B-29 Operations of the Twentieth Air Force

[USAF1986]

RE Dave’s request:

- a section devoted to the American bombing campaign on the Japanese homeland, including the most significant raids, and the costs to both sides.

For starters, here’s a link to an overview of B-29 operations of the Twentieth Air Force. For perspective, here’s the OOB (tweaked a bit by myself) also from this link.

Capsule wing and group histories may be found in Maurer Maurer’s excellent reference book Air Force Combat Units of World War II (Office of Air Force History, HQ USAF, Washington, D.C., 1983).

Best regards,
Shawn

http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/b ... 29-10.html

NOTE: With the exception of the 509th Composite Group, B-29 wings, groups and squadrons bore the description Very Heavy in parentheses following the designation.

Order of Battle, Twentieth Air Force, 1944-45:

XXI Bomber Command (NOTE: The history of this command terminated on 16 July 1945. On that date Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, XXI Bomber Command was redesignated Headquarters Squadron, Twentieth Air Force. This redesignation, which brought an end to XXI Bomber Command as an establishment had no effect on the lineage of the Twentieth Air Force.)

• 58th Bombardment Wing – activated June 1944
o 40th Bombardment Group (25th, 44th, 45th, 395th Bombardment Squadrons; 395th deactivated Sept-Oct 1944)
o 444th Bombardment Group (676th, 677th, 678th, 679th Bombardment Squadrons; 679th deactivated Sept-Oct 1944)
o 462nd Bombardment Group (768th, 769th, 770th, 771st Bombardment Squadrons; 771st deactivated Sept-Oct 1944)
o 468th Bombardment Group (792nd, 793rd, 794th, 795th Bombardment Squadrons; 759th deactivated Sept-Oct 1944)

• 73rd Bombardment Wing – activated October 1944
o 497th Bombardment Group (869th, 870th, 871st Bombardment Squadrons)
o 498th Bombardment Group (873rd, 874th, 875th Bombardment Squadrons)
o 499th Bombardment Group (877th, 878th, 879th Bombardment Squadrons)
o 500th Bombardment Group (881st, 882nd, 873rd Bombardment Squadrons)

• 313th Bombardment Wing – activated Dec. 1944-Jan 1945
o 6th Bombardment Group (24th, 39th, 40th Bombardment Squadrons)
o 9th Bombardment Group (1st, 5th, 99th Bombardment Squadrons)
o 504th Bombardment Group (398th, 421st, 680th Bombardment Squadrons; 680th did not join until June of 1945)
o 505th Bombardment Group (482nd, 483rd, 484th Bombardment Squadrons)

• 314th Bombardment Wing – activated February 1945
o 19th Bombardment Group (28th, 30th, 93rd Bombardment Squadrons)
o 29th Bombardment Group (6th, 43rd, 52nd Bombardment Squadrons)
o 39th Bombardment Group (60th, 61st, 62nd Bombardment Squadrons)
o 330th Bombardment Group (457th, 458th, 459th Bombardment Squadrons)

• 315th Bombardment Wing – activated June-July 1945
o 16th Bombardment Group (15th, 16th, 17th Bombardment Squadrons)
o 331st Bombardment Group (355th, 356th, 357th Bombardment Squadrons)
o 501st Bombardment Group (21st, 41st, 485th Bombardment Squadrons)
o 502nd Bombardment Group (402nd, 411th, 430th Bombardment Squadrons)

• 509th Composite Group (393rd Bombardment Squadron, 320th Troop Carrier Squadron)

[USAF1986]

I extracted information on each Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) awarded to the B-29 groups from the Maurer Maurer book. The degree of heroism required by the unit is the same as that which would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. In 1957, the DUC was redesignated the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).

Best regards,
Shawn

EDITED: I added the overseas stations from which the groups were based for combat operations. I did not include previous stations or those to which the groups moved to after the war ended. I also included those officers who commanded the groups during combat operations. Likewise, I didn’t include the previous group commanders or those who took command after the war ended.

