17th Bombardment Group

The 17th Bombardment Group was a United States military aviation organization and a predecessor lineage of later Air Force units. Although the supplied name is “17th Training Group,” the authoritative Wikipedia subject is the 17th Bombardment Group, and the unit should not be confused with unrelated training organizations. Its lineage began with authorization of the 17th Observation Group on 18 October 1927. It was activated at March Field, California, on 15 July 1931 as the 17th Pursuit Group, later becoming the 17th Attack Group and then the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium). During the interwar period, the group moved through several generations of aircraft, including the Boeing P-12, Boeing P-26, Northrop A-17, and Douglas B-18 Bolo. In 1941 it became the first Army Air Corps group to receive the North American B-25 Mitchell in operational numbers. That experience made it an important source of aircraft and aircrews for the Doolittle Raid of 18 April 1942. Sixteen B-25s launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and attacked targets in Japan. The raid was strategically limited but had substantial military and psychological significance for the United States. The group’s personnel suffered losses, including the capture and execution of Lieutenant William G. Farrow. After the raid, the group transitioned to Martin B-26 Marauders and deployed to the Mediterranean theater. It operated from bases in North Africa, Sardinia, Corsica, and France, supporting campaigns against Axis targets in North Africa, Italy, southern France, and Germany. Its wartime record included operations connected with the reduction of Pantelleria, the invasion at Anzio, the campaign in southern France, and attacks around Schweinfurt. The group received Distinguished Unit Citations and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. Its World War II service covered three continents and all three Axis powers, and it completed 624 missions across 11 campaigns before inactivation in November 1945. The unit was reactivated in 1947 as the 17th Bombardment Group, Light, but was inactivated in 1948. It returned to active service in May 1952 during the Korean War, replacing a reserve bombardment group whose period of service had ended. Based at Pusan East Air Base, South Korea, it flew Douglas A-26, later redesignated B-26, Invader light bombers against North Korean supply routes. Its missions initially emphasized night interdiction and later included daylight formation attacks. The group received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and flew near the end of the conflict. Following the Korean War, the group moved to Japan and subsequently relocated to Hurlburt Auxiliary Field, Florida. It was redesignated the 17th Bombardment Group, Tactical, in 1955 and was associated with the Martin B-57 Canberra and Douglas B-66 Destroyer programs. Budget reductions and the Air Force’s organizational restructuring led to its final inactivation on 25 June 1958. The group is therefore not an active commercial brand or current operational unit; its significance lies in its military lineage, combat history, aircraft transitions, and association with the Doolittle Raid.

The unit’s lineage was authorized on 18 October 1927 as the 17th Observation Group. It was redesignated the 17th Pursuit Group in 1929 and activated at March Field, California, on 15 July 1931. Its early fighter equipment included the Boeing P-12 and P-26. In 1935 it became the 17th Attack Group and adopted the Northrop A-17 attack bomber. In 1939 it was redesignated the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) and converted to the Douglas B-18 Bolo. The group became particularly important in 1941 when it was the first organization to receive the North American B-25 Mitchell. It trained at Pendleton, Oregon, and participated in large-scale Army maneuvers before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It then conducted coastal anti-submarine patrols. On 24 December 1941, one of its Mitchells attacked a suspected Japanese submarine near the mouth of the Columbia River, an early wartime combat action involving the aircraft type. In early 1942, the group was moved to Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, where personnel were invited to volunteer for an undisclosed hazardous mission. The mission was the Doolittle Raid. Twenty-four B-25Bs associated with the group were modified in Minneapolis, while sixteen ultimately launched from USS Hornet on 18 April. The raid targeted Japan and provided a major morale boost to the United States. Afterward, the group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana, and trained on the Martin B-26 Marauder. The group deployed to Algeria in December 1942 as part of the Twelfth Air Force. It operated in North Africa and later participated in the campaign against Pantelleria, where sustained bombing helped force the island’s defenders to surrender. As Allied forces advanced, the unit moved through bases in Tunisia, Sardinia, Corsica, and France. Its missions covered the Mediterranean, Italy, southern France, and Germany. It served at different times with the Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Forces and earned two Distinguished Unit Citations, including recognition for operations supporting Anzio and for performance during the Schweinfurt fighting. France awarded the unit the Croix de Guerre with Palm for its support of the invasion of southern France. The World War II group completed 624 missions and participated in 11 campaigns. It was inactivated on 26 November 1945. The lineage was revived on 19 May 1947 as the 17th Bombardment Group, Light, but that incarnation ended on 10 September 1948. The group was activated again on 10 May 1952 during the Korean War. Operating from Pusan East Air Base, it flew Douglas A-26 Invaders, later designated B-26s, against supply routes and other targets. Night intruder operations were followed by daylight formation raids in August 1952. The group continued operations until the end of the war and received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. In the post-Korean period, the group received orders to move to Miho Air Base, Japan, in October 1954. Plans to equip it with Martin B-57 Canberras were altered, and the group instead transferred with its aircraft to Hurlburt Auxiliary Field, Florida, in April 1955. It was redesignated the 17th Bombardment Group, Tactical, on 1 October 1955 and associated with the B-57 and Douglas B-66 Destroyer. It was finally inactivated on 25 June 1958 as part of budgetary reductions and broader Air Force reorganization.

