FP-1981-Prior19His

Prior Unit Histories

The following unit histories were available prior to compilation of the present 1993 documentation.

Sqd histories began during WW I, Indian Logos being a popular theme.  Little is known of those events.

The 28^th Sqd was already at Clark Field PI at the beginning of 1941.  The 14^th Sqd was formed in 1941 to move B-17s from Hawaii to Clark Field PI.  The 30^th and 93^rd Sqd of the 19^th BG flew to Clark Field in late 1941, and the 14^th, 28^th, 30^th & 93^rd Sqds were made part of the 19^th BG, a sub part of the 5^th Bomber Command – Later re-designated 5^th AF in Australia.  The 14^th and 93^rd were on Mindanao when Clark field was hit Dec 8, 1941, wiping out almost all 28^th & 30^th aircraft.  Personnel from the 19^th BG, escaping from PI, merged with those of the 7^th BG on Java.  The 28^th, 30^th & 93^rd were reformed in Australia – those of the 14^th were merged with the new 435^th in Australia – the 14^th designation was dropped in early ’42 and the 435^th dropped in 1943.  The 14^th did not have a logo so the map of Mindanao is used – also used by the AGOM.

The reconstituted 19^th Bomb Groups 28^th, 30^th & 93^rd Sqds returned in B-29s to the pacific in 1945, becoming part of the 314^th Wing, 20^th AF on North Field Guam.

When 20^th AF Pacific operations were closed down at the end of WW II, only the 19^th BG remained as an active unit stationed at North Field, which was renamed Anderson Field.  When the Korean war broke out, the 19^th BG flew the first bombing missions and moved up to Okinawa for the duration of the Korean war. 

History Request: 19th Bomb Group; Questions - Answers; dated 1943

by Maj J H M Smith

            This document was provided by Conrad Marvel for inclusion in the 19th BG Assn History.

Headquarters 19th Bombardment Group (H)

Office of the Intelligence Officer

AAB, Pyote, Texas

August 18, 1943

SUBJECT:   Request For Historical Information Concerning 19th Bombardment Group (H).

T0: Major John H. M. Smith, Headquarters, Second Air Force, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

            1. This office has been charged with the production of a comprehensive and definitive history of the 19th Bomb Gp (H). This history has been divided up into three phases and this section is now interested in the first installment, from January, 1939, to December 7, 1941.

            2. It is the understanding of this section that having been an integral part of the 19th during the period in question, you may have some information that would be of material use in the compilation of this history.

            3. By answering the enclosed list of questions as completely as possible you would be rendering this organization a great favor. If there are any bits of documentary evidence at your disposal: such as, photographs, special orders, etc. the forwarding of such to this office would be of definite value. Kindly include all other information which you think would be of assistance in the compilation of the history and send same to this office.

 

GERALD F. ALLABEN,

2nd Lt, Air Corps,

Asst Int 0.

1 Inc 1:

            Incl 1 - List of Questions.

1st Ind. JHMS/aio

HEADQUARTERS 396TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H), AAB, Moses Lake, Washington, 2 NOV. 1943.

TO: Commanding Officer, 19th Bombardment Group, AAB, Pyote, Texas.

            1. Attached hereto are answers to questions requested.

            2. Documentary evidence requested was sent under separate cover from the Second Bomber Command.

            3. In August, copies of these questions were referred to Lt. Col. Edward A. Teats, Major Edward C. Graham, and Capt. Staneil Nanney, Second Air Force.

            4. Enclosed also, are answers to the questions prepared by Colonel Edwin B. Broadhurst, Second Air Force. Should any further information be desired, I may be reached through Headquarters 396th Bombardment Group (H), Drew Field, Florida.

J. H. M. SMITH,

Major, Air Corps.

2 Incls:

   Incl l-Info fr Col. Broadhurst.

   Incl 2-Info fr Maj. Smith

Questions put to Maj JHM Smith and his answers

Q1        When did you become a member of the Group?

A1        October 1, 1940.

Q2        Where was the organization at that time?

A2        March Field, Riverside, California.

Q3        Who was the Commanding Officer, where did he come from, when was he relieved, and where did he go?

A3        The following Commanding Officers with information pertinent as to where they came from, when they were relieved add where they went is given for all Commanding Officers of the 19th Group from Oct. 1, 1940, when I joined the 19th Group, until I was relieved on approximately Dec. 10, 1941:

            a. Major Eugene L. Eubank commanded the 19th Group. Major Eubank had previously been Commanding Officer of the 32nd Squadron, 19th Group at March Field, had been relieved by transfer to station unknown by this officer and has returned as Commanding Officer of the Group, relieving Colonel, now Brigadier General, Burwell. Major Eubank was promoted to Lt. Colonel just prior to the Group going overseas. He is now a Brigadier General. General Eubank was relieved as Commanding Officer of the 19th Group on approximately Dec. 10, 1941, but previously, by approximately a month had held the joint command of the 19th Group and the newly activated 5th Bomber Command at Clark Field, Stotsenberg, Pampanga, Philippine Islands. He was relieved from the 19th Group and moved the Headquarters of the 5th Bomber Command to Manila, approximately two (2) days after war started, where he moved directly under the Far Eastern Air Force with General Brereton, in command.

            b. Major David R. Gibbs commanded the Group at Clark Field from Dec. 10 to Dec, 12. The morning of Dec. 12, he took off in a B-18 for Mindanao and was never heard from again. He is presumed to have been killed in action. Major Gibbs was Group Operations Officer, then Commanding Officer of the 30th Squadron, until he assumed command of the Group,

            c. Major Emmett O'Donnell ("Rosie") who had brought the 14th Squadron from Hawaii to the Philippines in Sept. then assumed command of the Group that was left at Clark Field. Major “Mike" Walsh and Major Cecil Combs commanded the Air Echelon at Mindanao and in Australia. Major O'Donnell commanded the Group from approximately Dec. 12, 1941 to Jan. 12, 1942 during which time the bulk of the Ground Echelon moved to Del Monte Island of Mindanao, Philippine Islands. On approximately Jan. 12, Major O'Donnell, in an old B-18, with auxiliary gas tanks fabricated from 50 gallon gas barrels, flew to Australia with Lt. Clyde Box as Co-Pilot and Lt. Edwin S. Green as Navigator.

            d. Major Cecil Combs, who was commander of the 93rd Squadron assumed  command of the Air Echelon, 19th Group, when it was transferred to Malang, Java, on approximately Jan. 1, 1942. He retained command of the section of the group which was performing Combat until the beginning of the evacuation of Java on approximately Feb. 24 When he joined General Brereton and staff by air to India.

            e. Capt. James T. Connally replaced Major Combs and upon assuming command assumed the rank of Major. Under the direction of General Eubank, Who was senior officer in Java, after Generals Brett and Brereton organized the evacuation of the 19th and the 7th Groups in Java. Major Connally commanded until March 14, 1942 when the 19th Group and the 7th Group were combined and reorganized as the 19th Group at Melbourne, Australia.

            f. Lt. Colonel Kenneth Hobson, who was the surviving senior officer of the 7th Group assumed command of the new 19th Group. He commanded until relieved by General Eubank on approximately Apr. 1, but continued to act as Deputy Commander under General Eubank until General Eubank was relieved, and this was on approximately May 1, 1942. Major Connally who in the meantime, had commanded the 93rd Squadron resumed command of the Group with Headquarters at Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. The organization of the Group at that time was composed as follows: Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron and the 435th Squadron under Major William Lewis, Jr. were located at Townsville. The 30th Squadron under Major Ray Schwanbeck was located at Cloncurry, North Queensland. The 93rd Squadron, under Capt. Felix Hardison and the 28th Squadron, under Major Elbert Helton were located at Longreach, Queensland, Australia. Major Connally was relieved on July 10, 1942 when the Group was brought together, less the 435th Squadron at Mareeba, North; Queensland.

            g. Lt. Colonel Richard Carmichael relieved Major Connally on July 10. Colonel Carmichael, class West Point, 1936, had previously been in command of the Task Force which proceeded from Hawaii through Figi to Brisbane and Townsville on Feb. 1942 and which formed a cadre for the 435th Squadron. He was relieved after the return of the 19th Group to the United States.

            h. From Dec. 20, 1942 to Feb. 14, 1943 several officers had commanded the Group for short periods only. These were as follows: Major Ted Faulkner, Group Executive Officer, who left to take command of the 333rd Group. Lt. Colonel Felix Hardison, who had had the 93rd Squadron, and Major John E. Dougherty who had been Group Operations Officer.

            I.  On Feb. 14, the 19th Group that had returned from overseas was broken up and distributed throughout the Second Air Force. On that day, also, Major Elbert Helton, who had had the 28th Squadron assumed command, Colonel Helton (He was promoted shortly) had come with the 7th Group to Java and had previously been stationed at Salt Lake City. He was relieved of command on approximately June 1 by Colonel Louis P. Turner.

            j.  Colonel Turner had been Base Commander at Alamogordo, N.M. after his return from Hawaii. He retained command of the Group until after this officer was transferred from the 19th Group on July 10, 1943.

Q4        Give supplemental information as above on all staff personnel, as the Operations Officer, Executive Officer, etc.

A4:                         Executive Officers of the 19th Group have been as follows:

            a. Major Ronald Hicks, who was shortly relieved to go to the First Bombardment Wing as Executive Officer at March Field.

            b. Major Robinson; was Executive Officer until approximately Oct. of 1940 when he was appointed Commanding Officer of a Provisional Squadron to go to Alaska.

            c.  Lt. Kenneth R. Kreps, who had been Adjutant, became the new Executive Officer and retained this position until Dec. 10, 1941 when he went with General Eubank to the 5th Bomber Command, Manila.

            d. There was no Executive Officer of the Group during the period Dec. 10, 1941 to March 14, 1942. On March 14, 1942, Capt. Robert ("Pappy") Northcutt, who had commanded the 9th Squadron, 7th Group, at Madeoin, Java, became Executive Officer. He was relieved in May 1942.

            e. Capt. Ted Faulkner, who was in the 435th Squadron became the new Executive Officer and retained this position until he assumed command of the Group shortly after Dec. 20, 1942.

            f. Major John E. Dougherty, who had been Group Operations Officer became Executive Officer and held this position off-and-on until Feb. 14, 1943 when he was relieved from the 19th Group and transferred to the 21st Wing.

            g. Capt. Edward C. Habberstad, was Executive Officer until the Table of Organization was changed to provide for the Executive Officer becoming Deputy Group Commander and retained this position until approximately July 1, 1943 when he was relieved and transferred to the 46th Bombardment Wing, Dalhart, Texas.

            h.  An Administrative Executive position was created by the change of Table of Organization on approximately March 1, 1943 and Major J. H. M. Smith was made Executive Officer. He retained this position until relieved on July 10, 1943 when he was transferred to the Second Bomber Command.

Operations Officers of the 19th Group have been as follows:

            a. Major David R. Gibbs, was Operations Officer when this officer was assigned to the 19th Group. He retained this position until 1941 (May) when he assigned command of the 30th Squadron. Major Gibbs was a graduate of the Academy and had been in the 19th Group for some time.

            b.  Lt. Patrick McIntyre was Operations Officer after Major Gibbs until the 19th Group arrived in the Philippines. He continued as Asst. Operations Officer under Capt ”Mike" Walsh. Lt. McIntyre was transferred to Group Headquarters from the 32nd Squadron which was then part of the 19th Group.

            c. “Mike" Walsh returned from temporary duty in England in August 1941 and came from the 93rd Squadron to Group Headquarters. He was Group Operations Officer until approximately Jan. 1 when he was transferred to the Far Eastern Air Force under General Brett in Java.

            d. Capt. James T. Connally was Operations Officer in Java and had also returned from England with Capt. Walsh, coming to the Group from the 32nd Squadron. He was relieved when he assumed command of the Group on Feb. 24.

            e.  Operations Officer from Feb. 24 until approximately Sept. 1942 was Capt. Sam Maddux. Capt. Maddux was originally in the 30th Squadron. He continued as Asst. Operations Officer until his return to the United States in Nov. 1942. He is now assigned to the General Staff in Washington, D. C.

            f.  Major John E. Dougherty and Major Ray Schwanbeck were jointly Operations Officers from approximately Sept. until the Group returned to the United States. Major Schwanbeck returned in Nov. 1942 and is now assigned to the Training Command.

            g.  On February 14,1943, Major David R. Rawls became Operations Officer. Major Rawls had been in the 435th Squadron and was in Group Operations until he became Deputy Group Commander on approximately July 1, 1943. At that time, he was relieved by Major Robert Thacker who commanded the 435th Squadron.