6th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Tokyo, Japan, 25 May 1945 – Awarded for action when the group flew at night and at low altitude through alerted enemy defenses to drop incendiaries on Tokyo.
DUC: Japanese Empire, 9-19 July 1945 – Awarded for contributing to the blockage of the Japanese Empire by mining harbors in Japan and Korea.
Stations: North Field, Tinian, 28 Dec 1944-28 Jan 1946
Commanders: Col Kenneth H. Gibson, 17 Jun 1944; Lt Col Theodore W. Tucker, 31 Aug 1945-29 Aug 1946.

9th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Kawasaki, Japan, 15/16 April 1945 – Awarded for bombing the industrial area of the city.
DUC: Japan, 13-28 May 1945 – Awarded for mining operations in the Inland Sea.
Stations: North Field, Tinian, 28 Dec 1944-15 Apr 1946
Commanders: Col Donald W. Eisenhart, 1 May 1944; Col Henry C. Huglin, 6 Mar-Aug 1945; Col David Wade, Sep 1945-c. 25 Apr 1947.

16th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 29 July-6 August 1945 – Awarded for flying unescorted in the face of severe enemy attack to bomb the oil refinery at Shimotsu, the Mitsubishi refinery and oil installations at Kawasaki; and the coal liquefaction plants at Ube.
Stations: Northwest Field, Guam, 14 Apr 1945-15 Apr 1946
Commanders: Col Samuel C. Gurney Jr., 11 Jul 1944; Lt Col Andre F. Castellotti, 11 Jul 1945-1946

19th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 9-19 March 1945 – Awarded for low-level incendiary attacks on the urban industrial areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, and Osaka.
DUC: Kobe, Japan, 5 June 1945 – Awarded for incendiary attack on the industrial section of the city.
Stations: North Field, Guam, 16 Jan 1945-5 Jul 1950.
Commanders: Col John A. Roberts Jr., 16 Jul 1944; Lt Col George T. Chadwell, Sep 1945-1 Mar 1946.

29th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 31 March 1945 – Awarded for an attack on an airfield at Omura, Japan.
DUC: Japan, 19-26 June 1945 – Awarded for strikes on the industrial area of Shizuoka, the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Tamashima, and the Chigusa arsenal at Nagoya.
Stations: North Field, Guam, 17 Jan 1945-20 May 1946
Commanders: Col Carl R. Storrie, 28 May 1944; Col Robert L. Mason, 23 Jul 1945-9 Oct 1945.

39th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 10 May 1945 – Awarded for an attack on the Otake oil refinery and storage area on Honshu.
DUC: Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan, 23-29 May 1945 – Awarded for bombing industrial and dock areas in Yokohama and manufacturing districts in Tokyo.
Stations: North Field, Guam, 18 Feb 1945-17 Nov 1945
Commanders: Col Potter B. Paige, 15 Jun 1944; Col John G. Fowler, 22 Feb 1945; Col George W. Mundy, 16 Mar 1945; Col James E. Roberts, 16 Aug 1945-9 Oct 1945.

40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Yawata, Japan, 20 August 1944 – Awarded for bombing the iron and steel works in the city.
DUC: Japan, 5-14 May 1945 – Awarded for attacking naval aircraft factories at Kure, oil storage facilities at Oshima, and the industrial area of Nagoya.
DUC: Japan, 24 July 1945 – Awarded for attacking light metal industries in Osaka.
Stations: Chakulia, India, 2 Apr 1944-25 Feb 1945; West Field, Tinian, 4 Apr 1945-7 Nov 1945
Commanders: Lt Col Louis E. Coira, 24 Feb 1944; Col Leonard F. Harman, 10 Apr 1944; Col William H. Blanchard, 4 Aug 1944; Col Henry R. Sullivan, 16 Feb 1945; Col William K. Skaer, 27 Feb 1945-21 Mar 1946.