• 1958

  Final inactivation

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 25 June during postwar budget reductions and Air Force organizational restructuring.

• 1955

  Redesignated as a tactical bombardment group

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit received the tactical designation on 1 October while operating from Hurlburt, Florida.

• 1952

  Reactivated for the Korean War

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group returned to active service on 10 May and flew B-26 interdiction missions from South Korea.

• 1945

  World War II group inactivated

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After 624 missions and 11 campaigns, the group was inactivated on 26 November.

• 1942

  Participated in the Doolittle Raid

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Sixteen B-25s launched from USS Hornet on 18 April for the first American air attack on the Japanese mainland.

• 1941

  First operational group equipped with B-25 Mitchells

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group became the first Army Air Corps group equipped with the North American B-25 Mitchell, giving it unusually experienced crews for the aircraft.

• 1939

  Converted to a medium bombardment group

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group became the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) and adopted the Douglas B-18 Bolo.

• 1935

  Redesignated the 17th Attack Group

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit shifted from a pursuit role to attack operations and received Northrop A-17 aircraft.

• 1931

  Activated as the 17th Pursuit Group

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated at March Field, California, on 15 July and operated early Boeing pursuit aircraft.

• 1927

  Lineage authorized as the 17th Observation Group

  [1]17th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was authorized on 18 October 1927, establishing the lineage that later became the 17th Bombardment Group.

A historic United States military aviation unit distinguished by early adoption of bomber aircraft, participation in the Doolittle Raid, extensive Mediterranean combat service, and later Korean War interdiction operations.

• Pursuit aircraft · 1931

  Boeing P-12 and P-26

  These aircraft represented the group’s early pursuit role after its activation at March Field. The P-12 was a biplane fighter, while the P-26 was a more modern monoplane design. Both were used before the organization shifted toward attack and bombardment missions.

• Attack aircraft · 1935

  Northrop A-17

  The Northrop A-17 supported the group’s transition from pursuit aviation to ground-attack operations after its 1935 redesignation as the 17th Attack Group. It was the principal attack aircraft associated with this interwar phase.

• Medium bomber · 1939

  Douglas B-18 Bolo

  The B-18 Bolo equipped the group after its 1939 conversion to medium bombardment. It served during the group’s prewar preparation and was replaced when the unit became the first group to receive B-25 Mitchells.

• Medium bomber · 1941

  North American B-25 Mitchell

  The B-25 Mitchell was the group’s most historically prominent aircraft. The group was the first Army Air Corps organization to receive it and supplied aircraft and experienced volunteers for the Doolittle Raid. It also performed coastal patrol duties before the raid.

• Medium bomber · 1942

  Martin B-26 Marauder

  After the Doolittle Raid, the group trained on the B-26 Marauder and deployed it in the Mediterranean theater. The aircraft carried out medium-bomber missions against Axis positions and infrastructure in North Africa and Europe.

