377th Bombardment Group

The 377th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces unit created during the rapid wartime expansion of American antisubmarine aviation in 1942. Constituted on 13 October 1942 and activated five days later at Fort Dix Army Air Field in New Jersey, it succeeded the 59th Observation Group and initially inherited that organization’s personnel, mission, and observation aircraft. Although designated a heavy bombardment group, its immediate operational purpose was connected to the defense of the Atlantic coast and the developing Army Air Forces antisubmarine system rather than to strategic bombing operations overseas. The group was headquartered at Fort Dix, but its subordinate squadrons were dispersed across the northeastern United States. The 516th Bombardment Squadron operated from Fort Dix, the 517th from Atlantic City Airport, New Jersey, the 518th from Grenier Field, New Hampshire, and the 519th from Hyannis Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Massachusetts. This geographic distribution reflected the need to cover approaches to the Atlantic and to coordinate aviation resources from multiple coastal bases. The unit’s inventory consisted of observation aircraft inherited from the 59th Observation Group, including the Douglas O-46, North American O-47, Stinson O-49 Vigilant, and Curtiss O-52 Owl. The squadrons were expected to transition to North American B-25 Mitchell bombers, but that conversion occurred after the group headquarters had ceased to exist. The group’s independent existence was brief because the Army Air Forces simultaneously reorganized its antisubmarine forces. The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was established as the central command for the mission, and the 25th Antisubmarine Wing was created in November 1942 to control forces operating over the Atlantic. During that reorganization, the 377th’s squadrons were redesignated as antisubmarine squadrons and assigned directly to the 25th Antisubmarine Wing. The group headquarters was consequently inactivated on 9 December 1942, less than two months after activation. The organization did not operate as a commercial brand and had no consumer products, commercial revenue, or public-facing market position. Its historical significance lies in its place within the institutional evolution of American antisubmarine aviation during World War II: it served as an interim headquarters during the transition from observation-group structures to a specialized command-and-wing system. In 1985, the lineage was redesignated as the 357th Tactical Missile Wing, although the successor designation was never activated under that name. The 377th Bombardment Group therefore remains a defunct military organization whose documented active period was limited to October through December 1942.

The 377th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was constituted on 13 October 1942 and activated on 18 October at Fort Dix Army Air Field, New Jersey. It replaced the 59th Observation Group and inherited that group’s mission, personnel, and equipment. Despite its bombardment designation, the organization was formed during a period when the Army Air Forces were reorganizing aviation resources for antisubmarine defense of the Atlantic coast. The group headquarters was located at Fort Dix, while its squadrons were distributed among several northeastern installations. The 516th Bombardment Squadron remained at Fort Dix; the 517th was based at Atlantic City Airport, New Jersey; the 518th at Grenier Field, New Hampshire; and the 519th at Hyannis Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Massachusetts. The group used Douglas O-46, North American O-47, Stinson O-49 Vigilant, and Curtiss O-52 Owl aircraft inherited from the observation organization. Its squadrons were later expected to convert to North American B-25 Mitchell bombers, but the group headquarters was inactivated before that transition became its operational role. The group’s formation coincided with a major command restructuring. The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was organized to consolidate antisubmarine operations, and the 25th Antisubmarine Wing was established in November 1942 to direct forces operating over the Atlantic. In late November, the group’s four squadrons were redesignated as the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Antisubmarine Squadrons, respectively. The squadrons were assigned directly to the 25th Antisubmarine Wing, eliminating the need for the 377th’s separate group headquarters. The 518th Squadron had also been attached to the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command during this transition. The 377th Bombardment Group was inactivated on 9 December 1942 after less than two months of active service. It did not establish a combat record as an independent group and is not associated with a separate overseas campaign in the available historical record. Its importance was administrative and organizational: it represented an interim group-level arrangement during the conversion of observation and bombardment resources into a centralized antisubmarine command structure. On 19 July 1985, the unit was redesignated as the 357th Tactical Missile Wing. The redesignated organization was never activated under that name. The 377th’s documented active history therefore ends with its inactivation in December 1942, while its later redesignation reflects an attempt to preserve or realign the unit’s historical lineage rather than a return to operational service.

• 1985

  Redesignated as the 357th Tactical Missile Wing

  [1]377th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was redesignated on 19 July 1985, although the successor designation was never activated.

• 1942

  Constituted as the 377th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

  [1]377th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was constituted on 13 October 1942 as a heavy bombardment group within the United States Army Air Forces.

• 1942

  Activated at Fort Dix

  [1]377th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated on 18 October at Fort Dix Army Air Field, replacing the 59th Observation Group and taking over its mission, personnel, and equipment.

• 1942

  Squadrons reorganized for antisubmarine operations

  [1]377th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  In late November, the group’s bombardment squadrons were redesignated as antisubmarine squadrons and transferred to direct control of the 25th Antisubmarine Wing.

• 1942

  Group headquarters inactivated

  [1]377th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 377th Bombardment Group was inactivated on 9 December after its squadrons were reassigned within the antisubmarine command structure.

A wartime Army Air Forces headquarters organization supporting the transition to centralized antisubmarine operations along the United States Atlantic coast.

• observation aircraft

  Douglas O-46

  The Douglas O-46 was one of the observation aircraft inherited by the group from the 59th Observation Group. It formed part of the unit’s initial equipment during its short period of service before the Army Air Forces shifted its antisubmarine structure toward specialized squadrons and centralized wing control.

• observation aircraft

  North American O-47

  The North American O-47 was among the observation aircraft used by the 377th Bombardment Group at activation. The aircraft represented the group’s inherited observation capability rather than a dedicated product line or long-term operational platform.

• observation aircraft

  Stinson O-49 Vigilant

  The Stinson O-49 Vigilant was part of the group’s initial aircraft inventory. It was an observation platform inherited from the preceding organization and used during the group’s brief activation period in the northeastern United States.

• observation aircraft

  Curtiss O-52 Owl

  The Curtiss O-52 Owl was another observation aircraft associated with the group at activation. Its presence reflected the 377th’s inheritance of the 59th Observation Group’s equipment before the Army Air Forces completed its antisubmarine reorganization.

• medium bomber

  North American B-25 Mitchell

  The group’s squadrons were scheduled to convert to B-25 Mitchell bombers, but that transition occurred after the 377th Bombardment Group headquarters had been inactivated. The aircraft is therefore associated with the subsequent squadron development rather than with an established operational period for the group itself.

• 1985

  Lineage redesignation as a tactical missile wingStrategy

  Background

  The United States Air Force redesignated the historical lineage during a later period of strategic and tactical missile organization.

  Action taken

  On 19 July 1985, the group was redesignated as the 357th Tactical Missile Wing.

  Aftermath

  The successor designation was never activated, leaving the redesignation as a lineage action rather than a new operational chapter.

  Source

• 1942

  Transfer of squadrons to direct antisubmarine wing controlStrategy

  Background

  The Army Air Forces created a centralized antisubmarine command and the 25th Antisubmarine Wing to coordinate Atlantic operations. This made the temporary group-level headquarters structure unnecessary.

  Action taken

  The 377th’s squadrons were redesignated as antisubmarine squadrons and assigned directly to the 25th Antisubmarine Wing. The group headquarters was then inactivated.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization ended the group’s independent existence on 9 December 1942 while retaining its squadrons within the antisubmarine system.

  Source

1. 1377th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org