14th Bombardment Squadron:

            This Squadron became part of the 19th Group on Nov. 1, 1941 at Clark Field, Philippine Islands. It had been organized as a composite Squadron from the 5th and 11th Groups of the 7th Air Force at Hickam Field under Major "Rosie" O"Donnell and had arrived in the Philippine Islands with nine (9) airplanes on approximately Sept. 10, 1941. When Major O'Donnell became Group Commander, he turned the Squadron over to Capt. Sam Maddux who had been temporarily assigned from the 30th Squadron. According to the official records in Washington, D.C., this Squadron Headquarters was never evacuated from the Philippine Islands, and is officially carried as in the Philippine Islands.

28 th Bombardment Squadron:

            The 28th Bomb Squadron (Medium), so far as this officer knows was originally organized in the Philippine Islands and for many years was the only Air Corps unit there. It was originally stationed at Nichol's Field, Manila but was moved to Clark Field in approximately 1939 when the 19th Group arrived at Clark Field on approximately Nov. 1, 1941. The 28th Squadron was under the command of Major “Moe" Daley, who had had the Squadron for only a short time. Its strength was approximately 50 Officers and 200 Enlisted Men, The Squadron had B-10 and B-18 airplanes. Upon the assignment of this Squadron to the 19th Group, it was redesignated "Heavy" and Capt. Horrigan, who had been in command after Major Daley, was made Base Commander of Clark Field, was relieved by Major Fischer, who was Operations Officer in the 14th Squadron. Several of the more experienced officers of the 19th Group were assigned to the 28th Squadron. The B-18's were distributed among the other squadrons and four (4) B-17's were assigned to the 28th Squadron. Major Fischer remained in command of this Squadron until he was evacuated on Feb. 5, 1942 and no commanding Officer was designated for the Squadron until it was reorganized from the 11th Squadron, 7th Group, of the personnel in Australia on March 14, 1942. Major Elbert Helton was placed in command and retained command until the Group was returned to the United States. Major Jack Thompson became the Squadron commander at Pyote, Texas on Feb. 14, 1943. He was relieved in June by Capt. Victor Poncik, who in turn was relieved about July 1 by Capt.

30th Bombardment Squadron:

             On Oct. 10, 1940, Major Thomas Blackburn was in command of the 30th Squadron. He continued in command until he was relieved in May 1941 by Major David R Gibbs. Major Blackburn went to the 9th Pursuit Wing, March Field. Major Gibbs had been the Group Operations Officer. He retained command of the Squadron until Dec. 12, 1942 in which time he has been reported missing in action, presumed dead. Capt. Broadhurst, Lt. Schwanbeck and Lt. Elmore G. Brown were successively in command of this ground echelon Squadron in the Philippines. On March 14, 1942, when the Group reorganization took place, Major Raymond V. Schwanbeck assumed command of the 30th Squadron. He was relieved in July 1942 to become Group Operations Officer by Major Dean C. Hoevet. "Pinky" had been in the 93rd Squadron as Flight Leader and he reorganized and revitalized the Squadron. He was killed in Sept. 1942 when, with the Squadron Engineering Officer, the Squadron Bombardier, the Squadron Navigator and one (1) of the Squadron Flight Leaders, his plane fell into the sea off Cairns, North Queensland and burned during an experimental bombing flare flight. Major John A. Rouse was brought from the 93rd Squadron to take command of the 30th. He was relieved on Feb. 14, 1943 by Major Paul E. Cool who had been in the 28th Squadron. Capt. Edson P. Sponable became the 30th Squadron Commanding Officer, in May and was still in command when this officer was transferred.

93rd Bombardment Squadron:

            Major Wittkop commanded the 93rd Squadron from Oct. 1940 until May 1941. He left to take command of the 46th Medium Bomb Group at Fresno. The new Squadron Commander was Major Cecil E. Combs, who had previously had the Headquarters Squadron. Major Combs kept the 93rd Squadron until he went to India in Feb. 1942, while the ground echelon that was left on Bataan was under the command of Capt. Morris C. Shedd. It has been officially reported to this officer that when Bataan fell, Major "Moe" Daley was in command of the 93rd Squadron which was attempting to hold a bridge against armored Japanese forces, and that Major Daley was able to withdraw with the bulk of the Squadron to Signal Hill, Bataan for a final stand. When the 19th Group was reorganized in Australia, Major James T. Connally assumed command of the 93rd Squadron until he was relieved by Capt. Felix Hardison in May 1942 to become Group Commander. Capt. Hardison led the 93rd Squadron until Feb. 14, 1942 when he was transferred to the headquarters Second Bomber Command, Fort George Wright, Washington. Capt. Richard T. Hernlund took the 93rd Squadron and was still in command when the, undersigned was transferred.

435th Bombardment Squadron:

            This Squadron was formed, as has been stated before, in Australia on March 14, 1942 with station at Townsville, North Queensland. Major William C. Lewis, Jr., who had been with the 7th Group and had come over with the Task Force from Hawaii was in command. He was relieved in Feb. 1943, when Major Robert Thacker became Commanding Officer. Major Thacker kept the Squadron until this officer was transferred.

Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron:

            Major Ronald Hicks was commanding the Headquarters Squadron in addition to his other duty in Oct. 1940. When Major Hicks went to First Bombardment Operational Training Wing, Capt. Cecil Combs was brought up from the 93rd Squadron to take command. He remained in command until relieved by Capt. Cornelius B. Cosgrove, who had been Group Personnel Officer in July 1941. Major Combs moved to the 93 Squadron. Capt. Cosgrove took the Squadron overseas and was then transferred to Headquarters, Far Eastern Air Force, when Capt. William C. McDonald, who was in the 93rd Squadron became Headquarters Squadron Commander. The element of this Squadron which was left on Bataan, was placed under the command of Major Charles Miller, who had been Group Adjutant. The Headquarters Squadron Detachment, which accompanied the troops to Mindanao, was in the command of Lt. Ray McDuffee, formerly Group Intelligence Officer. At Melbourne, in March, Major Jack W. Hughes was made Headquarters Squadron Command and he kept the Squadron until Major Phillip Mathewson was removed from any further combat flying, because of flying fatigue. He was the last Commanding Officer of the Squadron. Major Hughes went to the Headquarters of the North Eastern Area Joint Command in May 19

Q5        What was the strength of the Group and what Squadrons were attached to it?

A5        In 1940, the T/O at that time provided for 38 Officers and 206 Enlisted Men per Tactical Squadron, with Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron of approximately 25 Officers and 232 Enlisted Men. There were 3 Tactical Squadrons: The 30th, 32nd, and 93rd and the Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron. For Tactical purposes, only, the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron was attached to the 19th Group. On Jan. 15, 1941, the 19th Group broke off cadres for the 41st Bomb Group (Medium) and the 30th Bomb Group (H) and on approximately May 24 these cadres moved out. On Sept. 27, 1941, the 19th Group less the 32nd Squadron and the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron moved to the Philippine Islands. On Nov. 14, the 28th Bomb Sq (Medium) was redesignated a (Heavy) Squadron and was assigned to the 19th Group, and the 14th Bomb Squadron (Heavy) was also assigned to the Group. The T/O at that time was largely, then, the one in 1940 and provided for approximately 48 Officers and 232 Enlisted Men per Tactical Squadron, and the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron had approximately 25 Officers and 2xx Enlisted Men. Upon evacuation from the Philippine Islands, the ground echelon of Squadrons were abandoned except .for a few key personnel who were evacuated to Java and Australia. Of the total strength of the Group in the Philippines of approximately 210 Officers and 1300 Enlisted Men, only 140 Officers and 240 Enlisted Men were evacuated. The records of the War Department have officially declared that the 14th Bomb Squadon was not evacuated from the Philippine Islands. On March 14, 1942, the reorganization of the Group took place, based on the T/O which was approximately the same as in the Philippines. The following Squadrons were reformed, Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, in which was established a pool of the extra Officers and Enlisted Men, the 28th Bomb Squadron which was composed mostly of personnel of the 11th Squadron, 7th Group, the 30th Bomb Squadron and the 93rd Bomb Squadron, and one which was split more or less evenly with bulk of the 19th Group personnel with their strength augmented by extra personnel of the 7th Group and the 435th Bomb Squadron which was formed from the Ground Echelon of the 22nd Squadron, 7th Group and the Task Force from Hawaii which was operating at Townsville, North Queensland. This Squadron was designated Variously as follows: 14th Bomb Squadron, 14th Reconnaissance Squadron, 40th Reconnaissance Squadron and finally 435th Bomb Squadron. Aug. 1942, when the T/O was changed to provide for a Group Headquarters in lieu of Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, the 19th Group did not comply and retain this Headquarters Squadron until returned to the United States, The Group was reorganized on the present T/O on Feb. 14, 1943 with the following Squadron, Group Headquarters, 28th Squadron, 30th Squadron (which was the Mother Squadron), 93rd Squadron and the 435th Squadron.

Q6        What was the function of the Group?

A6        The 19th Group was one (1) of the original Heavy Bombardment Groups, and in 1940, when the undersigned joined the Group, was one of the "High Priority" Groups in the 54th Group, Army Air Forces program. In 1940-41, its essential function was the training of Heavy Bombardment Pilots and in Jan. formed the cadre for two (2) new Groups. When the Army Air Forces decided on the zoning of the United States, and the removing of Heavy Bombardment to the interior, the 19th Group was moved to Albuquerque, N.M. in June 1941. At Albuquerque, the primary mission of the Group was the continuing of training of pilots and navigators and the beginning of preparations for combat. In May 1941, the navigation and pilot training that the 19th Group had been performing was culminated in a mass flight of (29) B-17s from March Field to Hamilton, to Hickam on the first long distance over-water mass flight. Lt. Colonel Emmons accompanied the Group on this flight, which was under the command of General Eubank. While at Hickam, pilots of the 7th Air Force and crew chiefs, were checked off on the B-17s. The function of the Group after the arrival in the Philippines was summed up by words of General Brereton, when he visited Clark Field late in Nov. 1941, "The 19th Group is the main defensive weapon in the Philippines." Intensive combat crew training was being carried on at this time with bombing and gunnery tactics and navigation was being given to the navigators on the long range over-water reconnaissance flights that the 19th Group was making up to and within 3 miles of Formosa. After the declaration of war, the main function of the air echelons of the 14th and 93rd Squadrons was the bombing of Japanese Naval Targets particularly invasion convoys and the carrying on of long range armed reconnaissance missions. in the Luzon area. The ground echelon attempted to maintain Clark Field as an advanced base for these ships to operate from, but after the abandonment of the Air in the Philippines on Dec. 24, this part of the Group was redesignated Ground Forces and were training as Infantry. On Dec. 30, 1941, 109 Officers and 650 Enlisted Men of the 19th Group were sent by boat under the command of Colonel William Morse from Bataan to Mindanao, where they were made a part of the Bisayan-Mindanao Force. After Dec. 24, the main function of the air echelon was the defense of the Netherlands East Indies and when the Group moved to Java, on the First of Jan. 1942, it was for the purpose of establishing an advanced base from which to operate against the Japanese Force invading the Netherland East Indies. The defense of this area was abandoned on approximately Feb. 24, 1942 and immediately air and water evacuation of the air forces was begun. This evacuation was made with the belief that it would be possible to establish at a North Australian Base, a base of operations for the defense of Australia and the first air evacuation from Java was composed of an advanced party, under the command of Capt. Ray Schwanbeck, to establish at Brooms, North Territory Australia, such a base. It was found however, that this was impractical due to the supply difficulties and the decision of the United States Forces in Australia (USFIAUST), not to defend Northern Australia, therefore, for the next two (2) months, the Group reorganized in Australia and moved north to North Queensland to become a part of the North Eastern Area Joint Command with the RAAF. The primary mission of this force was the defense of Port Moresby, New Guinea, and north eastern and eastern Australia. From April 1 until July 1, the 19th Group provided the Heavy Bombardment for the Joint Command and in cooperation With the Royal Australian Navy PBYs long range reconnaissance. When the 19th Group moved to an advanced base at Mareeba, North Queensland, the first move northward by the allied forces was made and it became apparent from that time on, that eventually the 19th Group would be able to provide offensive Heavy Bombardment rather than defensive. Up until the time the Group left Australia on Nov. 1, 1942, that was the primary function. Beginning on Feb. 14, 1943, at Pyote, Texas, the 19th Group became a part of the Second Air Force training program as a First Phase RTU Group. When this officer left the Group on July 10, 1943 the Group was continuing this mission.

Q7        What was its standing in the Air Forces of the United States?

A7        In October, 1940, the 19th Group was one of the three (3) Heavy Bombardment Groups in the Second Air Force. It was therefore on "High Priority" for personnel, equipment and training facilities. Early in 1941, it was chosen as one of the "Mother Groups" from which expansion of the Air Force could be made. This expansion was known as the Fifty-Four (54) Group Program. In May of 1941, the Group was chosen as the one Group in the Army Air Forces to fly (26) B-17Ds to Hawaii in the first mass long distance over-water flight in the history of the Air Force. Up to and including the time when the 19th Group was chosen to go overseas, it was the first priority Heavy Bombardment Group in the United States.

