45th Bombardment Wing

Constituted as 45th Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 15 Feb 1943. Activated on 1 Apr 1943. Redesignated 45th Bombardment Wing (Heavy). Moved to England in Aug 1943 for duty with Eighth AF. Redesignated 45th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy). Groups were assigned in Sep 1943 and the wing participated in combat in the European theater until Apr 1945. Disbanded in England on 18 Jun 1945.

Reconstituted and redesignated 45th Air Division, on 24 Sep 1954. Activated in the US on 8 Oct 1954. Assigned to Strategic Air Command.

Components. Groups. 34th: 1945. 96th: 1943-1945. 385th: 1945. 388th: 1943-1945. 452d: 1944-1945.

Wings. 42d Bombardment: 1954-.

Stations. MacDill Field, Fla, 1 Apr-c. 3 Aug 1943; Brampton Grange, England c. 25 Aug 1943; Snetterton Heath, Eng land, 13 Sep 1943-18 Jun 1945. Loring AFB, Maine, 8 Oct 1954-.

Commanders. Maj Carl L Liles, c. Apr 1943-unkn; Col Archie J Old Jr, 14 Sep 1943; Brig Gen Charles P Cabell, c. 1 Dec 1943; Brig Gen Archie J Old Jr, 12 Apr 1944-18 Jun 1945. Brig Gen Bertram C Harrison, 8 Oct 1954; Brig Gen William K Martin, 18 Jun 1955-.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. None.

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