16th Bombardment Group
The 16th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces very heavy bombardment unit that flew B-29 missions against Japan during the final months of World War II.
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Overview
The 16th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces very heavy bombardment unit created for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress campaign against Japan in World War II. Constituted on 28 March 1944 and activated on 1 April 1944 at Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, it initially comprised the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 21st Bombardment Squadrons, together with a photographic laboratory. The 21st Bombardment Squadron was inactivated on 10 May 1944 as the Army Air Forces reorganized B-29 groups around three operational squadrons. The group trained in the United States first at Dalhart and then at Fairmont Army Air Field, Nebraska, beginning in August 1944. Its principal aircraft was the B-29B, a specialized version of the Superfortress designed for speed and long-range, unescorted operations. Compared with heavily armed B-29 variants, the B-29B removed most defensive turrets and associated equipment, retaining a radar-directed tail gun. This configuration reduced weight and improved performance, making the aircraft suitable for rapid attacks against targets in the Japanese home islands. The unit became part of the Twentieth Air Force on 7 March 1945 and deployed to Northwest Field on Guam as a component of the 315th Bombardment Wing. Its aircraft carried the Diamond-B tail marking. The group entered combat on 16 June 1945 with an attack on an airfield at Moen, then flew its first mission against the Japanese home islands on 26 June. Its subsequent operations focused heavily on Japan's petroleum infrastructure, including refineries, oil-storage facilities, and coal-liquefaction plants. Among its major attacks were missions against the Maruzen refinery at Shimotsu, Mitsubishi and Kawasaki installations near Kawasaki, and coal-liquefaction facilities at Ube. In August 1945, the group conducted further radar-directed attacks against petroleum complexes at Hayama, Amagasaki, and Tsuchizaki. These operations contributed to the destruction or severe disruption of important Japanese fuel-production facilities, and the group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat performance. After Japan's surrender, the 16th performed humanitarian and occupation-related missions. Its B-29s dropped food and other supplies to Allied prisoners of war held in Japan, Manchuria, and Korea. These missions were technically difficult because many camps were small, remote, poorly documented, or had been relocated. The group also participated in show-of-force flights over Japan, including a 2 September 1945 formation over Tokyo Bay during the formal surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri. The flight was especially notable because it was one of the organization's first large formation operations after its overseas deployment. The 16th Bombardment Group was inactivated at Guam on 15 April 1946. It was later redesignated the 16th Bombardment Training Wing on 31 July 1985, but that redesignation was not activated. The unit is therefore best understood as a historical military organization rather than a commercial brand or operating company.
History
The 16th Bombardment Group was constituted as a very heavy bombardment group on 28 March 1944 and activated on 1 April at Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas. It was organized during the rapid expansion of the United States Army Air Forces' B-29 force, which was being prepared for strategic operations against Japan from bases in the Mariana Islands. The new group initially included the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 21st Bombardment Squadrons, as well as the 23d Photographic Laboratory. The group trained with B-29B Superfortresses. The B-29B was a limited-production version manufactured by Bell-Atlanta. Its design removed nearly all defensive gun positions except the tail armament. The tail gun was integrated with the AN/APG-15B radar fire-control system, which detected approaching aircraft and calculated firing solutions. By reducing the weight and drag associated with turrets and other defensive equipment, the aircraft could reach higher speeds and conduct long-range hit-and-run missions. The group’s organization changed soon after activation: the 21st Bombardment Squadron was inactivated on 10 May 1944 as B-29 groups were standardized around three operational squadrons. Initial training took place at Dalhart. On 15 August 1944, the group moved to Fairmont Army Air Field, Nebraska, where it continued preparation for overseas service. It operated under Second Air Force and was associated for training purposes with the 17th Bombardment Operational Training Wing. On 7 March 1945, the group became part of the Twentieth Air Force. It subsequently deployed to Northwest Field on Guam, joining the 315th Bombardment Wing. The group's aircraft were identified by the Diamond-B tail code. The 16th entered combat on 16 June 1945 by attacking an airfield on Moen. Its first mission against the Japanese home islands followed on 26 June. Thereafter, the group concentrated on Japan's petroleum sector. Its B-29Bs were used in unescorted operations, exposing them to Japanese air defenses while allowing the aircraft to exploit their speed and range. On the night of 2 July 1945, the group attacked the Maruzen Oil refinery at Shimotsu. On the night of 12–13 July, it struck the Mitsubishi refinery and Kawasaki oil installations near Kawasaki. On 22–23 July, it attacked coal-liquefaction plants at Ube. These missions were later recognized with a Distinguished Unit Citation. During August, the group continued its attacks on the Japanese fuel industry. It used radar bombing by individual aircraft against the Mitsubishi-Hayama petroleum complex on the night of 1–2 August, the Nippon Oil refinery and tank farm at Amagasaki on 9–10 August, and the Nippon Oil refinery at Tsuchizaki on 15 August, the final target of the war for the group. The end of combat did not immediately end the group's operational role. In the postwar period, its aircraft delivered food and other supplies to Allied prisoners of war in Japan, Manchuria, and Korea. Locating the camps was difficult because many were small, remote, inadequately mapped, or had been moved or closed by Japanese authorities. Bombardiers had to calculate release points carefully, with supplies delivered by parachute or, for some packages, dropped without parachutes. On 2 September 1945, the group took part in a show-of-force mission over Tokyo Bay while the Japanese surrender documents were being signed aboard USS Missouri. The flight required careful planning because it represented the organization's first attempt at formation flying since its arrival overseas. The B-29s passed over the bay at approximately 3,000 feet, allowing crews to see the battleship through broken cloud while listening to the surrender broadcast by radio. The group remained at Northwest Field until it was inactivated on Guam on 15 April 1946. Its wartime lineage was later redesignated the 16th Bombardment Training Wing on 31 July 1985, but the redesignated wing was not activated. The unit's historical identity is consequently tied to its short but intensive B-29 combat service in 1945 and its immediate postwar humanitarian and ceremonial missions.