Q8        Give all changes of station, personnel, type of aircraft flown, and reasons to changes?

A8        When the undersigned reported to the 19th Group in October 1940, the Group was stationed at March Field, Riverside, California. The type of aircraft were YB-17, B-17Bs, B-18; A-17, and BT-14 which were used for training. On June 1 1941, the Group in compliance with policies of the War Department to evacuate Heavy Bombardment to inland bases, the 19th Group was transferred to Albuquerque, New Mexico, on permanent change of station. At the same time, cadres of the 446th Bombardment Group (Medium) moved to Tucson, Arizona and the 30th Group (Heavy) to New Orleans, Louisiana. Approximately at the time the Group arrived at Albuquerque, (2) PT-17s were assigned each Squadron for training purposes. A few B-17Cs were received while the Group was still at March Field but were brought to the Groups on a loan basis, only, from the British Governor for the purpose of providing training airplanes for the 19th Group to train pilots, crew chiefs, and crew members and in connection with United States Government turning B-17Cs over to Great Britain. Most of the B-17Ds received in May of 1941, while the Group was still at March Field were transferred to Hawaii on the mass flight. In September and October of 1941, the Group received additional B-17Cs and Ds which were taken to McClellan Field for modification at Sacramento Air Depot, and were flight tested for a flight to the Philippines. The few Bs still remaining were transferred to the 32nd Squadron and the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron which did not proceed with this Group Overseas.

            The Group was transferred to the Philippines in two (2) echelons, air and ground, the Ground Echelon departing by train for San Francisco on Sept. 27, 1941 and embarking on the USAT Holbrook on Oct. 4, 1941. The Air Echelon departed Hamilton Field for the Philippines via Hawaii, New Guinea and Australia. On approximately Oct. 17, 1941 all airplanes were in place at Clark Field. By Nov. 10, 1941, at Clark Field, the 19th Group was augmented by the assignment of the 14th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) which had preceded the 19th Group to the Philippines from Hawaii in September and the 28th Bombardment Squadron (Medium). The airplanes received from the 14th Squadron were all B-17Ds and the 26th Squadron had approximately six (6) B-18s, having transferred its B-10s to the Tow Target Squadron, same station. Clark Field was evacuated on Dec. 24, 1941. The Group then being dispersed on Bataan, Del Monte, Batchelor Field, Australia, and Singsari Airdrome, Malang, Java. Such personnel as could be evacuated from the Philippines by air and submarine joined the Group in Java and were all assembled on March 14 at Melbourne. Stations in Australia included: Cloncurry, North Queensland, Longreach, Queensland, and on July 11, Mareeba, North Queensland and Townsville, North Queensland. When the Group was reorganized in March 1, 1942, at Townsville, personnel from the 7th Group were joined with the 19th Group. Most of the B-17D and C airplanes were destroyed in combat and the replacement type airplanes brought to Java by the 7th Group were B-17E type with the remote control, lower turret. Only one (1) B-17E, with the ball turret was received in Java. When the Group finally was returned to the United States from Mareeba and Townsville in November and December 1942, all airplanes were of the B-17E with the lower ball turret, or B-17F type. The first station of the 19th Group in the United States upon its return from combat was Pocatello Army Air Base, Pocatello, Idaho which was evacuated in January because of bad weather, to Pyote, Texas. All air equipment of the Group during its period of operation at Pyote, Texas was B-17F airplanes. The experienced personnel who returned with the 19th Group from Australia were dispersed throughout the Second Air Force with maximum advantage taken of the experience and ability of the Officers and Men in the training program. Over one hundred (100) Enlisted Men were granted commissions or made Warrant Officers. A great deal of inexperienced personnel was transferred into the Group as replacements.

Q9        Give all accomplishments, shortcomings, failures, and any other interesting facts.

A9        During the time this officer was assigned to the 19th Group, the following accomplishments of the Group were noted:

            (a) One (1) airplane, Major Wittkop, flew the sick wife of the Minister from Peru back to her home in South America.

            (b) The Group participated in a mass flight maneuver at the inauguration of President Roosevelt in February 1941.

            (c) Mass over-water, long distance flight from Hamilton Field to Hickam Field, Hawaii in. May 1941.

            (d) The receipt of Special Safety Award for the lowest number of fatal accidents in that year.

            (e) A Flight of (26) B-17Cs and Ds from Hamilton Field to Clark Field, Philippine Islands in October and November 1941.

            (f) Citation by the Secretary of War as part of the Far Eastern Aid Force in the defense of the Philippines, Dec. 8 to Dec. 28, 1941.

            (g) Citation by the Secretary of War for participation in the defense of the Philippines Dec. 7, 1941 to April 1942.

            (h) Citation by the Secretary of War for participation in the defense of Netherlands East Indies, Jan. 1 to March 10, 1942.

            (i) Citation by the Secretary of War for participation in the campaign of the Solomon's by repeated attacks against Rabaul, New Britain, Aug. 8 to 12, 1942.

            (j) Citation by the Secretary of War as a member of the Papuan Forces in the defense of Port Moresby and the capture of Buna, October and November 1942.

 

            The following short comings of the Group were noted during the period October 1, 1940 to July 1943. When war struck in the Philippines, the 19th Group was inexperienced for the conflict in light of the experiences learned since Dec. 7, 1941. Gunnery and Bombing had not been sufficiently emphasized and the splendid showing of the Group during that period was due almost entirely to the great experience of the pilots and skill of the navigators.

            One of the principle shortcomings of the Group during its period of combat was the desperate measure of the Higher Command to attempt to stop the advances of the Japanese. One (1) resulted in many futile, ill-advised, wholly inadequate attacks carried out by this Group. The suicide measures in many cases resulted in great losses of personnel and equipment with the minimum of military return. Lack of supplies, particularly spare parts, also seriously handicapped the Group.

Q10         Give an outline of the Group activities if possible over the period of time in question.

A10      Most of the activities of the 19th Group have been rather adequately covered in the discussions of the previous questions, however, after the return of the Group to the United States, the Group began participation in the training program with the Second Air Force. The first crews for training reported to the Group on Feb. 14, 1943 and were designated as the Davis Provisional Group. Crew training since that time has been mostly in First Phase and the forming of replacement crews.

J. H. M. SMITH,

MAJOR, Air Corps.

WB\UNITHIST\G19-1945.DOC

 

1945  History of the 19th Bombardment Group [ V H ]

Prepared 1 September 1945

 

                The following is an exact transcript of the text, except for enhanced headings, of what was prepared and issued Sep 1, 1945. The one issued by Hdqs was identical as those issued by the Sqd's except for the cover page and the inclusion of home addresses for all persons in the Hdqs Sqd.

                Note:  The listing of attached names, those assigned to the 19^th BG on Guam on or prior to August 1945, has been moved and made part of the 19^th BG Roster.

Preface

            This compilation of the history of the 19th Bomb Group (VH) is based on an accumulation of facts derived from conversations with men of the old 19th Group, recorded recollections, and historical documents.

            Facts about the 19th Group before December 1941 are very unreliable. The records from 7 December 1941 until the Group was reactivated in April 1944, are incomplete. Since then, the records have been fairly complete and accurate. Since most of the present members of the 19th Group are primarily interested in the last phase, the greater part of this history is made from the recent records and contains achievements of the 19th Group under it's present organization.

1 September 1945

HISTORY  1927-1940

            The Nineteenth Bombardment Group was originally activated as an inactive unit on 18 October 1927, as the Nineteenth Observation Group. It was redesigned the Nineteenth Bombardment Group on 8 May 1929, and on 24 June 1932 was made active.

March Field, CA, 1939

            The original components of the Group were, the thirtieth, Thirty-second and Ninety-third Bombardment Squadrons, and a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. The Thirty-eighth Reconnaissance Squadron was attached to the Group as it's observation 3rd photographic component. Available information starts with the Nineteenth Group at March Field, California, on 1 January 1939, where it was pursuing the leisurely, though thorough training of its personnel. The devastating power of heavy and very heavy bombardment, as yet, was not even then envisaged.

            The Nineteenth was one of the three heavy Bombardment Groups in the Second Air Force, and in 1940 was one of the high priority Groups. Early in 1941 it was chosen as one of the "Mother Groups" from which expansion of the Army Air Force could be made.

Albuquerque, NM, 1941

            The days of peace were drawing to a close, and foresight demanded preparation, which included flying of day and night missions. These missions required a new base, so on 14 June 1941, the B-17-C's and D's of the Nineteenth Group landed at Albuquerque New Mexico.

            The pressure was on -- only a miracle could keep the United States out of the war, and the United States was woefully unprepared Potential enemies to the East and to the West had to be held at arm's length from the mainland; therefore, the best trained Group had to be placed on the perimeter of our defense line. On 1 September 1941, the Nineteenth Group was alerted.

On Alert, Philippines 1941

            The Group was divided, leaving only the 30th and the 93rd Squadrons to compose the whole Group, and on 5 October 1941, the ground echelon steamed through the Golden Gate bound for Manila. the air echelon had a still greater problem, for planes had to be gotten across quickly, and be ready for operations upon arrival. At last the planes headed west, pioneers in the first long distance over-water flight in the history of the Air Force. The ground echelon arrived at Clark Field on 23 October, and within a. week all the planes had landed without a single mishap.

            Soon the Nineteenth Group was augmented by the 28th Bombardment Squadron.

            On 1 December 1941, the group was alerted. Day and night preparations for combat were made; satellite fields were established. There was a lull caused by the news of the arrival of the Japanese Ambassador in Washington Then came the news of the sneak attack on Hawaii, and without warning, the Japanese Air Power swept over Clark Field, and bombs fell, giving the field the first taste of war.

Squadrons

            At this Point the previous histories of the individual squadrons which were to make up the 19th Group will be brought up to date.

28th Squadron

            The 28th Squadron was organized in the Philippines fifteen years before the attack on 8 December 1941 and for many years was the only Air Corps Units located there. It was originally stationed at Nichols Field, Manila, but was moved to Clark Field in 1939. The organization was not actually a part of any Group, but a lone bombardment squadron, part of the Philippine defense, just prior to the arrival of the 19th Group. The squadron was equipped with B-10's, and later B-18's, which towed targets for artillery practice of the guns of Corrigador, searchlights practice, and had a general training program.

30th Squadron

            The 30th Bombardment Squadron was originally organized on 13 June 1917, at Kelly Field, Texas, as the 30th Provisional Aeronautical Squadron, which was redesigned the 30th Aeronautical Squadron on 28 June 1917. The 30th aeronautical Squadron left the United States on 23 August 1917, on the United States Steamship "Baltic". They did not participate in combat however, and returned to the United States on 4 April 1919, and was disbanded at Garden City, Long Island, New York, on 14 April 1919. On 24 March 1923, the 30th aeronautical Squadron was reconstituted as an inactive unit as the 30th Bombardment squadron. It was made active on 22 June 1932, and was made part of the 19th Bombardment Group.

93rd Squadron

            The 93rd Bombardment Squadron saw action in World War I as part of a Pursuit Squadron. It was made up from the famous La-Fayette Escadrillo. Action was seen by them at St. Mihiol, and in the Argonne Forest. After the war the squadron was inactivated, and the next record of the squadron is as a. part of the 19th Bombardment Group.

435th Squadron

            The 435th Bomb Squadron was organized 16 May 1942 in Australia, and was dubbed the "Kangaroo Squadron". Before that time the organization was designated the 14th Bomb Squadron and later the 40th Reconnaissance Squadron. This was primarily a reconnaissance squadron, however it participated in many bombing missions. During most of its active duty the 435th has been part of the 19th Group, although at times it operated independently.

Clark Field, PI, Dec 8, 1941

            At the outbreak of hostilities on 8 December 1941 (Manila Time), the 19th Bombardment Group was stationed at Clark Field, Manila. Fortunately the 93rd Squadron was on maneuvers at Del Monte, and therefore missed the first attack on Clark Field, which caused many casualties, and destroyed most of the aircraft stationed there. Patchwork was done on the strips and aircraft not destroyed were dispatched to Del Monte where all planes available began reconnaissance and bombing patrols. Planes were lost but much damage was done to the enemy. Our planes Continued to land at Clark Field after dark for several days, since, repairs and refueling facilities could still be made there. Captain Colin Kelly, of the 93rd Squadron, was lost after his plane scored a direct hit on an enemy battleship.

            From about 17 December to 24 December 1941, most of the air echelon of the Group moved to Bachelor Field, Darwin, Australia, and flew almost daily missions back to the Philippines. They bombed, carried medicine and supplies, and returned with evacuated personnel.

