Constituted as 45th Bombardment Group (Light) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Trained with B-18's and A-20's. Redesignated 45th Bombardment Group (Medium) in Dec 1941. Flew patrol and search missions off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, serving with First AF and later with AAF Antisubmarine Command. Used B-18, B-34, and DB-7 aircraft for operations. Inactivated on 8 Dec 1942.
Squadrons. 7th Antisubmarine (formerly 78th Bombardment): 1941-1942. 8th Antisubmarine (formerly 79th Bombardment): 1941-1942. 9th Antisubmarine (formerly 80th Bombardment): 1941-1942. 10th Antisubmarine (formerly 433rd Bombardment): 1941-1942.
Stations. Savannah, Ga, 15 Jan 1941; Manchester, NH, 18 Jun 1941; Dover, Del, 16 May 1942; Miami, Fla, 1 Aug-8 Dec 1942.
Commanders. Lt Col James E Duke Jr, Jan 1941; Lt Col George A McHenry, 1 Apr 1941; Lt Col Charles W Haas, c. Sep-Dec 1942.
Campaigns. Antisubmarine, American Theater.
Decorations. None.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, three aerial bombs or, a chief potentee of the last. Motto: De Astra - From the Stars. (Approved 6 Jan 1942.)
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986