• Light bomber · 1947

  Douglas A-26/B-26 Invader

  The Invader equipped the group during its postwar activation and Korean War service. Under the later B-26 designation, it was used for night intruder attacks and daylight formation raids against supply routes and other targets.

• Jet bomber · 1954

  Martin B-57 Canberra

  The B-57 Canberra was associated with the group’s planned post-Korean transition to jet-powered tactical bombing. The re-equipment plan changed during the B-57 program, but the aircraft remained part of the group’s late-period operational lineage.

• Jet medium bomber · 1954

  Douglas B-66 Destroyer

  The B-66 Destroyer was among the aircraft associated with the group after its move to Hurlburt and tactical redesignation. It represented the unit’s transition from piston-engine bombers toward Cold War jet operations.

• 1952Korean War interdiction

  Korean Peninsula

  The reactivated group used Invader aircraft for night intruder missions and later daylight formation attacks against enemy supply routes.

  Outcome. The group remained active through the end of the war and received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

  Source
• 1943North African and Pantelleria operations

  Algeria · Tunisia · Pantelleria

  Operating with the Mediterranean air forces, the group attacked Axis positions in North Africa and supported the campaign against the fortified island of Pantelleria.

  Outcome. Pantelleria surrendered after a concentrated Allied bombing campaign, reducing the need for an amphibious assault.

  Source
• 1943Mediterranean and European bombing campaign

  Italy · Southern France · Germany · Sardinia · Corsica

  The group followed Allied advances through the Mediterranean and continental Europe, striking transport, industrial, and military targets.

  Outcome. The group completed hundreds of missions and received United States and French unit awards.

  Source
• 1942Doolittle Raid

  Japan · United States

  The group supplied the B-25 aircraft and many of the crews used in the carrier-launched raid against Japan.

  Outcome. The raid damaged selected Japanese targets and produced a major morale effect in the United States.

  Source
• 1942North American coastal anti-submarine patrols

  United States West Coast

  Before deployment overseas, the group used B-25 Mitchells for patrols off the Pacific coast.

  Outcome. The patrols formed part of the group’s initial wartime defense mission after Pearl Harbor.

  Source
• 1918World War I Western Front campaigns

  France

  The group’s heraldic and organizational heritage includes the 95th Aero Squadron and its service in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns.

  Outcome. The lineage was preserved in the group’s later insignia and historical identity.

  Source

• 1958

  Final inactivationStrategy

  Background

  Postwar budget pressures and the Air Force’s tri-deputate reorganization reduced the need for the group as a separate organization.

  Action taken

  The group was removed from the wing’s organizational structure and inactivated on 25 June.

  Aftermath

  The 17th Bombardment Group ceased active operations and remained a historical military lineage rather than an active unit.

  Source

• 1955

  Transition toward Cold War jet bombersGeneration change

  Background

  After the Korean War, the Air Force sought to move the group from piston-engine light bombers to newer jet aircraft.

  Action taken

  The group moved to Hurlburt, was redesignated tactical, and was associated with the B-57 Canberra and B-66 Destroyer.

  Aftermath

  The group was ultimately inactivated in 1958 as budget reductions and structural reforms changed the Air Force’s organization.

  Source

• 1941

  Adoption of the B-25 MitchellProduct launch

  Background

  The group was selected as the first Army Air Corps group to receive the new North American medium bomber.

  Action taken

  All four of its squadrons were equipped with B-25s by September 1941.

  Aftermath

  The group developed the experienced crews later chosen for the Doolittle Raid.

  Source

• 1939

  Shift to medium bombardmentStrategy

  Background

  The organization’s mission evolved from pursuit and attack aviation toward medium bombing as international tensions increased.

  Action taken

  It was redesignated the 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) and equipped with Douglas B-18 bombers.

  Aftermath

  The change established the operational identity that later supported B-25 and B-26 combat missions.

  Source

1. 117th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Air Force Combat Units of World War IImedia.defense.gov