331st Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 22-29 July 1945 – Awarded for braving bad weather, fighter attacks, and heavy flak to bomb the coal liquefaction plant at Ube, the Mitsubishi-Hayama petroleum complex at Kawasaki, and the oil refinery and storage facilities at Shimotsu.
Stations: Northwest Field, Guam, 12 May 1945-15 Apr 1946
Commanders: Col James N. Peyton, 24 Jan 1945-Oct 1945.

333d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) – AAF operations against Japan terminated before the group could enter combat.
DUC: None.
Stations: Kadena, Okinawa, 5 Aug 1945-28 May 1946
Commanders: Col Milton F. Summerfelt, 11 Aug 1944; Lt Col Ray H. Martin, 15 Aug 1945-unknown.

383d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) – AAF operations against Japan terminated before the group could enter combat.
DUC: None.
Stations: Tinian, 12 Sep 1945-19 Dec 1945.
Commanders: Col Richard M. Montgomery, 8 Dec 1944-unknown.

444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Yawata, Japan, 20 August 1944 – Awarded for a daylight raid against the iron and steel works in the city.
DUC: Japan, 10-14 May 1945 – Awarded for attacking oil storage facilities at Oshima, bombing an aircraft plant near Kobe, and dropping incendiaries on Nagoya.
DUC: Japan, 24 July 1945 – Awarded for attacking light metal industries at Osaka.
Stations: Charra, India, 11 Apr 1944; Dudhkundi, India, 1 Jul 1944-1 Mar 1945; West Field, Tinian, 7 Apr 1945-28 Sep 1945
Commanders: Col Alva L. Harvey, 5 Aug 1943; Col Henry R. Sullivan, 22 Apr 1945; Col James C. Selser Jr., 3 Jun 1945-1 Oct 1946.

462d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Yawata, Japan, 20 August 1944 – Awarded for a daylight raid against the iron and steel works in the city.
DUC: Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan, 23, 25, and 29 May 1945 – Awarded for bombing industrial areas in the cities.
DUC: Takarazuka, Japan, 24 July 1945 – Awarded for a daylight attack on the aircraft plant in the city.
Stations: Piardoba, India, 7 Apr 1944-26 Feb 1945; West Field, Tinian, 4 Apr 1945-5 Nov 1945
Commanders: Col Richard H. Carmichael, 26 Aug 1943; Col Alfred F. Kalberer, 20 Aug 1944-unknown.

468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Yawata, Japan, 20 August 1944 – Awarded for a daylight raid against the iron and steel works in the city.
DUC: Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan, 23-29 May 1945 – Awarded for incendiary attacks on strategic objectives in the cities.
DUC: Takarazuka, Japan, 24 July 1945 – Awarded for a daylight attack on the aircraft plant in the city.
Stations: Kharagpur, India, 13 Apr 1944-24 Feb 1945; West Field, Tinian, 6 Apr 1945-15 Nov 1945
Commanders: Col Howard E. Engler, 8 Sep 1943; Col Ted S. Faulkner, 3 Aug 1944; Col James V. Edmundson, 5 Nov 1944-31 Mar 1946.

472d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) – Stateside B-29 Training Unit, 1943-1944.
DUC: None.
Stations: Smoky Hill AAFld, Kansas, 1 Sep 1943; Clovis AAFld, New Mexico, 7 Dec 1943-1 Apr 1944.
Commanders: Maj Conrad H. Diehl, 6 Oct 1943; Col Thomas H. Chapman, 22 Oct 1943-unknown.

497th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 27 January 1945 – Awarded for an unescorted attack in the face of severe enemy opposition to strike an alternate target, the industrial area of Hamamatsu (weather conditions prevented an attack on the primary target).
DUC: Japan, 26 July-2 August 1945 – Awarded for attacking strategic centers in Japan.
Stations: Isley Field, Saipan, 17 Oct 1944-1 Nov 1945
Commanders: Col Stuart P. Wright, 26 Apr 1944; Col Arnold T. Johnson, 26 Feb 1945-31 Mar 1946.