Clark Field to Bataan Dec 24, 1941

            Clark Field, with, all facilities was completely destroyed by about 24 December 1941, and most of the ground echelon moved into trenches in Bataan. A week later the survivors were evacuated and some of them reached Australia after many trials and fighting as ground troops in Del Monte.

Java, Dec 1941

            On 30 December 1941, the air echelon of the 19th Bomb Group was ordered to Sengasari, Malang, in Java. There were 10 planes in flying condition and in the early part of January, seven to nine planes were able to fly missions. In the early part of March planes and personnel remaining were again ordered to Australia.

Austrailia, Mar 1942

            On 14 March 1942, the 19th bomb Group was reorganized at Melbourne. On 17 March, after a. carefully planned trip of the 435th Squadron, part of the 19th Group brought General Mac Arthur, his family and Staff out of the Philippines. A few days later the trip was repeated, bringing President Quezon out. All landing had to be made after dark because of the proximity of the Japanese. Medical Supplies were carried up and much mail was brought back.

Townsville, Australia

            In April, the 19th transferred it's Headquarters to Garbutt Field, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

            The 19th Group participated in the Coral Sea Battle in the early part of May 1942, and their land based planes helped to demonstrate the effectiveness of that type of aircraft against carrier based aircraft. The defeat of the Japanese there saved Port Moresby and probably Australia.

Mareeba, Australia

            On 24 July 1942, the Group moved it's headquarters to Mareeba, Australia, and the 28th, 30th and 93rd Squadrons operated out of there, until the Group returned to the States.

            Primary targets were the harbor and two airfields at Rabaul, Lae, Gasmoto, Timor, Bouganville and Buna. Weather was one of the greatest enemies. The 435th Squadron, which was at times a part of the 19th Group, did most of the photo and reconnaissance work, not only for the 19th Group, but also for the Navy and other units in Australia.

            The latest official mission of the 19th was flown 2 November 1942. All during November, orders were issued sending air Crews to the States. On 29 November the ground echelon left Mareeba, for Towensville, where it sailed from Austrailia.

Pocatello ID, Dec 1942

            These men reached Golden Gate bridge in December. After being issued clothing, the men were given furloughs and instructed to report to Army Air Base, Pocatello, Idaho, 30 December 1942. Christmas at home was almost too good to be true.

Pyote TX, Jan 1943

            On 31 December 1942, the 19th Group was ordered to AAB, Pyote, Texas, but it was not until 1 February 1943, that the Group was ready to start operations, because personnel straggled into the Base all through the month of January. The Group was to be used as a. nucleus for training new; combat crews. Since most of the personnel had seen extensive combat duty in the Pacific area, it was thought their experience would be of great aid.

            The first Group to report for training was the Davis Provisional Group. It received 2nd and 3rd phase training. Groups reporting in late received only lst phase training, but by November all three phases of training were given.

            On 25 November 1943, a new training program was organized in which the old system of having both a base and group organization was abolished and one Headquarters Organization took over all functions of the station. The 19th Bomb Group as a tactical unit was reorganized as the 19th Combat Crew training School.

Great Bend, KS, April 1944

            Not until 1 April 1944 was the 19th reactivated as the 19th Bombardment Group (VH). The first visible evidence did not appear until 27 April when Capt (now Major) James L Coley reported to AAB Great Bend, Kansas. Major Joseph H, Selliken assumed command 28 April 1944. Other officers and enlisted men were assigned to the Group, and on 11 May, 1944, the three present squadrons were organized with only a skeleton assignment of personnel. The group was soon to start functioning as a Tactical Unit in training. However, it had need for more staff personnel and more training. Thus, on 25 May 1944, Headquarters and most of the personnel were transferred to AAB  Dalhart, Texas, which was serving as a manning phase base for B-29 Units. On 20 May 1944, before being transferred to Dalhart, Colonel John G. Fowler, form Chief of Staff of the 1st Air Force assumed command.

            Within a. few days the organization was augmented by the first large group of assignees, composed of personnel who were to hold key positions in both Group Headquarters and the three squadrons. Many of these, who had just arrived, were soon riding again, because a group of Officers and enlisted men were placed on TD to AAFTAC, Orlando, Florida for approximately thirty days. This cadre consisted primarily of Communications, Operations and Intelligence personnel. The first two weeks were spent attending lectures given for Very Heavy Bombardment Personnel, by the school of applied Tactics. The later part of training was received at Pinecastle, where training missions were planned and executed under the direction of the training staff. Thus was born the team work which has since made the 19th's Combat Planning so efficient.

            Headquarters remained at Dalhart, under the command of Lt. Col. John C. Wilson, and instituted training and conditioning of its own for the men there and those who continued to report.

            When the cadre returned from Orlando the Group was gradually approaching full strength. On 30 June 1944, Lt Col. Philip L. Mathewson assumed command.

            During the stay at Dalhart, Texas, and the early days at Great Bend, personnel were scattered to the four corners of the United States, taking special training for the vast assignment ahead. Many men who had not received furloughs for six months were granted time off.

            Lt. Col. (now Colonel) John A. Roberts, our present Commanding Officer assumed command 16 July 1944.

            On 17 July the ground echelon was moved to Great Bend to take over the work of the ground echelon of the 498th Bomb Group, which had started on it's long and tiring trip to it's base of combat operations on Saipan. The air echelon was transferred to Great Bend, 21 August 1944.

            Combat Crews were assigned during the latter part of August and the first part. of September. By the end of September the .actual strength was almost up to the authorized strength.

            At Great Bend Army Air Field on 1 September 1944, the 19th Bombardment Group (VH) operated as a complete unit for the first time. Combat training began in earnest. Paragraph 12 of the Inspector General's report dated 26 September 1944 is quoted: "12. Coordination between Sections: This is on a high level in this Group and there is every indication that it will be reflected in the results of the Group Training.

            Re-classification and on-the-job training went on during the period. Files were gotten in order and instructions and suggestions were issued in preparation for the P.0.M. inspection which was soon to come. Morale was high and the men could sense the impending move. The ground personnel went through bivouac exercise as part of their overseas training.

            At the end of September, 11 B-17 aircraft and 14 B-29 aircraft were assigned to the Group. The first part of the training was in B-17's and the latter part in B-29' s. Maintenance was the bottleneck in the flying training, because most of the aircraft had been flown many hours in training. The efforts of the maintenance section could not overcome the constant need for maintenance on the exhausted training, aircraft. Moreover, the intricate mechanisms of the planes determined that a great number of hours of training for the combat crews would be necessary.

            During October and November the tempo of activities increased. Last minute changes in personnel were being made. Field equipment was issued, records were brought up to date and the Group passed the P.0.M. Inspection with flying colors. The ground echelon prepared to leave on it's long and tiring trip overseas. Supplies were crated. Training in the B-17's was completed and training in B-29's was well under way. Long missions to Batista, Cuba were started, and on the first mission the first losses were sustained by the Group, since it was reactivated. These missions were continued until all the crews completed this mission. Emphasis was placed on "over water navigation" and "radar navigation".

Point of Embarcation, Dec 1944

            The month of December found the 19th Bomb Group Ground Echelon ready for transfer to P.0.E. Eight months of training completed in various stages at Dalhart, Texas and Great Bend Kansas, as well as specialized training for individuals through out the States, culminated in the departure of the Group ground echelon, 7 & 8 December 1944 by troop train for Seattle, Washington. Upon arrival there the contingents were moved by truck convoy to Fort Lawton Staging Area There final arrangements were made for boarding the ship. Clothing was rechecked, shots were given, censorship lectures and abandon ship lectures and drills were attended. At 2200, 18 December 1944, the troops departed Fort Lawton and were aboard the Troop Ship MS Noordam by 2400. Three minutes before midnight, 18 December 1944, the MS Noordam left port, and the States, and sailed to the West -- the unknown and war.

Gound Echelon Embarcation 18 Dec 1944

            Lt. Col. John C. Wilson commanded the Group; Major Lee C. Free commanded the 28th Squadron; Major Arthur D. Sullivan the 30th Squadron; and Captain (now major) Max G. Hill the 93rd Squadron.

            Christmas morning there was a cheer from all onboard as Diamond Head and other land. marks at Hawaii came into view. Many on board had been so sick that they had lost interest in living, but now there was new life, for the ship was passing Waikiki Beach, Honolulu and was entering Pearl Harbor.

            After four days the troop ship MS Noordan sailed from Hawaii as a part of a convoy guarded by two destroyer escorts. On 7 January 1945 land again came into view and soon anchor was dropped at Eniwitok. There, for the first time since sailing, everyone was able to set foot on firm ground again.

            After five days, on 12 January 1945, the Noordan, as part of a convoy, sailed again. By this time tension on board had increased because of the feeling that a submarine might be too near for comfort.

Gound Echelon Arrive Guam 16 Jan 1945

            Landing on Guam, 16 January 1945, the ground echelon immediately commenced setting up quarters. The first week found pup-tents covering the area that was later to become hard-stands for the 29th Group Area. The air strips were being built at breakneck speed by the Engineers working around the clock. The permanent camp area was still covered with dense tropical jungle.

            In a few days the bull dozers started pushing the jungle back to make way for the permanent camp area. Almost over night the area was cleared and tents began going up. Even though the ground still served as the floor this new area was a big improvement because it provided good drainage. The rain at times could pour down in torrents causing water to be eight inches to two feet deep in low spots. when the air echelon began to arrive, Headquarters and Supplies were in the permanent area.

            After the ground echelon departed from Great Bend, the air echelon continued it's training and most of the men were granted overseas furloughs and leaves. After Christmas, because of the adverse weather at Great Bend, it was decided to send those crews which had not completed their training to Puerto Rico. Part of the staff accompanied the crews. After approximately two weeks the crews returned. Then, between 25 and 31 January, the crews departed for AAB Kearney, Nebraska, where they were processed. About the same time, the flying personnel departed Great Bend for Hamilton Field, for staging.

Flying Echelon Arrive Guam Feb 1945

            All during February the air echelon continued to arrive at North Field, Guam. Training was started but it was short lived because there was a cry for more bombs on the targets.

First Mission from Guam 25 Feb 1945

            The 19th Group, in support of Navy maneuvers, participated in it's first mission against the Japanese home land on 25 February 1945, striking Tokyo Urban Area.

            When the field order came, there was momentary confusion. This was the day that was to test the training of all the personnel of the Group. Target information had to be collected, bombs had to be hauled and loaded, planes had to be checked and rechecked, operational information had to be coordinated. When the crews were briefed everyone was tense because "this was war". At 250714K as dawn was breaking over North Field, Aircraft 307 Piloted by Captain (now Major) Fred T. Blakely and accompanied by Colonel Roberts, led the group on it's first combat mission against Japan. Eleven aircraft were furnished by the Group and GP and Incendiary bombs were carried and dropped from 25,000 feet. Ten of the aircraft bombed the primary target given by coordinates in Tokyo Urban area. One plane bombed a target of opportunity.

            The 19th Bomb Group as part of the 314th Bomb Wing commanded first by Brigadier General Thomas S. Power, and later by Colonel Carl R. Storrie, along with other operational wings of the XXI Bomber Command, began the bombing of Japan in earnest. The next two missions were radar scope photo missions. The second bombing mission was again over Tokyo, 9 March 1945. On the previous missions little enemy opposition had been encountered and there was a feeling that perhaps war was not as bad as expected. However, on this mission the reality of the horrors of war were brought home because three crews and the Commanding Officer and Operations Officer of the 93rd Squadron failed to return. The crews lost were commanded by lst Lt. Robert J. Auer, 28th Squadron, Captain Gordon L. Munster, and Captain Samuel M. Carr, both of the 93rd squadron. Major Sam T. Bakahas, Commanding Officer and Major Ollio J. Laird, Operations Officer, were on the 93rd Squadrons which failed to return. The beginning of the low level incendiary attacks which was destined to play a leading roll in the destruction of Japan's will to fight and productive capacity was started.

            Colonel Roberts, along with Colonel Storrie and Brigadier General Power decided that bombing could be more effective, without additional losses, at altitudes between 5,000 and 8,000 than at 15,000 to 20,000 feet, where the wind was very Strong and bombing was very inaccurate.

            The "powers that be" decided that all aircraft factories in Japan would be destroy. The 19th Group took part in the plans and when one factory in Nagoya

was spared by some seemingly magical spell, this Group was selected to try experiments by lighting the target by flares. Finally it was the 19th Group that destroyed the target -- the Mitibushi Aircraft Factory.

            Other factories attacked were Shizueka Engine Plant, Omura Aircraft Factory, Koriyama Chemical Plant, Hitachi Aircraft Plant, at Tackikawa, Otake Oil Refinery, Kawnishi Assembly Plant in Kobe, Tamashima Aircraft Plant and Nakajima aircraft Plant in Tokyo.

