Constituted as 505th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) on 28 Feb 1944.
Activated on 11 Mar 1944. Equipped first with B-17's; later trained for
overseas duty with B-29's. Moved to Tinian late in 1944. Assigned to
Twentieth AF. Entered combat in Feb 1945 with strikes on Iwo Jima and the
Truk Islands. Then began daylight missions against Japan, operating at
high altitude to bomb strategic objectives. Received a DUC for a strike
against the Nakajima aircraft factory at Ota in Feb 1945. Conducted
incendiary raids on area targets in Japan, carrying out these missions at
night and at low altitude. Bombed in support of the Allied assault on
Okinawa in Apr 1945. Engaged in mining operations against Japanese
shipping, receiving second DUC for mining the Shimonoseki Strait and
harbors of the Inland Sea, Jun-Jul 1945. After V-J Day, dropped supplies
to Allied prisoners, participated in show-of-force missions, and flew over
Japan to evaluate bombardment damage. Moved to the Philippine Islands in
Mar 1946. Inactivated on Luzon on 30 Jun 1946.
Squadrons. 482d: 1944-1946. 483d: 1944-1946. 484th: 1944-1946. 485th:
1944.
Stations. Dalhart AAFld, Tex, 11 Mar 1944; Harvard AAFld, Neb, 1
Apr-Nov 1944; North Field, Tinian, 19 Dec 1944-5 Mar 1946; Clark Field,
Luzon, 14 Mar-30 Jun 1946.
Commanders. Maj George D Roberts, 15 Apr 1944; Col Robert A Ping, 3 May
1944; Lt Col Charles M Eisenhart, 1 Jul 1945; Col John P Kenny, c. Sep
1945-1946.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Ota, Japan, 10 Feb 1945;
Japan, 17 Jun-1 Jul 1945. Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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