382d Bombardment Group

The 382d Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces unit formed during World War II for bomber training and preparation for overseas deployment. It was constituted as the 382d Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 October 1942 and activated at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, on 3 November 1942. Its initial component squadrons were the 536th, 537th, 538th, and 539th Bombardment Squadrons. The group operated Consolidated B-24 Liberators and was assigned to II Bomber Command. During its first period of service, the group performed two related training roles. After moving to Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona, in January 1943, it served as an Operational Training Unit for B-24 organizations. In that role, it acted as an oversized parent formation capable of supplying trained personnel and cadres to newly established satellite groups. In April 1943, the group moved to Pocatello Army Air Field, Idaho, where it became a Replacement Training Unit. This mission focused on preparing individual pilots and aircrews to replace personnel lost or reassigned from operational Liberator units. The group later moved to Muroc Army Air Field, California, in December 1943. The Army Air Forces subsequently concluded that conventional groups organized under fixed tables of organization were not sufficiently flexible for specialized training functions. It therefore began replacing many training groups with functional base organizations whose staffing and equipment could be tailored to particular missions. As part of that reorganization, the 382d Bombardment Group was inactivated on 31 March 1944, and its functions at Muroc were assumed by the 421st Army Air Forces Base Unit, a heavy-bomber replacement-training organization. The group was reactivated at Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, on 25 August 1944, after being redesignated the 382d Bombardment Group, Very Heavy. Its second incarnation was intended for Boeing B-29 Superfortress operations. The group initially had no assigned bombardment squadrons and was commanded by a second lieutenant. On 19 September 1944, the 420th, 464th, and 872d Bombardment Squadrons were assigned as its combat elements, together with the 33d Photographic Laboratory. The group trained with B-29 aircraft while moving through the American wartime training system, including a later station at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas. The 382d was prepared for deployment to the Pacific, but the timing of its movement prevented it from conducting combat missions. Its ground echelon sailed for the Marianas in early August 1945 and reached North Field on Guam in September, after Japan's surrender. The air echelon remained at Smoky Hill and was inactivated there in August 1945. The ground echelon supported other aircraft and units in the Marianas before returning to the United States in December 1945. After passing through the Los Angeles Port of Embarkation and Camp Anza, California, the remaining organization was inactivated on 4 January 1946. The unit therefore served as a training and deployment organization rather than as a combat group with a recorded operational bombing campaign.

The 382d Bombardment Group was created within the rapid expansion of the United States Army Air Forces' bomber-training system during World War II. It was constituted as a heavy bombardment group on 28 October 1942 and activated on 3 November at Salt Lake City Army Air Base. The 536th, 537th, 538th, and 539th Bombardment Squadrons formed its initial structure, and the group was assigned to II Bomber Command. In January 1943, the organization moved to Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona, where it operated as an Operational Training Unit for Consolidated B-24 Liberator formations. The OTU model used a comparatively large parent group to provide trained cadres for newly organized satellite groups. In April, the 382d moved to Pocatello Army Air Field, Idaho, and its principal function changed to Replacement Training Unit work. Rather than creating new groups, it prepared individual airmen and complete aircrews to fill vacancies in operational Liberator organizations. The group subsequently moved to Muroc Army Air Field, California, in December 1943. The wartime training system was repeatedly revised as the Army Air Forces sought greater administrative and operational flexibility. Conventional groups were tied to relatively rigid tables of organization, while training bases needed staffing and equipment suited to local functions. The resulting base-unit system led to the first inactivation of the 382d on 31 March 1944. At Muroc, its responsibilities were taken over by the 421st Army Air Forces Base Unit, designated for heavy-bomber replacement training. The organization returned to active service on 25 August 1944 at Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, following redesignation as the 382d Bombardment Group, Very Heavy. This version was associated with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress program. Until 19 September it had no assigned bombardment squadrons and was led by a second lieutenant. On that date, the 420th, 464th, and 872d Bombardment Squadrons became its principal flying components. A photographic laboratory was also assigned. The group trained at Dalhart and later at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas, as the Army Air Forces prepared B-29 formations for the Pacific. The 382d's deployment coincided with the final phase of the war. Its ground echelon departed for the Pacific in early August 1945 and arrived at North Field, Guam, in September. Because Japan had surrendered before the group completed its intended deployment and combat preparation, it did not carry out combat bombing missions. The ground echelon remained in the Marianas in a support capacity, while the air echelon was inactivated in Kansas during August 1945. The ground personnel returned to the United States in December, moved through the Los Angeles Port of Embarkation, and reached Camp Anza, California. The group was finally inactivated there on 4 January 1946.

• 1946

  Final inactivation

  [1]382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated at Camp Anza, California, on 4 January 1946.

• 1945

  Deployed to the Marianas

  [1]382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The ground echelon moved to Guam, arriving at North Field in September, but did not conduct combat operations.

• 1944

  First inactivation

  [1]382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The original heavy-bomber training group was inactivated on 31 March during the Army Air Forces' functional base-unit reorganization.

• 1944

  Reactivated as a very heavy bombardment group

  [1]382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated and reactivated on 25 August at Dalhart Army Air Field for B-29 training.

• 1943

  Began B-24 operational training

  [1]382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  At Davis–Monthan Field, the group began serving as an Operational Training Unit for B-24 Liberator organizations.

• 1943

  Assumed replacement-training duties

  [1]382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After moving to Pocatello Army Air Field, the group trained replacement Liberator pilots and aircrews.

• 1942

  Constituted as a heavy bombardment group

  [1]382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Army Air Forces constituted the 382d Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 October 1942.

• 1942

  Activated at Salt Lake City

  [1]382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated on 3 November at Salt Lake City Army Air Base with four bombardment squadrons.

A wartime heavy-bomber training and deployment unit of the United States Army Air Forces, rather than a commercial brand or consumer-facing organization.

• Heavy bomber

  Consolidated B-24 Liberator

  The B-24 Liberator was the principal aircraft associated with the group's first active period from 1942 through 1944. The 382d used Liberators in both operational training and replacement training, preparing cadres, pilots, and aircrews for other Army Air Forces bomber organizations.

• Very heavy bomber

  Boeing B-29 Superfortress

  The B-29 Superfortress was the aircraft for which the group was reactivated and redesignated as a very heavy bombardment unit in 1944. The group trained with Superfortresses and prepared for overseas service, but its deployment occurred too late for it to conduct combat missions before the end of the war.

• 1944

  Reorganization into functional base unitsStrategy

  Background

  The Army Air Forces determined that standard groups with fixed organizational tables were poorly suited to specialized training missions.

  Action taken

  The 382d was inactivated and its Muroc functions were transferred to the 421st Army Air Forces Base Unit.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization made the training structure more mission-specific, while the 382d later returned in a different B-29-oriented form.

  Source

• 1944

  Transition from B-24 to B-29 trainingGeneration change

  Background

  The Army Air Forces was expanding the very heavy bomber force for operations in the Pacific.

  Action taken

  The group was redesignated as very heavy and reactivated at Dalhart to train with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses.

  Aftermath

  Although the group deployed personnel toward the Pacific, it reached the theater too late to fly combat missions.

  Source

• 1943

  Conversion from operational training to replacement trainingStrategy

  Background

  The Army Air Forces needed both new bomber formations and replacement personnel for existing units.

  Action taken

  After relocating to Pocatello, the group shifted from an Operational Training Unit role to a Replacement Training Unit role for B-24 aircrews.

  Aftermath

  The group continued serving the Liberator training system until it was inactivated during the broader base-unit reorganization.

  Source

1. 1382d Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Air Force Historical Research Agencyafhra.af.mil