            The Navy was meeting strong air opposition in the Ryukyus campaign. The 19th Group, along with other units of the XX air Force, took part in repeated attacks on these airfields in Kyushu, from which enemy aircraft were supplied to the Ryukyus. (Kanoya, East Kanoya, Nittagahara, Miyazaki, Kobubu, Ibusuki, Chran). Meagor enemy opposition was encountered on most of these missions which were daylight missions.

            The next phase of bombing was the incendiary attacks on what remained of Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka and Yokohama. The last phase was the destruction of the smaller cities of Japan -- Amagasaki, Kagoshima, Shizueka, Nobeoka, Shinonoseki, Tokushima, Kofu, Gifu, Uwajima, Hiratsuka, Okasaki, Omuta, Mito, Mikage and Isezaki -- which had taken on importance due to the destruction of the larger cities with all their productive capacity.

            When the news came that Japan had decided to accept the Potsdam Ultimatum, with reservations, the 19th Group was ready for another mission. On 14 August, everyone was waiting and waiting for the Japs last answer, but it did not come and the scheduled crews took off with definite instructions to return should word of the Jap surrender be received. Not until the planes were landing upon return, 15 August 1945, did the word come from Washington that President Truman had received official word of the Japanese full & acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Ultimatum. Although combat missions were flown after this, no more bombs were dropped on Japan.

Post Japanese Surrender Sep 1945

            In addition to the bombing missions many missions were flown by single aircraft for the purpose of gathering weather information, radar scope photographs, radar wind runs, RCM and Super dumbo. These missions were very vital to the success of the primary duty -- more bombs on the target. From the time bombing missions were halted up to 1 September, Prisoner of War Reconnaissance and Prisoner of War Supply missions were flown.

            During the stay on Guam, the Group did more than fly missions, although that was the primary duty. Since the Group moved in ahead of schedule, the Engineers had not cleared the area properly, much less built up the area. When the area was cleared the personnel of the Group had to build. First, latrines, then mess halls, offices, barracks, briefing, buildings, PX, theater, Chapel and clubs were built. Showers were built and water was available at certain hours during the day. Missions were flown within 15 days after the jungle was cleared from part of the camp area.

            Maintenance for the group was excellent. No other Group in the XX Air Force had maintenance that equaled that of the 19th Group.

            Aircraft of the 19th Group, along with other Groups of the 314th Bomb Wing were named for cities in the States. Names of cities from which one or more of the crew members came, usually, appears on the nose of the B-29's.

            When the Group started operations, 25 February 1945, 30 B-29's and 45 crews were assigned to it. As of 1 September 1945, a total of 81 B-29's and 98 crews had been assigned to the Group for combat duty. The aircraft of the Group were distinguished by a large "M" within a square on the tail fin and rudder.

            Ten of the original and seven replacement crews were lost on missions. Twenty aircraft were lost to combat and thirteen were reassigned. Ten of the original crews (not intact) have completed the assignment of thirty-five missions.

            Aircraft 689 (M-10) completed forty-eight combat missions which is the greatest number of any aircraft in the Wing. Aircraft 815 (M-11) completed thirty-eight combat missions without an abort, which is the record for the Wing.

            The crew commanded by Lt. (now Captain) Robert J. Murphy, was the first crew of the Group and Wing to complete it's tour of missions.

            The crews commanded by Lt. (now Captain) Floyd M. Maupin and Lt. (now Captain) John L. White, flew their entire assignment of thirty-five missions without aborting once.

            The 19th Bomb Group is the only Group that was fighting on both the first and last day of the present war. The 19th is one of the most decorated Groups in the entire Air Force. The Group has four citations from the President. Books and articles have been written and more will be written about the individual acts of bravery on the parts of individuals and crews of this organization.

 

1953 History of the 19th Bomb Group

from  AF Combat Units of WW II

            Authorized as 19th Observation Group on 18 Oct 1927. Redesignated 19th Bombardment Group in 1929. Activated on 24 Jun 1932. Redesignated 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in 1939. Equipped first with B-10's, later with B-18's, and still later (in 1941) with B-17's. Moved to the Philippine Islands, Sep-Nov 1941.

            On 7 Dec 1941 (8 Dec in the Philippines), when the Japanese first attacked Clark Field, the group suffered numerous casualties and lost many planes. The 93d squadron, however, was on maneuvers at Del Monte and therefore missed the attack. Supplies and headquarters were hastily moved from Clark Field to comparatively safe points nearby, and planes that had not been too heavily damaged were given emergency repairs and dispatched to Del Monte. There the 19th began reconnaissance and bombardment operations against Japanese shipping and landing parties. Sustaining heavy losses, the group ceased these actions after about two weeks, and the ground personnel joined infantry units in fighting the invaders. Some of the men were evacuated, some escaped, but most were either killed or captured.

            Meanwhile, late in Dec 1941 the air echelon moved to Australia to transport medical and other supplies to the Philippine Islands and evacuate personnel from that area. The men in Australia moved to Java at the end of 1941 and, flying B-17, LB-30, and B-24 aircraft, earned a DUC for the group by attacking enemy aircraft, ground installations, warships, and transports during the Japanese drive through the Philippines and Netherlands Indies early in 1942. The men returned to Australia from Java early in Mar I942, and later that month the group evacuated Gen Douglas MacArthur, his family, and key members of his staff from the Philippines to Australia. After a brief rest the group resumed combat operations, participating in the Battle of the Coral Sea and raiding Japanese transportation, communications, and ground forces during the enemy's invasion of Java. From 7 to 12 Aug 1942 the 19th bombed airdromes, ground installations, and shipping near Rabaul, New Britain, being awarded another DUC for these missions. Capt Hart Pease Jr was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during 6-7 Aug 1942: when one engine of his bomber failed during a mission over New Britain, Capt Pease returned to Australia to obtain another plane; unable to find one fit for combat, he selected the most serviceable plane at the base and rejoined his squadron for an attack on a Japanese airdrome near Rabaul; by skillful flying he maintained his position in the formation and withstood enemy attacks until his bombs had been released on the objective; in the air battle that continued after the bombers left the target, Capt Pease's aircraft fell behind the formation and was lost. The group returned to the US late in I942 and served as a replacement training unit. inactivated on 1 Apr 1944.

            Redesignated 19th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Trained for combat with B-29's. Moved to Guam Dec 1944-Feb 1945, for duty with Twentieth AF. Entered combat on 12 Feb 1945 with an attack against a Japanese airfield on Rota. Flew its first mission against the Japanese home islands by striking Tokyo on 25 Feb 1945. Conducted daylight raids against strategic objectives, bombing aircraft factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, and other targets in japan. Participated in incendiary operations, receiving one DUC for its low altitude attacks on the urban industrial areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, and Osaka, in Mar I945, and another DUC for striking the industrial section of Kobe on 5 Jun. Struck airfields from which the enemy was launching kamikaze planes against the invasion force at Okinawa, Apr-May 1945. Dropped supplies to Allied prisoners and took part in show of force missions over Japan after the war. Remained overseas as part of Far East Air Forces. Trained, participated in sea search operations, and flew photographic mapping missions. Redesignated 19th Bombardment Group (Medium) in Aug 1948.

            On 28 Jun 1950 the group flew its first mission against the North Korean forces that had invaded the Republic of Korea. It moved to Okinawa early in Jul 1950 and continued operations against the enemy until 1953. Targets included troops, supply dumps, airfields, steel mills, hydro-electric plants, and light metal industries. lnactivated on Okinawa on 1 Jun 1953.

            Squadrons. 14th: 1941-1942. 23rd: 1935-1938. 28th: 1941-1944; 1944-1953. 30th: 1932-1944; 1944-1953. 32rd: 1932-1941. 76th: 1932-1936. 93rd 1939-1944; 1944-1953. 435th: (formerly 40th): 1941-1944.

            Stations. Rockwell Field, Calif, 24 Jun 1932; March Field, Calif, 25 Oct 1935; AIbuquerque, NM, 7 Jul-29 Sep 1941; CIark Field, Luzon, 23 Oct 1941; Batchelor, Australia, 24 Dec 1941; Singosari Java, 30 Dec 1941; Melbourne, Australia, 2 Mar 1942; Garbutt Field, Australia, 18 Apr 1942; Longreach, Australia, 18 May 1942; Mareeba, Australia, 24 Jul-23 Oct 1942; Pocatello, Idaho, 9 Dec 1942; Pyote AAB, Tex, 1 Jan 1943-1 Apr 1944. Great Bend AAFId, Kan, 1 Apr 7 Dec 1944; North Field, Guam. 16 Jan. 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, 5 Jul 1950-1 Jun I953.

            Commanders. Lt Col Harold M McClelland, c. 24 Jun 1932-1934; Col Harvey S Burwell, 1939; Col Eugene L Eubank, 2 Apr 1940; Maj David R Gibbs, 10 Dec 1941; Maj Emmett O'Donnell Jr, 12 Dec 1941; Lt Col Cecil E Combs, Jan 1942; Lt Col Kenneth B Hobson, 14 Mar 1942; Lt Col James T Connally, 15 Apr 1942; Lt Col Richard N Carmichacl, 10 Jul 1942; Lt Col Felix M Hardison, 1 Jan 1943; Lt Col Elbert Helcon, 13 Feb 1943; Col Louie P Turner, 5 May 1943; Lt Col Frank P Sturdivant, 27 Jan 1944; Col Bernard T Castor, 11 Feb-1 Apr 1944. Maj Joseph H Selliken, 28 Apr 1944; Col John G Fowler, 20 May 1944; Lt Col John C Wilson, 29 May 1944; Lt Col Philip L Mathewson, 30 Jun 1944; Col John A Roberts Jr 16 Jul 1944; Lt Col George T Chadwell Sep 1945; Col Vincent M Miles Jr, I Mar I946; Col Elbert D Reynolds, 13 Apr 1946; Col David Wade, 26 Apr 1947; Col Francis C Shoemaker, 8 Nov 1947; Col Robert V DeShazo, 2 Dec 1947; Lt Col Clarence G Poff, 1949; Col Theodore Q Graft, I7 Sep 1949; Col Payne Jennings, 26 Sep 1950; Col Donald 0 Tower, 29 Mar 1951; Col Adam K Breckenridge, 26 Jut 1951; Col Julian M Bleyer, 6 Feb 1952; Col Willard W Smith, 8 Jul 1952; Col Harvey C Dorney, 24 Dec 1952-1 Jun 1953.

            Campains. World War II: American Theater; Philippine Islands; East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; Papua; Guadalcanal; Western Pacific. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; Ist UN counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, I952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, I953.

            Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941-10 May 1942; Philippine Islands, 8-22 Dec 1941; Philippine Islands and Netherlands Indies, 1 Jan-1 Mar 1942; Philippine Islands, 6 Jan-8 Mar 1942; Papua, 23 Jul-[Oct 1942]; New Britain, 7-12 Aug 1942; Japan, 9-19 Mar 1945; Kobe Japan, Jun 1945; Korea, 28 Jun-15 Sep 1950. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 7 Jul 1950-[1953].    Insigne. Shield: Azure, within the square of the constellation of Pegasus, a winged sword, point to base, all or. Crest: On a wreath of the colors (or and azure) an osprey guardant, rising, wings elevated and addorsed proper. Motto: IN ALIS VINCIMUS -- On Wings We Conquer. (Approved 19 Oct 1936)

1953 History of 28^th Squadron

 

           Lineage: Organized as 28th Aero Squadron on 22 Jun 1917. Demobilized on 16 Jun

1919. Reconstituted and consolidated (9 Jan 1922) with 28th Squadron which was authorized on 30 Aug 1921. Organized on 20 Sep 1921. Inactivated on 28 Jun 1922. Activated on 1 Sep 1922. Redesignated: 28th Bombardment Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 28th Bombardment Squadron (Medium ) on 6 Dec 1939; 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 16 Nov 1941; 28th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 28 Mar 1944. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated: 28th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 10 Aug 1948; 28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 Jul 1961.

            Assignments: Unkn, 22 Jun 1917-Mar 1918; attached to RAF for operations and training, Mar-Jun 1918; unkn, Jun-Aug 1918; 3rd Pursuit Group, Aug 1918; 2d Pursuit Group, Dec-Apr 1919. Ninth Corps Area, 20 Sep 1921-28 Jun 1922. Philippine Department, 1 Sep 1922; 4th Composite Group, 2 Dec 1922; 19th Bombardment Group, 16 Nov 1941-1 Apr 1944 (ground echelon attached to the 5th Interceptor Command, c 24 Dec 1941-May 1942). 19th Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1944; 19th Bombardment Wing, 1 Jun 1953.

