22nd Bombardment Group

Constituted as 22nd Bombardment Group (Medium) on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Trained with B-18 and B-26 aircraft, and used the latter to fly antisubmarine patrols off the west coast, Dec 1941-Jan 1942. Moved to the Southwest Pacific early in 1942, became part of Fifth AF, and served in combat in that area until V-J Day. Attacked enemy shipping, installations, and airfields in New Guinea and New Britain and supported ground forces in New Guinea, using B-26's until Oct 1943 when B-25's were added. Cortinued to support the Allied offensive in New Guinea, striking troop concentrations, installations, and shipping, being awarded a DUC for knocking out enemy entrenchments (5 Nov 1943) that were preventing the advance of Australian ground forces. Redesignated 22nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) in Feb 1944. Equipped with B-24's, bombed Japanese airfields, shipping, and oil installations in Borneo, Ceram, and Halmahera. Began attacking the southern Philippines in Sep 1944 to neutralize Japanese bases in preparation for the invasion of Leyte. From Dec 1944 to Aug 1945, struck airfields and installations on Luzon, supported Australian ground forces on Borneo, and bombed railways and industries in Formosa and China. Moved to Okinawa in Aug 1945 and flew some armed reconnaissance missions over southern Japan.

Remained in the theater after the war as part of Far East Air Forces. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the Philippines in Nov 1945. Redesignated 22nd Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Apr 1946. Transferred to Okinawa in May 1946, remanned in Jun, and equipped with B-29's. Moved to the US in May 1948. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Redesignated 22nd Bombardment Group (Medium) in Jul 1948. Moved temporarily to Okinawa in Jul 1950 and attached to Far East Air Forces for duty in the Korean War. Began combat immediately, and until Oct 1950 attacked marshalling yards, bridges, highways, airfields, and industries and supported UN ground forces in Korea. Returned to the US, Oct-Nov 1950. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952.

Squadrons. 2d: 1940-1952. 19th: 1940- 1952. 33d: 1940-1952. 408th: 1942-1952.

Stations. Mitchel Field, NY, 1 Feb 1940; Langley Field, Va, 14 Nov 1940; Muroc, Calif, c. 9 Dec 1941-31 Jan 1942; Brisbane, Australia, 25 Feb 1942; Ipswich, Australia, 7 Mar 1942; Townsville, Australia, 7 Apr 1942; Woodstock, Australia, 5 Jul 1942; Iron Range, Australia, 29 Sep 1942; Woodstock, Australia, Feb 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, Oct 1943; Nadzab, New Guinea, Jan 1944; Owi, Schouten Islands, 17 Aug 1944; Leyte, 15 Nov 1944; Angaur, 26 Nov 1944; Samar, 21 Jan 1945; Clark Field, Luzon, Mar 1945; Okinawa, 15 Aug 1945; Luzon, Nov 1945; Okinawa, 15 May 1946-May 1948; Smoky Hill AFB, Kan, May 1948; March AFB, Calif, May 1949-16 Jun 1952.

Commanders. Lt Col Ross F Cole, Feb 1940; Lt Col John L Moore, 1940; Maj Lewis M Merrick, 20 Feb 1941; Maj Mark L Lewis Jr, Oct 1941; Lt Col Millard L Haskin, 10 Dec 1941; Lt Col Dwight D Divine 11, 19 May 1942; Lt Col George R Anderson, Mar 1943; Lt Col Roger E Phelan, Jun 1943; Col Richard W Robinson, c. Feb 1944; Col Leonard T Nicholson, 21 Jan 1945; Lt Col James E Sweeney, 24 Sep 1945; Lt Col Charles W Johnson, 7 Oct 1945; Maj John E Pryor, c. 17 Oct 1945-unkn; Col Joseph F Carroll, Jun 1946; Lt Col Alvin H Mueller, Jan 1947; Col Francis L Rivard, Oct 1947; Col Walter E Arnold, 19 Dec 1947; Lt Col Paul L Barton, 7 Jun 1948; Capt William L Lemme, 29 Jun 1948; Maj John W Swanson, 3 Jul 1948; Lt Col Payne Jennings Jr, 7 Jul 1948; Col James V Edmundson, 19 Aug 1949; Col John B Henry Jr, Mar-16 Jun 1952.

Campaigns. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Papua; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; China Offensive. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Papua, 23 Jul 1942-23 Jan 1943; New Guinea, 5 Nov 1943. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Insigne. Shield: Azure, a cougar's left gamb erased palewise claws to base or armed gules. Motto: Ducemus - We Lead. (Approved 19 Jun 1941.)

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986