wendover Field, Utah, 1 Jun 1943; Gowen Field, Idaho, 14 Jul 1943; Bruning AAFld, Neb, 2 Jul 1943; Kearns, Utah, 9 Sep 1943; Muroc AAB, Cailf, 2 Oct-4 Dec 1943; Italy, 11 Jan 1944; Stornara, Italy, 27 Jan 1944-19 Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 1 Aug 1945; Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, 17 Aug-17 Oct 1945. McChord Field, Wash, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Miami Intl Aprt, Fla, 1 Dec 1952; Charleston AFB, SC, 15 Aug 1953; Shiroi, Japan, 10 Nov 1955, Ardmore AFB, Okla, 6 Jun-9 Jul 1956.

Aircraft.
B-24, 1943-1945. C-119, 1952-1956.

Operations.
Combat in MTO and ETO, 10 Feb 1944-26 Apr 1945. Special reconnaissance, conducted by 1st Air Division, Strategic Air Command, 1955-1956.

Service Streamers.
None.

Campaigns.
Air Offensive, Europe; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Decorations.
Distinguished Unit Citations: Wiener Neustadt, Austria, 10 May 1944; Budapest, Hungary, 2 Jul 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Apr 1955-20 Mar 1956.

Emblem.
On a sky blue disc, bordered white, edged of the first, over a white ellipse, a caricatured mule, shades of light brown, highlighted white; muzzle light blue; nostril, eye, hoofs black; teethe, eyeball, highlights on hoofs white; gums light red; with snorting mad facial expression; the mule in racing position, with white air clouds from his snorting nostrils and running hoofs. (Approved 5 Sep 1956.)
 
 

747th Bombardment

Lineage
Constituted 744th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Redesignated 744th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Aug 1945. Inactivated on 17 Oct 1945. Activated in the reserve on 12 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.

Assignments.
456th Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1943-17 Oct 1945. 456th Bombardment Group, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949.

Stations.
Wendover Field, Utah, 1 Jun 1943; Gowen Field, Idaho, 14 Jul 1943; Bruning AAFld, Neb, 2 Jul 1943; Kearns, Utah, 9 Sep 1943; Muroc AAB, Cailf, 2 Oct-4 Dec 1943; Italy, 11 Jan 1944; Stornara, Italy, 27 Jan 1944-19 Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 1 Aug 1945; Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, 17 Aug-17 Oct 1945. McChord Field, Wash, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949.

Aircraft.
B-24, 1943-1945.

Operations.
Combat in MTO and ETO, 10 Feb 1944-26 Apr 1945.

Service Streamers.
None.

Campaigns.
Air Offensive, Europe; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Decorations.
Distinguished Unit Citations: Wiener Neustadt, Austria, 10 May 1944; Budapest, Hungary, 2 Jul 1944.

Emblem.
None.
 

The above information is from Combat Squadrons of the Air Force -  World War II, edited by Maurer Maurer, from the Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center and Office of Air Force History; published by US Gov’t. Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1982.

 

Back To Top of Page

Home