Warbird Information Exchange

During World War II, the 416th Bombardment Group (L) was composed of 416th Headquarters and four Bombardment Squadrons (L), the 668th (5H), 669th (2A), 670th (F6) and 671st (5C); and was under the operational control of the IX Bomber Command, 97th Combat Bombardment Wing of the 9th Air Force.

The 416th Bombardment Group (L) and its Squadrons were Activated February 5, 1943, without personnel, at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma by authority of General Orders #3, dated 4 February 1943, Headquarters Army Air base, Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma. These orders identified the source of the cadre as the 46th Bombardment Group.

The members of the "Famous 416th" greatly distinguished themselves in their 14 months of combat operations in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO).

The Group had many "Firsts". They were the First A-20 Havoc Group in the ETO, flew the First A-20 mission ever to bomb Germany, the First Group in the world to completely convert to the new A-26 Invader and the First 9th Air Force Bomb Group to fly missions in Czechoslovakia as well as Austria.

They fought in seven Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; and Air Combat European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater, and received many Letters of Commendation. On July 25, 1945, they were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for their critical part in trapping German forces in the Falaise Gap between August 6-9, 1944.

Along with these Group honors, many 416th Officers and Enlisted Men received individual awards and medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldiers' Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Motor Vehicle Driver's Badge, Motor Vehicle Mechanic's Badge, many Oak Leaf Clusters and the French Croix de guerre.

Prior to D-Day, the 416th was instrumental in the preparation for the invasion of Europe and mostly targeted German Coastal Defenses, NOBALL V-1 Launch Sites, Airfields and Marshalling Yards. The 416th flew two missions on D-Day, June 6th, 1944. After the Allied Expeditionary Forces secured their beachhead and began the drive to Germany, the Group's primary role became one of tactical support for the advancing ground troops, destroying enemy Transportation Infrastructure (Railroad/Highway Bridges and Junctions, Marshalling Yards), Communication Centers, Ordnance and Fuel Storage Depots, Strong Points, among other important targets.

The 416th BG flew a total of 285 Combat Missions during their Operational Period of March 3, 1944 through May 3, 1945.
























A-20s & B-17's waiting the scrapper Langford Lodge c 1945.

_________________
“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

I wonder if any attempt was made to salvage instruments, guns,or radios? It looks like the engines were saved.

Forty years ago (gasp!!!) my first duty assignment with the USAF was with the 416th.
It was then a B-52G/KC-135A wing out of Griffiss AFB, NY.
It was in the process of becoming the first wing to be equipped with the Boeing AGM-86B ALCM, which was the reason for hasty reassignment at the end of Tech School.

The wing HQ had lots of neat combat photos of their A-20s and A-26s.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

That is cool to know a little bit about that wings history. I enjoyed going to the airshows at Griffiss AFB. Watching B-52s take off was somethings else. I loved the low level passes they did as well, It would be cool to see such flying again.

I had to work an airshow at NAS LeMoore... never looked at open houses / base airshows the same way again... it was not a good experience but it was more on the Navy then the guests... but that is a different story for a different thread.

Tim

_________________
www.tailhookstudio.com

In the 4th photo you can see that the words, “Radio removed” and “Degased” along with dates, appear to be written in chalk under the mission markings. Also, I don’t see evidence of any armament remaining in any of the photos.