498th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 13 December 1944 – Awarded for attacking an aircraft engine plant at Nagoya.
DUC: Japan, 1-7 June 1945 – Awarded for low-level night incendiary attacks on urban industries near Kobe and Osaka.
Stations: Isley Field, Saipan, 6 Sep 1944-2 Nov 1945
Commanders: Col Wiley D. Ganey, 14 Mar 1944; Col Donald W. Saunders, 10 Aug 1945-unknown; Col Richard T. King Jr., unknown-4 Aug 1946.

499th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Nagoya, Japan, 23 January 1945 – Awarded for striking the Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant in the city.
DUC: Japan, 22-28 April 1945 – Awarded for a series of attacks against enemy airfields on Kyushu to aid the Allied assault on Okinawa.
Stations: Isley Field, Saipan, 18 Sep 1944-9 Nov 1945
Commanders: Col Samuel R. Harris, 4 Apr 1944; Col Morris J. Lee, 17 Mar 1945; Lt Col Walter E. Chambers, 13 Aug 1945-unknown.

500th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Nagoya, Japan, 23 January 1945 – Awarded for striking the Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant in the city.
DUC: Japan, 15-20 June 1945 – Awarded for incendiary attacks on the urban-industrial section of Osaka, feeder industries at Hamamatsu, and shipping and rail targets on Kyushu.
Stations: Isley Field, Saipan, 18 Sep 1944-21 Oct 1945
Commanders: Col Richard T. King Jr., 5 May 1944; Col John E. Dougherty, 5 Dec 1944-4 Dec 1945.

501st Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 6-13 July 1945 – Awarded for attacks on the Maruzen oil refineries at Shimotsu, the Utsubo oil refinery at Yokkaichi, and the petroleum center at Kawasaki.
Stations: Northwest Field, Guam, 14 Apr 1945-10 Jun 1946
Commanders: Col Boyd Hubbard Jr., 11 Aug 1944-15 Apr 1946.

502d Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Japan, 5-15 August 1945 – Awarded for attacks on the coal liquefaction plant at Ube, the tank farm at Amagasaki, and the Nippon oil refinery at Tsuchizaki.
Stations: Northwest Field, Guam, 12 May 1945-15 Apr 1946
Commanders: Lt Col Estley R. Farley, 9 Jul 1944; Lt Col Robert C. McBride, 1 Aug 1944-6 Oct 1944.

504th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Yokohama, Japan, 28 May 1945 – Awarded for striking the industrial center of the city.
DUC: Japan and Korea, 27 July-14 August 1945 – Awarded for mining the Korean shipping lanes, the Shimonoseki Strait, and harbors of the Inland Sea.
Stations: North Field, Tinian, 23 Dec 1944-6 Mar 1946
Commanders: Col James T. Connally, 6 Apr 1944; Col Glen W. Martin, 6 Feb 1945; Col Charles B. Root, 18 Sep 1945-2 Apr 1946.

505th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
DUC: Ota, Japan, 10 February 1945 – Awarded for a high-altitude, daylight strike against the Nakajima aircraft factory in the city.
DUC: Japan, 17 June-1 July 1945 – Awarded for mining the Shimonoseki Strait and harbors of the Inland Sea
Stations: North Field, Tinian, 19 Dec 1944-5 Mar 1946
Commanders: Col Robert A. Ping, 3 May 1944; Lt Col Charles M. Eisenhart, 1 Jul 1945; Col John P. Kenny, c. Sep 1945-1946.

509th Composite Group
DUC: None.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor: Awarded in October 1999 – 54 years after the fact – to recognize the group’s WWII achievements (see news link).
Stations: North Field, Tinian, 29 May 1945-17 Oct 1945
Commanders: Col Paul W. Tibbets Jr., 17 Dec 1944-22 Jan 1946.

http://www.dcmilitary.com/airforce/capi ... 02299.html

[Larry D.]

Shawn -

I tried to reach you with a PM about two or three weeks ago to ask for a recommendation, but no response. Did you get it? It wouldn't take but a second or two of your time.

