338th Bombardment Group

338th Bombardment Group

338th Fighter Group Emblem
Active 1942–1944, 1947–1949
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Bombardment
Part of Continental Air Command
Garrison/HQ O'Hare International Airport
Motto(s) Ad Metam - To The Goal
Engagements
  • World War II
American Campaign (1942–1944)
P-39 Airacobras of the 338th Fighter Group, Dale Mabry Field, 1942

The 338th Bombardment Group (BG) is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. It was last active with Continental Air Command at O'Hare International Airport, Illinois on 27 June 1949.

History

The group was activated by III Fighter Command as a fighter Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II[1] with the 305th,[2] 306th,[3] and 312th Fighter Squadrons[4] assigned as its operational elements. The group's mission was to train newly trained pilots and provide combat training prior to their overseas deployment.[1] Initially equipped with the P-39 Airacobra, later using P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs when they became available.[1]

In June 1943, the 312th Fighter Squadron moved to Perry Army Airfield, Florida.[4] The group was disbanded in 1944,[1] and its personnel, equipment and mission transferred to 335th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter).

Reconstituted as an element of Continental Air Command and redesignated as the 338th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy at Orchard Place Airport, Illinois as an Air Force Reserve B-29 Superfortress Group. However, ConAC did not have the funding nor personnel to stand up the organization and it remained an administrative organization until inactivated in June 1949.

Lineage

Assignments

Components

World War II

Air Force Reserve

Stations

Aircraft

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 217–218. ISBN 978-0-912799-02-5.
  2. Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 369. ISBN 0-405-12194-6.
  3. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 370
  4. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 379

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

External links

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