            Stations: Camp Kelly, Tex, 22 Jun 1917; Toronto, Ont, Canada, 25 Aug 1917; Deseronto, Ont, Canada, 1 Sep 1917; Taliaferro Field No.1, Tex, 5 Nov 1917; Garden City, l'N, 25 Jan-5 Feb 19 18; St Marie-Cappel, France, 20 Mar 19 18 (fiights operated from various stations in Nord, Pasde-Calais, and Somme, until squadron reassembled at St Omer on 24 Jun: headquarters and B flights located in Flanders; C flight in Picardv; A fljght in Flanders until 6 Jun when it moved to Picardy and joined C flight at Rousseauville in the Amiens sector); Boisdinghem, France, 1 3 Apr 1918; Alquines, France, 15 Apr 191b3; St Omer, France 24 Jun 1918; Issoudun, France, 26 Jun 19 16; Orly, France, 8 Jut 19 18; Vaucouleurs, France, 16 Aug 19 18; Lisle-en-Barrois, France, 20 Sep 191b3; Foucaucourt France; 6 Nov 1918; Grand, France, 15 Feb 1919; Colombey-les-BeIles, France, 15 Apr 1919; Le Mans, France, 4-19 May 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, 31 May-16 Jun 1919. Mother Field, Calif, 20 Sep 1921-28 Jun 1922 Clark Field, Luzon, 1 Sep 1922; Kindley Field, Corregidor, Sep 1922; Camp Nichols, Luzon, 4 Nov 1922; Clark Field, Luzon, Dec 1922; Camp Nichols, Luzon, 4 Jun 1923; Clark Field Luzon, 16 Jun 1938; Batchelor, Australia c. 24 Dec 1941 (ground echelon in Luzon and Mindanao, c 24 Dec 1941-May 1942); Singosari.Java 30 Dec 1941; Melbourne, Austrdlia, c 4 Mar 1942; Cloncurry, Australia c. 28 Mar 1942 (detachment operated from Perth, Australia 28 Mar-18 May 1942); Longreach, Australia c 5 May 1942; Mareeba Australia 24 Jut c 18 Nov 1942; Pocatello, Idaho, c. 30 Dec 1942; Pyote AAB Tex 24 Jan 1943-1 Apr 1944. Great Bend AAFld Eon, 1 Apr Dec 1944; North Field, Guam, 16 Jan 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, 27 Jun 1950-14 May 1954; Pinecastle AFB. Fla. c. 28 May 1954; Homestead AFB, Fla, c. 25 Jun 1956.

            Aircraft: JN-4, 1917; in addition to Spad XIII, briefly included Spad VII during period 1918-1919. Apparently included DH-4, 1921-1922. In addition to DH-4, 1922 c. 1928, and NBS-l, 1924-1930, included LB-5 and OA-l during period 1929-1931; B-3, c. 1931-1937; B-10, 1937- 1941; B-18 and B-17, successively during 1941; B-17s, LB-30s, and probably B-24s, 7 Dec 1941- 1942; B-17, 1942-1944. B-29, 1944-1954; B-47, 1954-1961; B-52, 1962-.

            Operations: Flying trajning unit, Nov-Dec 19 17; maintained aircraft and underwent combat training while attached by flights to tactical units of RAP serving on front with British Second and Fifth Armies, 20 Mar-c. 24 Jun 19 18 (C Flight, attached to 25 Squadron, RAF, at Villers-Brettonneux, Beauvais, and Rousseauville, participated in Somme Defensive, 2 1 Mar-6 Apr 191b3); combat as pursuit unit with American First Army, 2 Sep-10 Nov 1918. Combat in Southwest Pacific, 1 Dec 1941-c. 16 Nov 1942; ground echelon fought with infantry units in Philippine Islands, c. 24 Dec 194 l-May 1942; replacement training, 1 Feb 1943- 1 Apr 1944; combat in Western Pacific, c. 12 Feb-15 Aug 1945 Combat in Korea, 28 Jun 1950-25Jul 1953. Service Streamers: American Theater.

            Campaigns: World War I: Flanders; Lys; Picardy; Lorxaine; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne. World War II: Philippine Islands; East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; Papua; Guadalcanal Western Pacific; Air Combat Asiatic-Pacific Theater; Korean War: EM Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive: CCF Spring offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.

            Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands; 7 Dec 1941-10 May 1942; PhiLippine Islands, 8-22 Dec 1941; Philippines and Netherlands Indies, 1 Jan-l Mar 1942; Philippine Islands, 6 Jan-8 Mar 1942; Papua, 23 Jul-[c. 16 Nov 1942]; New Britain, 7-12 Aug 1942; Japan 9-19 Mar 1945; Kobe, Japan, 5 Jun 1945; Korea, 28 Jun-15 Sep 1950. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 7 Jut 1950-27 Jut 1953.

            Emblem: A Mohawk Indian head in profile with scalp lock, single feather and wampum necklace, above the head, a blue diamond.

1953  30^th Squadron History

            Lineage: Organized as 30th Aero Squadron on 13 Jun 1917. Demobilized on 4 Apr 1919. Reconstituted, and redesignated 30th Bombardment Squadron on 24 Mar 1923. Activated on 24 Jun 1932. Redesignated 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Dec 1939. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated 30th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). Activated on 1 Apr 1944 .Redesignated: 30th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 10 Aug 1948; 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 Jul 1961. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Feb 1963.

            Assignments: Unkn, 13 Jun-Sep 1917; Third Aviation Instruction Center, Sep 1917-Jan 1919; unkn, Jan-14 Apr 1919. 19th Bombardment Group, 24 Jun 1932-1 Apr 1944 (ground echelon attached to the 5th Interceptor Command, c. 20 Dec 1941-May 1942 ). 19th Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1944; 19th Bombardment Wing, 1 Jun 1953; 4133rd Strategic Wing, 1 Jan 1962-1 Feb 1963.

            Stations: Camp Kelly, Tex, 13 Jun-11 Aug 1917; Etampes, France, 19 Sep 1917; Issoudun, France, 23 Sep 1917; Bordeaux, France, c. 6 Jan-c. 18 Mar 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, c. 5-14 Apr 1919. Rockwell Field, Calif, 24 Jun 1932; March Field, Calif, 25 0ct 1935; Albuquerque, NM, Jun-7 Sep 1941; Clark Field, Luzon, c. 23 Oct 1941; Batchelor, Australia, c. 20 Dec 1941 (ground echelon in Luzon and in Mindanao, c. 20 Dec 1941-May 1942); Singosari, Java, c. 31 Dec 1941; Melbourne, Australia, c. 5 Mar 1942; Cloncurry, Australia, c. 27 Mar 1942; Longreach, Australia, c. 13 May 1942; Mareeba, Australia, c. 24 July. to Nov 1942; Pocatello, Idaho, c. 9 Dec 1942; Pyote AAB, Tex, 24 Jan 1943-1 Apr 1944. Great Bend AAFld, Kansas, Apr-8 Dec 1944: North Field, Guam, 16 Jan 1945: Kadena, Okinawa, 27 Jun 1950-16 May 1954; Pinecastle AFB, Fla 30 May 1954; Homestead AFB, Fla, c. 25 Jun 1956; Grand Forks AFB, ND, 1 Jan 1962-1 Feb 1963.

            Aircraft: Included 0-27, OA-4, YOA-5, B-3, and B-12 during period 1932-1936; included B-10, B18, and B17, successively, during period 1935-1941; B-17's, and probably B-24's and LB-30's, 7 1941-1942; B-17, 1942-1944. B-29, 1944-1954; B-47, 1954-1961; B-52, 1962-1963.

            Operations: Repaired and overhauled aircraft engines, 1917-1918. Combat in Southwest Pacific, 7 Dec 1941-c. 16 Nov 1942; ground echelon fought with infantry units in Philippine Islands, c. 20 Dec 1941-May 1942; replacement training, 1 Feb 1943-1 Apr 1944 .Combat in Western Pacific, c. 12 Feb-15 Aug 1945. Combat in Korea, 28 Jun 1950-25 Jul 1953.

            Service Streamers: Theater of Operations.

            Campaigns: World War II: Philippine Islands; East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; Papua; Guadalcanal; Western Pacific; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.

            Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941-10 May 1942; Philippine Islands, 8-22 Dec 1941; Philippines and Netherlands Indies, 1 Jan-l Mar 1942; Philip pine Islands, 6 Jan-8 Mar 1942; Papua, 23 Jul-[c. 10 Nov 1942];New Britain, 7-12 Aug 1942; Japan, 9-19 Mar 1945; Kobe, Japan, 5 Jun 1945; Korea, 28, Jun-15 Sep 1950. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 7 Jul 1950-27 Jul 1953.

            Emblem: On a blue disc bordered 1 yellow between four cardinal compass, points indicated by three yellow triangles and a green fleur-de-lis outlined white for the north point, a white skull in profile with black shadows and with a yellow wing protruding diagonally upward from its back and extending over the disc and from the eve a white lightening flash streaked red extending diagonally downward over the disc. (Approved 8 Sept 1953)

1953  32 Squadron History

            Linage: Organized as 32d Aero Squadron on 13 Jun 1917. Demobilized on 14 Apr 1919. Reconstituted and redesignated 32d Bombardment Squadron on 24 Mar 1923. Activated on 24 Mar 1923. Activated on 24 June 1932. Redesignated: 32d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Dec 1949[1941?]; 32d Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 5 Aug 1945. Inactivated on 15 Oct 1945. Activated on 4 Aug 1946. Redesignated 32d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 28 May 1948.

            Assignments: Unkn, 13 Jun-Sep 1917; Third Aviation Instruction Center, Sep 1917-Jan 1919; unkn, Jan--14 Apr 1919. 19th Bombardment Group 24 Jun 1932 (attached to IV Bomber Command, 22  Oct 1941; apparently attached to 7th Bombardment Group for operations, c. 8 Dec 1941); Sierra Bombardment Group, 16 Dec 1941; Fourth Air Force, 17 Jan 1942 (attached to IV Bomber Command, 26 Jan 1942); Second Air Force (attached to 301st Bombardment Group), 16 Mar 1942; 301st Bombardment Group, 31 Mar 1942--15 Oct 1945; 301st Bombardment Group, 4 Aug 1946; 301st Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952.

           Stations:. Camp Kelly, Tex, 13 Jun--11 Aug 1917; Etampes, France, 20 Sep 1917; Issoudun, France, 28 Sep 1917; Bordeau, France, c. 6 Jan--c. 18 Mar 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, c. 5--14 Apr 1919. Rockwell Field, Calif, 24 Jun 1932; March Field, Calif, 25 Oct 1935; Albuquerque NM, c. 4 Jun--22 Nov 1941 (Air echelon, which was at Hamilton Field, Calif, under orders for movement to Philippine Islands at time of Japanese attack on Hawaii on 7 Dec 1941, apparently moved to Muroc, Calif, c. 8 Dec 1941; ground echelon departed San Francisco aboard ship on 6 Dec 1941 and returned on 9 Dec 1941); Bakersfield, Calif, 17 Dec 1941 (air echelon evidently departed for Southwest Pacific c. late Dec 1941; concurrently dissolved and personnel assigned to other units); Geiger Field, Wash, c. 14 Mar 1942; Alamogordo, NM, 27 May 1942 (operated from Muroc, Calif, c. 28 May-14 Jun 1942 ); Richard E Byrd Field, Va, 21 Jun--19 Jul 1942; Chelveston, England, 18 Aug 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 26 Nov 1942; Maison Blanche, Algeria, 6 Dec 1942; Biskra, Algeria, 16 Dec 1942; Ain M'lila, Algeria, 16 Jan 1943; St-Donat, Algeria, 8 Mar 1943; Oudna, Tunisia, 6 Aug 1943; Cerignola, Italy, 11 Dec 1943; Lucera, Italy, 2 Feb 1944-Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 28 Jul 1945; Mountain Home AAFld, Idaho, 17 Aug 1945; Pyote AAFld, Tex, 23 Aug--15 Oct 1945. Clovis AAFld, NM, 4 Aug 1946; Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, 16 Jut 1947; Barksdale AFB, La, 7 Nov 1949; Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 15 Apr 1958.

            Aircraft: Included C-26, 0-27, B-12, and apparently B-3 during period 1932-1935; included B10, B-18, and B-17, successively, during period 1935--1941; B-17, 1942--1945. B-29, 1947--1953; B-47, 1953-1958; RB-47, 1958; B-47, 1958--1961; E-47, 1961-.

            Operations: Aircraft repair, 1917--1918. Antisubmarine Patrols off California coast, mid-Dec 1941, and c. late May--early Jun 1942. Combat in ETO and MTO, 2 Oct 1942--c. 26 Apr 1945. Electronics countermeasures, 1958.