A fellow USAF veteran,

--Larry

[David C. Clarke]

This is mighty fine Shawn!!!!

Although the B-29 is my chosen prey, I must congratulate you for this fine piece of research.



BANZAI!!!!!!

Best,
Akira

[davethelight]

Thanks very much for that info and links USAF1986, very interesting stuff. It's amazing how little time it took for the B29s to practically annihilate Japan's cities and industrys. I've heard that the destruction to the major population centres was enhanced greatly by the fact that most Japanese houses were made of wood and paper, a tinder box waiting for a match to strike!
Does anyone have any pictures of the aftermath of such air raids, either pictures taken by American reconnaissance aircraft, or pictures taken on the ground, at ground zero?

[USAF1986]

Twentieth Air Force
Constituted as Twentieth Air Force on 4 Apr 1944 and activated the same day. Some combat elements moved in the summer of 1944 from the U.S. to India where they carried out very heavy bombardment operations against targets in Japan, Formosa, Thailand, and Burma. Other combat elements began moving late in 1944 from the U.S. to the Marianas, being joined there early in 1945 by the elements that had been in India. Headquarters, which had remained in the U.S., was transferred to Guam in Jul 1945. From the Marianas the Twentieth Air Force conducted a strategic air offensive that was climaxed by the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan.
Commands: VII Fighter: 1945. XX Bomber: 1944-1945. XXI Bomber: 1944-1945.
Stations: Washington, DC, 4 Apr 1944; Harmon Field, Guam, 16 Jul 1945-May 1949.
Commanders: General of the Army Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, 6 Apr 1944; Maj Gen Curtis E. LeMay, 16 Jul 1945; Lt Gen Nathan F. Twining, 2 Aug 1945-15 Oct 1945.

XX Bomber Command
Constituted as XX Bomber Command on 19 Nov 1943 and activated 20 Nov. Moved to India early in 1944 and assigned to Twentieth Air Force. Engaged in very-long-range bombardment operations from Jun 1944 until all of its tactical components were relieved of assignment in Mar 1945. Moved to Okinawa, Jun-Jul 1945. Inactivated on 16 Jul 1945.
Wings: 58th: 1943-1945. 73rd: 1943-1944.
Stations: Kharagpur, India, 28 Mar 1944-17 Jun 1945; Sakugawa, Okinawa, 7-16 Jul 1945.
Commanders: Brig Gen Kenneth B. Wolfe, 27 Nov 1943; Brig Gen LaVern G. Saunders, 6 Jul 1944; Maj Gen Curtis E. LeMay, 29 Aug 1944; Brig Gen Roger M. Ramey, 20 Jan 1945; Brig Gen Joseph Smith, 25 Apr 1945-16 Jul 1945.

XXI Bomber Command
Constituted as XXI Bomber Command on 1 Mar 1944 and activated the same day and assigned to Second Air Force. Moved to the Marianas late in 1944 and, assigned to Twentieth Air Force, engaged in very-long-range bombardment operations until mid-Jul 1945. The history of this command terminated on 16 July 1945. On that date Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, XXI Bomber Command was redesignated Headquarters Squadron, Twentieth Air Force. This redesignation, which brought an end to XXI Bomber Command as an establishment had no effect on the lineage of the Twentieth Air Force.
Wings: 58th: 1945. 73rd: 1944-1945. 313th: 1944-1945. 314th: 1944-1945. 315th: 1945.
Stations: Harmon Field, Guam, 4 Dec 1944-16 Jul 1945.
Commanders: Brig Gen Haywood S. Hansell Jr., 28 Aug 1944; Maj Gen Curtis E. LeMay, 20 Jan 1945-16 Jul 1945.

