Organized as 1st Pursuit Wing in France on 6 Jul 1918. Served in
combat, Jul-Nov 1918. Operated first in the defensive sector near Toul.
During the St Mihiel offensive in Sep, flew reconnaissance sorties,
protected observation aircraft, attacked enemy observation balloons,
strafed enemy troops, flew counter-air patrols, and bombed towns, bridges,
and railroad stations behind the enemy's lines. During the Meuse-Argonne
offensive (26 Sep-11 Nov 1918) bombardment aircraft continued their
attacks behind the lines while pursuit ships concentrated mainly on
large-scale counter-air patrols. Demobilized in France in Dec 1918.
Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 1st Wing, which was
organized in the US on 16 Aug 1919 and was engaged in border patrol
activities until it became an advanced flying training wing in 1922.
Inactivated on 26 Jun 1924.
Redesignated 1st Bombardment Wing in 1929. Activated on 1 Apr 1931.
Redesignated 1st Pursuit Wing in 1933, 1st Wing in 1935, and 1st
Bombardment Wing in 1940. Became one of the original wings of GHQAF in
1935 and conducted much of the Army's pursuit, bombardment, attack, and
observation activities in the western part of the US until 1941. Moved to
England, Jul-Aug 1942, and became a heavy bombardment wing of Eighth AF.
Redesignated 1st Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Aug 1943, and 1st
Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Jun 1945. Served in combat in the European
theater from Aug 1942 until 25 Apr 1945, receiving a DUC for an attack on
aircraft factories in Germany on 11 Jan 1944. Returned to the US in Aug
1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.
Groups. 1st Pursuit: 19119-1922; 1933-1935. 2d (formerly 1st)
Bombardment: 1918; 1919-1922. 2d Pursuit: 1918. 3d Pursuit: 1918. 3d
Attack (formerly 1st Surveillance): 1919-1924. 7th Bombardment: 1931-1933,
1935-1941. 8th Pursuit: 1933-1935. 17th Bombardment: 1931-1941. 19th
Bombardment: 1935-1941. 20th Pursuit: 1939-1941. 35th Pursuit: 1940-1941.
41st Bombardment: 1941. 91st Bombardment: 1942-1945. 92d Bombardment:
1942, 1943. 97d Bombardment: 1942. 97th Bombardment: 1942. 301st
Bombardment: 1942. 303d Bombardment: 1942-1943. 305th Bombardment:
1942-1943. 306th Bombardment: 1942-1943. 351st Bombardment: 1943. 379th
Bombardment: 1943. 381st Bombardment: 1943-1945. 384th Bombardment: 1943.
398th Bombardment: 1944-1945. 482d Bombardment: 1943.
Stations. Toul, France, 6 Jul 1918; Chaumont-Sur-Aire, France, c. 24
Sep 1918-unkn. Kelly Field, Tex, 16 Aug 1919-26 Jun 1924. March Field,
Calif, 1 Apr 1931; Tucson, Ariz, 27 May 1941-Jul 1942; Brampton Grange,
England, c. 19 Aug 1942; Bassingbourn, England, Sep 1943; Alconbury,
England, c. 26 Jun-c. 26 Aug 1945; McChord Field, Wash, c. 6 Sep-7 Nov
1945.
Commanders. Lt Col Thomas DeW Milling, c. 6 Jul 1918; Lt Col Bert M
Atkinson, c. 20 Aug 1918-unkn. Lt Col Henry B Clagett, 1919-unkn; Col
Henry C Pratt, c. 1 Jun-c. 1 Sep 1920. Maj Carl Spaatz, c. 1 Nov 1931-c.
Jun 1933; Brig Gen Henry H Arnold, Nov 1933-Jan 1936; Brig Gen Henry B
Clagett, c. 1 Mar 1936; Brig Gen Delos C Emmons, 17 Jul 1936; Brig Gen
Jacob E Fickel, c. 31 Mar 1939; Brig Gen Frank D Lackland, 1 Feb
1940-unkn; Maj Woodrow W Dunlop, Jul 1942-unkn; Col Claude E Duncan, c. 19
Aug 1942; Brig Gen Newton Longfellow, 21 Aug 1942; Brig Gen Laurence S
Kuter, 1 Dec 1942; Brig Gen Haywood S Hansell Jr, 2 Jan 1943; Brig Gen
Frank A Armstrong Jr, 15 Jun 1943; Brig Gen Robert B Williams, 1 Aug 1943;
Brig Gen William M Gross, 17 Sep 1943-c. Oct 1945.
Campaigns. World War I: Lorraine; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne. World War
II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;
Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 11 Jan 1944. Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 |