            Service Streamers: Theater of Operations.

            Campaigns: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; 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: Tunisia, 6 Apr 1943; Germany, 25 Feb 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Jan 1961--31 Dec 1962.

            Emblem: On a dark blue equilateral triangle, one point down, a conventionalized fowl, white outlined with yellow, grasping two green lightning bolts which cross below the fowl and behind a yellow compass rose surmounted by a green drop bomb outlined with white. (Approved 21 Nov 1936.)

 

1953  93^rd Squadron History

            Lineage:  Organized as 93rd Aero Squadron on 21 April 1917. Demobilized on 31 Mar 1919. Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 93rd Bombardment Squadron which was constituted on 1 Mar 1935. Redesigned 93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), and activated, on 20 Oct 1939. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated 93rd Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy). Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated: 93rd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on to Aug 1948; 93rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 Jul 1961. Discontinued, and inactivated on 1 Feb 1963.

            Assignments: Unkn, 21 Aug 1917-Aug 1919; 3rd Pursuit Group, Aug-Dec 1918; unkn, Dec 1918-31 Mar 1919. 19th Bombardment Group, 20 Oct 1939-1 Apr 1944 (ground echelon attached to 5th Interceptor Command, c. 19 Dec 1941-May 1942). 19th Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1944; 19th Bombardment Wing, 1 Jun 1953; 4239th Strategic Wing, 1 Aug 1961-1 Feb 1963.

            Stations: Kelly Field, Tex, 21 Aug-29 Sep 1917; England, 29 Oct 1917; Beaulieu, England, Jan-24 Jun 1918; Issoudun, France, c. 7 Jul 1918; Vaucouleurs, France, 26 Jul 1918; LisIe-en-Barrois, France, 24 Sep 1918; Foucaucourt, France, 6 Nov 1918; Colombey-les-Belles, France, c. 15 Dec 1918-unkn; Garden City, NY, c. 14-31 Mar 1919. March Field, Calif, 20 Oct 1939; Albuquerque, NM, Jun-27 Sep 1941; Clark Field, Luzon, c. 23 Oct 1941; Batchelor Field, Australia, c. 19 Dec 1941 (ground echelon in Luzon and Mindanao, c. 19 Dec 1941-May 1942); Singosari, Java, c. 1 Jan 1942; MeIbourne, Australia, c. 1 Mar 1942; Cloncurry, Australia, 29 Mar 1942; Longreach, AustraLia, 18 May 1942; Mareeba, Australia, 23 July-c 25 Oct 1942; PocateIlo, Idaho, c. 28 Dec 1942; Pyote, Tex, c. 19 Jan 1943-1 Apr 1944. Great Bend AAFld, Kan, 1 Apr-7 Dec 1944; North Field, Guam, 16 Jan 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, 27 Jun 1950-18 May 1954; Pinecastle AFB, Fla, c. 2 Jun 1954; Homestead AFB, FIa, c. 25 Jun 1956 Kinche!oe AFB, Mich, 1 Aug 1961-1 Feb 1963.

            Aircraft: In addition to Spad XIII, briefly included Spad VII, 1918. B-18 and B-17, successively, 1939-1941;B-17, and probably B-24 and LB-30, during period 7 Dec 1941-Oct 1942; B-17, 1942-1944 B-29, 1944-1954; B-47, 1954-1961: B-52 1961-1963.

            Operations: Combat as pursuit unit with First Army 11 Aug-10 Nov 1918. Combat in Southwest Pacific, 7 Dec 1941-c. 24 Oct 1942; ground echelon fought with infantry units in Philippine Islands, c. 19 Dec 194l-May 1942; replacement training unit, 1 Feb 1943-1 Apr 1944. Combat in Western Pacific, c. 12 Feb-15 Aug 1945. Combat in Korea, 28 Jun 1950-25 Jul 1953.

            Service Streamers: American Theater.

            Campaigns: World War I: Lorraine; St MihieI; Meuse-Argonne. World War II: Philippine Islands; East Indies; Air Offensive, japan; Papua; GuadalcanaI; Western Pacific; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive- UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korean Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall 1953.

            Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941-10 May 1942: Philippine Islands, 8-22 Dec 1941; Philippines and Netherlands Indies, 1 Jan-1 Mar 1942; Philippine Islands, 6 Jan-8 Mar 1942; Papua, 23 Jul-[24 Oct 1942]; New Britain, 7-12 Aug 1942; Japan, 9-19 Mar 1945; Kobe, Japan, 5 Jun 1945; Korea, 28 Jul-15 Sep 1950. Philippine Pesidential Unit Citation. Republic of Korea Pesidential Unit Citation: 7 Jut 1950-27 Jul 1953.

            Emblem: A screaming Indians head in war paint with two feathers and a necklace of teeth, all proper. (Approved 24 Apr 1942 from World War I emblem.)

 

1953  435^th Squadron History

           Linage: 40th Reconnaissance Squadron formed on 14 Mar 1942 by authority of War Department but apparently without formal constitution and activation. Redesignated 435th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942. In activated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated 435th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy ). Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Inactivated on to May 1944. Activated on 7 Jul 1944. Inactivated on 28 May 1946.

            Assignments: 19th Bombardment Group 14 Mar 1942--1 Apr 1944 (attached to Allied Air Force, c.17 Jul--c. 24 Sep 1942). 19th Bombardment Group, 1 Apr--10 May 1944. 333d Bombardment Group, 7 Jul 1944--28 May 1946.

            Stations: Townsville, Australia, 14 Mar--c.15 Nov 1942: Pocatello, Idaho, c. 30 Dec 1943; Pyote AAB, Tex, 5 Jan 1943--1 Apr 1944. Great Bend AAFld, Tex[KS], 1 Apr--10 May 1944. Dalhart AAFld, Tex, 7 Jul 1944; Great Bend AAFld, Kan, to Dec 1944--19 Jun 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, 5 Aug 1945--28 May 1946.

            Aircraft: LB-30, 1942.  B-17 1942-1943.  B-29, 1944-1946.

            Operations: Evacuated General Douglas MacArthur and President Manuel Quezon from the Philippine Islands, Mar 1942; combat in Southwest Pacific, 14 Mar--c. 13 Nov 1942; replacement training, 1 Feb 29 Oct 1943; not manned, 29 Oct 1943--1 Apr 1944. After training for B-29 operations, deployed to Pacific too late for combat before end of war in 1945.

            Service Streamers: American Theater.

            Campaigns: Philippine Islands; East Indies, Papua: Guadalcanal.

            Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: New Britain, 7--12 Aug 1942; Papua, 23 Jul--(c. 13 Nov 1942); New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, and Solomon Islands, 10 Sep--10 Oct 1942. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

            Emblem: On a blue disc, border white, a kangaroo leaping proper, infront of a large white cloud formation, peering through a telescope grasped in the forelegs and holding a large gold aerial bomb in a loop of the tail. (Approved 6 May 1943.)

 

1953  314^th Wing History

Constituted as 314th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) on 15 Apr I944 and activated on 23 Apr. Moved to Guam, Dec 1944-Feb 1945. Assigned to Twentieth AF. Engaged in very heavy bombardment operations from Feb to Aug 1945.

Redesignated 314th Composite Wing in Jan 1946. Assigned to Far East Air Forces. Moved to Japan in Jun 1946.

Inactivated on 20 Aug 1948.

Redesignated 314th Air Division

Activated in Japan on 1 Dec 1950. Assigned to Far East Air Forces. Provided air defense for Japan and logistic support for combat operations in Korea.

Inactivated in Japan on 1 Mar 1952.

Activated in Korea on 15 Mar 1955. Assigned to Far East Air Forces.

COMPONENTS:

Groups: 3rd Bombardment: 1946-1948. 19th Bombardment: 1944-1946. 29th Bombardment: 1944-1946. 35th Fighter: 1946-1948. 39th Bombardment: 1944-1945. 49th Fighter: 1946-1948. 330th Bombardment: 1944- 1945.

Wings: 35th Fighter: 1951-1952. 58th Fighter: 1955-___. 374th Troop Carrier: 1950-1951. 437th Troop Carrier: 1950-1951.

STATIONS: Peterson Field, Colo, 23 Apr-         9 Dec 1944; North Field, Guam, 16 Jan

1945; Johnson AB, Japan, 15 Jun 1946-20 Aug 1948. Nagoya, Japan, 1 Dec 1950-1 Mar 1952. Osan-Ni, Korea, 15 Mar 1955-____.

COMMANDERS: Brig Gen Roger M. Ramey, 1 Jun 1944; Lt Col Hewitt T. Wheless, 15 Jun 1944; Col John G Fowler, 24 Jun 1944; Brig Gen Thomas S. Power, 29 Aug 1944; Col Carl R. Storrie, 23 Jul 1945-unkn; Brig Gen Jarred V. Crabb, c. Jun 1946; Col Clarence D. Wheeler, 30 Jul 1946; Brig Gen David W. Hutchison, 23 Aug 1946; Brig Gen Herbert B. Thatcher, 18 Feb 1947; Col Edward H. Underhill, c. Apr 1947-1948. Brig Gen Delmar T. Spivey, 1 Dec 1950-1 Mar 1952. Col William W. Momyer, 15 Mar 1955; Col Thomas L. Mosley, c. Sep 1955-__.

CAMPAIGNS: Air Offensive, Japan; Western Pacific.

DECORATIONS: None.

INSIGNE: On an ultramarine blue disc, in sinister base, a globe, proper, with silver water areas and brown land areas, fimbriated gold, winged at dexter by a stylized wing of the last, charged with four aerial bombs gales palewise, points to base.

Motto: DESTRUCTIO AB ALTO --- Destruction from Above. (Approved 20 Jan 1945. This insigne was modified 9 May 1956.)

 

1981 19^th Bomb Group History

 

 

            [This version is a copy and enhancement of the 1981 version entitled:  "Background of the 19th Bombardment Wing (Heavy)"  sponsored by Col R. L. Purdum, Commander, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. This document is part of the 19th BG Association History being compiled and placed on disk by DLandau.]

 

            The 19th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) is one of the oldest organizations in the Air Force with a long and proud history of service to the nation. The wing, or it's components, has served in two world wars and two armed conflicts in addition to being on standby for

immediate response during several internationally tense political situations. The 19th has earned the distinction of being the most decorated unit within the Strategic Air Command as well as one of the most decorated units in the service. Unit honors include a record of nine Presidential Unit Citations and two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, as well as the Republic of Korea Presidential Citation and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.

            "CHECKMATE TO AGGRESSION" reads the motto of the 19th Bombardment Wing. For more than fifty years, the men, women, and machines of the 19th have stood ready to fly and fight in defense of the United States. Today, outfitted with the B-52G Stratofortress and the KC-13SA Stratotanker, the "Black Knight" of the 19th continue this wing's glorious heritage.

            The wing came into existence on the eighteenth of October 1927, as the 19th Observation Group, an inactive unit of the Army Air Corps. In March 1932, the unit was activated at Rockwell Army Air Field, California and redesignated as the 19th Bomb Group. The unit remained in California until 1941 flying B-10s and B-18s.

            In 1941, now flying the newly built B-17C long-range bomber, the 19th Bomb Group deployed to the Philippines. Enroute the Group under the command of Lt Col Eugene Eubanks made aviation history. For the first time ever, a mass flight of heavy bombers flew the 2,400 miles from the west coast of the United States to Hawaii.

            By early fall 1941, the 19th had completed deployment of personnel and equipment overseas and was now prepared to function as the long-range strike arm of the Far East Air Force.

            December 8, 1941, the 19th was caught off-guard at Clark Army Air Field, the Philippines, and was virtually destroyed by a Japanese attack. The attack destroyed most of the aircraft and seriously damaged the remaining aiycraft. Despite this, the 19th Bombardment Group was the first American air unit to strike back at the Japanese.

Two days following the attack on Clark Field, the remnants of the Group attacked and destroyed one troop transport and severely damaged another while the Japanese fleet was steaming off the Luzon coast in preparation for the lnvasion of the Philippines.

            For the next two weeks, the 19th fought heroically in a series of small, but effective, strikes against the enemy. However, in the face of insurmountable odds, on the 24th of December 1941, the 19th Bombardment Group was forced to withdraw to Australia. It was aboard one of the remaining aircraft belonging to the 19th that General Douglas MacArthur and his staff evacuated the islands. The remaining personnel of the 19th joined in small bands with other service personnel in guerrilla type actions which hampered the Japanese occupation of the islands. Others were captured by the enemy and forced to partake in the now infamous Bataan Death March. Records of the 19th prior to 1941 are sketchy due to most having been destroyed while at Clark Field.