- 1985
Later redesignation
[1]The lineage was redesignated the 16th Bombardment Training Wing on 31 July, although the redesignated organization was not activated.
- 1946
Inactivation
[1]The 16th Bombardment Group was inactivated at Guam on 15 April.
- 1945
Assignment to the Twentieth Air Force
[1]The group became part of the Twentieth Air Force on 7 March and deployed to Guam as a unit of the 315th Bombardment Wing.
- 1945
First combat mission
[1]The group entered combat on 16 June with a B-29 attack against an airfield on Moen.
- 1945
First attack on the Japanese home islands
[1]The 16th flew its first mission against the Japanese home islands on 26 June.
- 1945
Distinguished Unit Citation operations
[1]July missions targeted Japanese oil refineries and coal-liquefaction facilities at Shimotsu, Kawasaki, and Ube, earning the group a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1945
Final combat mission
[1]The group's final wartime target was the Nippon Oil refinery at Tsuchizaki on 15 August.
- 1945
Tokyo Bay surrender mission
[1]On 2 September, the group flew a show-of-force formation over Tokyo Bay during the formal Japanese surrender ceremony.
- 1944
Constitution and activation
[1]The group was constituted on 28 March 1944 and activated on 1 April at Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, with four bombardment squadrons and a photographic laboratory.
- 1944
Reorganization of operational squadrons
[1]The 21st Bombardment Squadron was inactivated on 10 May as B-29 groups were reorganized around three operational squadrons.
Products and positioning
A specialized very heavy bombardment group optimized for fast, long-range, unescorted B-29B operations against strategic targets in the Pacific theater.
Strategic bomber · 1944
Boeing B-29B Superfortress
The B-29B was the group's principal combat aircraft. It was a lighter, faster B-29 variant with most defensive turrets and related equipment removed, while retaining radar-directed tail armament. The configuration was intended for long-range, unescorted bombing and photographic operations against targets in Japan.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Moen airfield attack
Pacific Ocean Theater
The group entered combat on 16 June with an attack against an airfield on Moen.
Outcome. This marked the group's first combat operation.
- 1945Japanese home-islands bombing campaign
Japan
Beginning on 26 June, the group conducted unescorted B-29B missions against targets in Japan, with emphasis on petroleum production and storage.
Outcome. The attacks damaged or destroyed several important Japanese fuel facilities, and the group's July operations were recognized with a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1945Petroleum-industry strikes
Japan
Targets included the Maruzen Oil refinery at Shimotsu, Mitsubishi and Kawasaki installations near Kawasaki, and coal-liquefaction plants at Ube.
Outcome. The missions severely disrupted facilities supporting Japan's petroleum supply and contributed to the group's Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1945August refinery attacks
Japan
During August, the group used radar bombing by individual aircraft against petroleum complexes at Hayama, Amagasaki, and Tsuchizaki.
Outcome. The attacks resulted in the virtual destruction of several important refinery and fuel-storage targets; Tsuchizaki was the group's final wartime target.
- 1945Allied prisoner-of-war supply drops
Japan · Manchuria · and Korea
After the war, the group's B-29s delivered food and other supplies to Allied prisoners held in camps across Japan, Manchuria, and Korea.
Outcome. The missions supported liberated prisoners despite difficulties locating small, remote, relocated, or poorly documented camps.
- 1945Tokyo Bay show-of-force flight
Tokyo Bay · Japan
The group flew a formation over Tokyo Bay on 2 September while the Japanese surrender terms were signed aboard USS Missouri.
Outcome. The flight served as a visible demonstration of Allied air power and coincided with the formal end of the war.
Brand decisions
1945
Focus on Japanese petroleum infrastructureStrategyBackground
The group was assigned to the 315th Bombardment Wing, whose operations emphasized strategic industrial targets in Japan.
Action taken
The group concentrated its combat sorties on refineries, oil installations, fuel-storage facilities, and coal-liquefaction plants.
Aftermath
Several targets were reported virtually destroyed, and the group's July operations received a Distinguished Unit Citation.
1944
Adoption of the B-29B operating conceptStrategyBackground
The group was equipped with a lighter B-29 variant intended to trade defensive armament for speed and long-range performance.
Action taken
It trained and operated with B-29Bs configured for fast, unescorted strategic bombing and photographic missions.
Aftermath
The configuration supported the group's attacks on Japanese industrial and petroleum targets during the final months of the war.
1944
Reorganization around three bombardment squadronsStrategyBackground
The Army Air Forces standardized the organization of B-29 groups during the group's training period.
Action taken
The 21st Bombardment Squadron was inactivated on 10 May 1944, leaving the 15th, 16th, and 17th Bombardment Squadrons as the operational core.
Aftermath
The group continued training and deployed as a three-squadron very heavy bombardment group.
Sources2 sources
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