58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy)
Moved to India in spring of 1944 and assigned to Twentieth Air Force. Disbanded in India on 12 Oct 1944. Reconstituted on 1 Feb 1945 and activated in India on 8 Feb. Assigned to Twentieth Air Force and engaged in combat until the war ended.
Groups: 40th: 1943-1944; 1945-1946. 444th: 1943-1944; 1945-1946. 462d: 1943-1944; 1945-1946. 468th: 1943-1944; 1945-1946. 472d: 1943-1944.
Stations: Chakulia, India, 2 Apr 1944; Kharagpur, India, 23 Apr 1944-12 Oct 1944. Hijli Base, India, 8-24 Feb 1945; West Field Tinian, 29 Mar 1945-15 Nov 1945
Commanders: Col Leonard F. Harman, 27 Nov 1943; Brig Gen LaVern G. Saunders, Mar 1944-unknown. Col Dwight O. Monteith, 8 Feb 1945; Brig Gen Roger M. Ramey, 24 Apr 1945-1 Nov 1946.

73rd Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy)
Moved to Saipan, Jul-Sep 1944, and assigned to Twentieth Air Force. Engaged in very heavy bombardment operations from Oct 1944-Aug 1945.
Groups: 497th: 1943-1946. 498th: 1943-1946. 499th: 1943-1946. 500th: 1943-1946.
Stations: Isley Field, Saipan, 24 Aug 1944-20 Oct 1945
Commanders: Brig Gen Emmett O’Donnell Jr., 15 Mar 1944; Col Morris J. Lee, 16 Sep 1945-28 Jan 1946.

313th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy)
Moved to the Marianas late in 1944 and assigned to Twentieth Air Force. Engaged in very heavy bombardment operations from Jan to Aug 1945.
Groups: 6th: 1944-1948. 9th: 1944-1948. 504th: 1944-1946. 505th: 1944-1946.
Stations: North Field, Tinian, 24 Dec 1944-Mar 1946
Commanders: Brig Gen John H. Davies, 23 Apr 1944; Col George W. Mundy, 26 Aug 1945-unknown.

314th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy)
Moved to Guam in Dec 1944-Feb 1945 and assigned to Twentieth Air Force. Engaged in heavy bombardment operations from Feb to Aug 1945.
Groups: 19th: 1944-1946. 29th: 1944-1946. 39th: 1944-1945. 330th: 1944-1945.
Stations: North Field, Guam, 16 Jan 1945-Jun 1946
Commanders: Brig Gen Thomas S. Power, 29 Aug 1944; Col Carl R. Storrie, 23 Jul 1945-unknown.

315th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy)
Moved to Guam in Mar-April 1945 and assigned to Twentieth Air Force. Engaged in heavy bombardment operations from Jun to Aug 1945.
Groups: 16th: 1944-1946. 331st: 1944-1946. 501st: 1944-1946. 502d: 1944-1946.
Stations: Northwest Field, Guam, 5 Apr 1945-May 1946
Commanders: Brig Gen Frank A. Armstrong Jr., 18 Nov 1944-25 Jan 1946.

SOURCE: Maurer Maurer (editor). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Office of Air Force History, HQ USAF, Washington, D.C., 1983.

[Machinga]

http://www.amazon.com/Hog-Wild-1945-Sov ... 1618633848

[Takao]

With regards to the TU-4, this book is far less "sensationalistic" and much more to the point:
http://www.amazon.com/Tupolev-Tu-4-Supe ... 1857801423

[shidan]

I stumbled upon this thread and was happy to see the info on the 20th Air Force and particularly the 40th Bomb Group. My grandfather was a member of one of the ground crews in Chakulia as well as on Tinian and had many stories about his time with the 40th. We used to go to the 40th's reunion every year until they disbanded a few years ago. I think the 58th Bomb Wing still holds reunions, but it wouldn't be the same. Although its an older thread it is appreciated, thanks for sharing!


Tom

[Takao]

I take it then that you have been to their website http://www.40thbombgroup.org/
They have a ton of information & photographs on their website, I have spent hours going over the site. It is truly remarkable what they have there.

[shidan]

Yeah, I have poked around the site a few times. Great stuff! I feel extremely lucky to have met a lot of the guys who contributed to the site. Those reunions had some characters for sure!


Tom