            From Australia, the 19th went as part of a joint allied command to the Netherlands Indies to participate in the defense of Java. This was in conjunction with British, Dutch, and Australian forces. Though the allies put up a stiff resistance, they were once again forced to withdraw to Australia in March 1942.

            From Batchelor Field near Darwin, Australia, the 19th conducted operations against the enemy. The Group was suffering from such severe personnel shortages that crew members had to service their own aircraft prior to missions. It was from Batchelor Field in May of 1942, the 19th launched strikes in support of the first significant allied victory in the Pacific, the Battle of the Coral Sea.

            Following this much needed victory, the 19th started flying what are now termed as interdiction missions against the enemy. Supply routes became the major targets of the 19th during this period. Rabaul, a key point in the Japanese supply lines, was bombed with increasing frequency by the 19th during the spring and summer of 1942. The Group flew the largest single bombing attack against the Japanese, up to that time, on 1 April 1942. This attack was in support' of the U.S. Marine's invasion of the Japanese fortress on Guadalcanal. The mission of the 19th was to destroy the Vanakanau airdrome at Rabaul. During the attack, the 19th destroyed fifty enemy aircraft on the ground and seven pursuit aircraft in the air as well as severely damaging the airdrome area. The raid cost the loss of one B-17 commanded by Captain Hart Pease, Jr. For his heroic actions during the attack, Captain Pease was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously.

            In October of the same year, the 19th, battle-weary and critically undermanned, was rotated back to the U.S. for refitting and replacements' training. The Group operated a B-17 Combat Crew Training School stationed at Pyote Army Air Field, Texas, until the Group was inactivated 1 April 1944, and reactivated the same day as a training group for the B- 29 aircraft newly located at Great Bend Army Air Base, Kansas.

            Early in 1945, the 19th Bombardment Group reentered the war against Japan. This time flying the B- 29 Superfortress from bases on Guam, the 19th launched missions into the heartland of Japan. The 19th not only was the first American unit to strike back at the Japanese in 1941, but was also the Group chosen to fly the last bomb strike against the Japanese in 1945.

            The accomplishments of the 19th Bombardment Group during World War II were staggering when considering the abuse the Group took from the enemy during the early stages of the war. Of the aircraft originally stationed at Clark Army Air Field, the Philippines, in 1941, only three were able to evacuate to Australia. Of these three, only one was to ever return to the United States. This aircraft, nicknamed the "Swoose" which stands for "not as pretty as a swan but not as ugly as a goose" (the aircraft was refitted from damaged aircraft while at Clark), now rests in the Smithsonian Institute's National Air Museum as a monument

to the gallant men and machines that flew during World War II.

            After the hostilities with the .Japanese ceased in 1945, the 19th was given the assignment of maintaining it's combat readiness while stationed on Guam. It was from Guam the 19th was once again called upon to make the first retaliatory attack against an armed enemy of the United States.

            Within forty-eight hours following the Communist invasion of South Korea, the 19th was flying B- 29 airstrikes out of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in support of the United Nations ground forces.

            By the time the war drew to a close in 1953, the 19th Bombardment Group had flown 645 missions, 5,950 sorties, and had dropped more than 52,000 tons of bombs on enemy targets. The 19th lost ninety-one crew members and twenty aircraft while performing their assigned mission. For their display of capability in Korea, the 19th was awarded it's ninth Presidential Unit Citation. The Group was also awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

            The unit was redesignated the 19th Bombardment Wing (Medium) on the first of June 1953. Following the signing of the truce in Korea, the wing reverted to its stance as a combat-ready watchdog and began preparing for high altitude strategic warfare. Finally, in May of 1954, after spending nine years overseas, the 19th returned to the United States. This time to Pinecastle (later McCoy) Air Force Base, Florida. June 1954 also saw the 19th Bombardment Wing leave the Far East Air Force to become a member of the Strategic Air Command.

            Temporarily, the mission of the wing became primarily a training one in the transition phase to the new jetpowered B-47. The unit went from a combat unit to training for combat- ready status. The wing remained in training until August of 1955 when it was declared combat-ready.

            The wing was once again on the move the following year although this time not very far away, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. Homestead was to remain the home for the proud 19th until 1968 when it was reassigned to the current home at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

            In July of 1961, the 19th was reclassified as the 19th Bombardment Wing (Heavy), and began transition training for the B-52 Stratofortress weapon system. The first "Buff" arrived in February of 1962, and by June, the wing was declared combat-ready with its new equipment. The B-52 Stratofortress along with the KC-135 Stratotanker, remains the tool with which the wing carries out it's mission..

            The United States intelligence sources discovered a massive buildup of Soviet missiles on the island of Cuba in October 1962. With the island located less than a hundred miles from the U.S. mainland, President John F. Kennedy placed U. S. Armed Forces on alert and prepared for action. The 19th, still stationed at Homestead during this time, was prepared to be one of the nation's primary strike forces. The entire wing was on alert for days prior to President Kennedy's speech to the nation on the 22nd of October 1962.

            The base began to overfill with units of the U.S. Army, just in case it became necessary to invade Cuba. Normal functions around Homestead were suspended as troops prepared for. the worst. The situation was tense, but in the end, the Soviets relented and began to dismantle their weapons.

            Nineteen hundred and sixty-three was a bad year as far as the 19th Bombardment Wing is concerned. In August, two KC-135 aircraft and their crews departed Homestead for a normal refueling training mission over the Atlantic. At 1500 hours, both aircraft were reported missing approximately eight hundred miles northeast of Miami. The United States Air Force Rescue Service out of Orlando along with the U.S. Coast Guard assisted the 19th in searching for the lost crews. The only trace ever found of the two aircraft and their crews was a life jacket and a small amount of debris believed to be from the missing aircraft, although nothing conclusive could be determined. The explanation for the disappearance of the aircraft and the crews was never discovered. The two aircrafts' last position was from within the infamous Bermuda Triangle.

            During U.S. military operations in Southeast Asia, the 19th provided aircraft and personnel to bases in Guam, Okinawa, and Thailand. The 19th's primary mission is to fly and fight -- anywhere in the world. Throughout this era, aircraft from the 19th logged nearly 23,400 combat/combat support hours. One crew member of the 19th, Capt James Turner, was killed while participating in a bombing operation. Turner Trailer Park on Robins AFB is named in his memory.

            A military organization is dependent upon its equipment, but the equipment is only as good as the personnel who maintain and use it. The personnel of the 19th have a proud heritage to uphold. The military in a peacetime environment is sometimes taken for granted by the uninformed, and yet the thankless job of defending the security of every man, woman, and child must continue uninterrupted. The personnel of the 19th Bombardment Wing do this job. They are indeed prepared to fly and fight anywhere in the world in defense of the United States.

            As in the early stages of World War II, the personnel of the 19th continue to strive for excellence in performance of everyday tasks so that we may remain a free and unconquered people, regardless of the status of the equipment. The personnel are professionals in every sense of the word, but more importantly we are servants of the nation. The wing does the best job it can with what it has regardless of the circumstances.

            Today, the wing remains as it was in the past. The wing has been, the wing is, and the wing will continue to be "CHECKMATE TO AGGRESSION."

 

HISTORY OF THE BLACK KNIGHT

            The Black Knight has been symbolic of the Strategic Air Command's 19th Bombardment Wing since 1968.

            The Black Knight originated as the trade symbol of the United Paint Company, Spokane, Washington. Following the 1961 Combat Competition, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce Armed Services Committee made a gift of the Black Knight to the competition winners, the 4137th Strategic Wing. The Black Knight emblem was approved for the 4137th by Air Force Headquarters in 1961.

            The 4137th wasplaced on the inactive rolls in 1963 and the newly organized 465th Bomb Wing requested and received approval to include the Black Knight in its emblem in 1964. Like the chess knight, able to move in any direction, the wing felt the Black Knight was indicative of the wing's maneuverability, global range. tactical posture, and symbolic of the wing as a deterrent force.

            Like the 4137th, the 465th was placed on the inactive rolls in 1968. That same year the 19th Bombardment Wing moved from its home at Homestead AFB, Florida to its present home at Robins AFB, Georgia. All of the 19th's personnel and equipment were then being used in Southeast Asia so the personnel and equipment belonging to the 465th now came to the 19th. Along with the personnel and equipment, came the Black Knight. Ever since then, the 19th has been known as the black Knights of SAC.

            The 465th had awarded a small replica of the Black Knight to individuals in appreciation for outstanding contyibutions to the wing. The 19th has continued with this tradition.

 

19th BMW Station List

 

COMMANDERS OF THE

19TH BOMBARDMANT GROUP AND 19TH BOMBARDMENT WING

BATTLE HONORS

DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS

THE LINEACE AND HONORS OF THE 28TH BOMB SQUADRON

            The 28th Bomb Squadron has been assigned to the 19th Bombardment Wing since 1941. The history of the squadron dates back to the Lafayette Escadrille of World War I fame. On the 22nd of June, 1917, the 28th was activated as the 28th Aero Squadron in the U.S. Army.

            During World War I, the 28th flew one hundred and thirty patrols and bombing missions over Germany and areas held by the Axis powers. The squadron is credited with fifteen victories and another fifteen probables between 22 June 1917 and the war's end.

            Following the war, the squadron was demobilizedand not reconstituted until 30 August 1921.

            From 1921 until 1941, when the 28th was assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group stationed at Clark Army Air Field, the Philippines, the squadron participated in various peacetime operations. The history of the 28th since 1941 is the history of the 19th Bombardment Wing.

 

DECORATIONS OF THE 28TH BOMB SQUADRON

 

LINEAGE AND HONORS OF THE 912 AIR REFUELING SQUADRON

            The 912th Air RefuelingSquadron, Heavy, was activated on the third of August 1961, and organized on the first of December 1961.

            Originally a component of the 4137th Strategic Wing, the 912th has successfully provided long-distance inflight refueling for USAF and allied units worldwide as required by the Strategic Air Command.

            Flying the KC-135 Stratotanker, the crews of the 912th have participated in refueling missions in Southeast Asia (operating out of U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand), in Europe (operating out of Torrejon AB, Spain), and in the Alaskan area (operating out of Eielson AFB, Alaska). Since 1962, the 912th has conducted a continuous stream of actual and simulated aerial refueling exercises of the Strategic Air Command.

            The 912th received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation for the period 1 December 1961 to 31 March 1962 and again for the period of 1 July 1976 to 30 June 1978.

 

HONORS OF THE NON-TACTICAL SQUADRONS

            The non-tatical components of the wing consist of the 19th Organizational Maintenance Squadron, the 19th Field Maintenance Squadron, the 19th Munitions Maintenance Squadron, the 19th Security Police Squadron, and the Headquarters Squadron.

            The 19th Organizational Maintenance Squadron was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period 1 July 1974 to 30 June 1976 and for the period 1 July 1976 to 30 June 1978. In 1976 the unit was selected as the Best Organizational Maintenance Squadron within the Strategic Air Command. In 1978, the unit received an outstanding rating from Headquarters SAC, Maintenance Standardization Evaluation Team (MSET) and was selected as the Best Organizational Maintenance Squadron within Eighth Air Force. During a recent SAC operational Readiness Inspection, the unit received an exce llent rating.

            The 19th Field Maintenance Squadron was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the periods 1 July 1964 to 30 June 1965; 1 July 1967 to 30 June 1968; and 1 July 1976 to 30 June 1978. In 1978 and 1979, the unit received excellent ratings from the Headquarters SAC Inspector General.

            The 19th Munitions Maintenance Squadron was awarded an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 1 July 1976 to 30 June 1978. In 1979 the Headquarters SAC Inspector General rated the unit excellent.

            In 1978 the Security Police Squadron won first place in Eighth Air Force and ranked sixth in the Strategic Air Command in GIANT SWORD competition.

 

Aircraft of the 28th Bomb Squadron, 1917-1941

Aircraft of the 19th Bomb Wing, 1932 to Present

 

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

            The material for this paper was drawn, in large part, from the histories of the 19th Bombardment Group, and its assigned units, the 28th, 30th, and 93rd Bombardment Squadrons. Those histories are deposited in the Archives of the USAF Historical Division, Research Institute, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

            Supplementary information was obtained from the following sources: records of the Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Twentieth Air Forces; histories of the IV and XXI Bomber Commands, the 14th, 23d, 32d, and 435th Bombardment Squadrons, the 19th and 314th Bombardment Wings, March Field, and Pyote Army Air Base; documents from the Office of the Adjutant General and Air Adjutant General; the Unit Record Card; maintained by Director of Statistical Services, Headquarters USAF, Washington, D. C., and The Army Air Forces in World War II, Vol. 1.

            The lists of battle honors and citations were provided by Directory of Military Personnel, Headquarters USAF, the authoritative source for that information.

end 1981 version

 

These glass globes were made in China and provided to members at the 19^th 2000 reunion by Art Aronsen