88th Bombardment Group

Constituted as 88th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Jul 1942, but not manned until Sep. Equipped with B-17's. Served for a short time as an operational training unit and afterward as a replacement training unit. Assigned to Second and later to Third AF. Inactivated on 1 May 1944.

Squadrons. 316th: 1942-1944. 317th: 1942-1944. 318th: 1942-1944. 399th: 1942-1944.

Stations. Salt Lake City AAB, Utah, 15 Jul 1942; Geiger Field, Wash, 1 Sep 1942; Walla Walla, Wash, 21 Sep 1942; Rapid City AAB, SD, c. 28 Oct 1942; Walla Walla, Wash, c. 28 Nov 1942; Avon Park AAFld, Fla, Nov 1943-1 May 1944.

Commanders. Lt Col Edgar M Wittan, 1 Sep 1942; Lt Col Hewitt T Wheless, 1 Mar 1943; Lt Col William K Kincaid, 28 Oct 1943-1 May 1944.

Campaigns. American Theater.

Decorations. None.

Insigne. Shield: Azure, a glass throughout shattered, argent. Motto: Power To Shatter. (Approved 7 Jan 1943.)

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