38th Bombardment Group
The 38th Bombardment Group was a United States military aviation unit that served in the Pacific during World War II and later operated as a NATO tactical-bombardment group in France.
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Overview
The 38th Bombardment Group was an aviation organization of the United States Army Air Forces and, later, the United States Air Force. Constituted as the 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 20 November 1940, it was activated on 15 January 1941 at Langley Army Air Base, Virginia. Its initial flying elements were the 69th, 70th, and 71st Bombardment Squadrons, with the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron attached and later redesignated as the 405th Bombardment Squadron. The group entered the Second World War during the rapid expansion of American air power. Its personnel and aircraft moved through a complicated sequence of training and deployment arrangements after the United States entered the war. The ground echelon reached Australia in early 1942, while the air echelon continued training and aircraft movements through the United States and Hawaii. Elements of the group participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942 using specially adapted Martin B-26 Marauders. Although the low-level torpedo attack did not damage Japanese carriers and suffered heavy losses, it marked one of the earliest combat deployments of an American medium-bomber organization in the Pacific. The group subsequently operated in the Southwest Pacific Area under Fifth Air Force and V Bomber Command. Its B-25 Mitchell squadrons conducted reconnaissance, bombing, and strafing missions against Japanese airfields, shipping, troop concentrations, and other targets in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, New Britain, and the Philippines. The unit became closely associated with low-level B-25 operations. Many of its aircraft were modified with additional forward-firing machine guns, armor, and other equipment for attacks against shipping and ground positions. The group took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and in major operations across the New Guinea and Philippine campaigns. The 38th received four Distinguished Unit Citations for actions in Papua, New Britain, New Guinea, and Leyte. It also received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Among its notable personnel was Major Ralph Cheli, who received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack against the heavily defended Dagua airfield in New Guinea in August 1943. The wartime group also experienced substantial operational hazards, including combat losses, aircraft accidents, difficult movements between primitive airfields, and exposure to Japanese air attacks. After World War II, the organization underwent several redesignations and aircraft changes. It became a light-bombardment group in 1946 and later operated B-25 Mitchells and Douglas B-26 Invaders in the Far East. It was inactivated on 1 April 1949, then reactivated in France on 1 January 1953 as part of the postwar American air presence in Europe. In 1955 it became the 38th Bombardment Group, Tactical, and converted to Martin B-57B Canberra tactical bombers. Based at Laon-Couvron Air Base, it also sponsored the Black Knights aerial demonstration team, which performed at Western European air shows, including the 1957 Paris Air Show. The group was inactivated on 8 December 1957. A later redesignation as the 38th Tactical Missile Group was made in 1985, but the organization remained inactive. It is therefore best understood as a historic military unit rather than a commercial brand.
History
The 38th Bombardment Group was created during the American prewar expansion of military aviation. It was constituted on 20 November 1940 and activated on 15 January 1941 at Langley Army Air Base. The group initially trained with Douglas B-18 Bolos before receiving Martin B-26 Marauders. Its squadrons and personnel were divided between ground and air echelons during the wartime movement to the Pacific, producing a complex deployment in which ground personnel reached Australia while aircrews and aircraft continued training and ferry operations in the United States and Hawaii. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the group’s planned transfer to the Western Hemisphere was abandoned. The ground echelon sailed from San Francisco to Brisbane aboard the USAT Tasker H. Bliss, while the air echelon later ferried aircraft across the Pacific. Two Marauders associated with the 69th Bombardment Squadron took part in the 4 June 1942 Battle of Midway torpedo attack. The mission demonstrated the vulnerability of medium bombers operating at low altitude against carrier defenses, and both aircraft were lost or badly damaged without striking the Japanese carriers. The group’s principal wartime combat identity developed in the Southwest Pacific. The 71st and 405th Bombardment Squadrons flew B-25 Mitchells from Australian, New Guinean, and forward island bases. Missions included attacks on Japanese airfields, shipping, and ground forces. The group’s aircraft often operated from austere strips and its personnel lived in dispersed camps exposed to weather, disease, logistical shortages, and enemy raids. It participated in the Papua campaign, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, operations in New Guinea and New Britain, and the Leyte campaign. During 1943, the group increasingly adopted low-level attack methods. B-25s were modified with additional forward-firing guns and other changes that improved their ability to strafe ships and ground targets. Major Ralph Cheli was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership during the attack on Dagua airfield on 18 August 1943. The group’s combat record earned four Distinguished Unit Citations for operations in Papua, New Britain, New Guinea, and Leyte, as well as the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The group remained in the Pacific after the war and was redesignated as a light-bombardment group in 1946. It continued to operate aircraft including the B-25 Mitchell and Douglas B-26 Invader before being inactivated on 1 April 1949. The unit was reactivated in France on 1 January 1953 under the 38th Bombardment Wing. It initially operated Invaders and then converted to Martin B-57B Canberras after becoming a tactical bombardment group in October 1955. In France, the 38th combined operational NATO duties with public aerial demonstrations. Its Black Knights team became notable as an all-bomber demonstration formation and performed at several European air shows, including the 1957 Paris Air Show. The group was finally inactivated at Laon-Couvron Air Base on 8 December 1957. Although redesignated the 38th Tactical Missile Group in 1985, it was not reactivated.
- 1985
Missile-group redesignation
[1]The inactive organization was redesignated the 38th Tactical Missile Group.
- 1957
Final inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated in France on 8 December.
- 1955
Tactical redesignation and Canberra conversion
[1]It became the 38th Bombardment Group, Tactical, and transitioned to B-57 Canberra bombers.
- 1953
Reactivation in France
[1]The group was reactivated at Laon-Couvron Air Base as part of the 38th Bombardment Wing.
- 1949
First postwar inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated in the Far East on 1 April.
- 1946
Redesignation as a light-bombardment group
[1]The organization was redesignated the 38th Bombardment Group, Light.
- 1945
End of World War II
[1]The group completed its wartime service with four Distinguished Unit Citations and Philippine unit recognition.
- 1943
B-25 low-level attack conversion
[1]The group adopted modified strafer-configured B-25s and expanded its low-level attack role.
- 1942
Pacific deployment
[1]Ground and air elements moved through Australia, Hawaii, and forward Pacific bases for combat service.
- 1941
Activation and initial training
[1]The group was activated at Langley Army Air Base and began training with B-18 and B-26 aircraft.
Products and positioning
A historic United States military aviation unit specializing in medium and tactical bombardment, reconnaissance, low-level attack, and overseas expeditionary operations.
Medium bomber · 1941
Martin B-26 Marauder
The Marauder was the group’s principal early-war medium bomber. Elements used it for ferrying, reconnaissance, bombing, and the torpedo attack at Midway before the group transitioned to a larger B-25 Mitchell role.
Medium bomber · 1942
North American B-25 Mitchell
The B-25 became the group’s defining World War II aircraft. Modified examples carried additional forward-firing guns and supported low-level strafing, skip bombing, attacks on shipping, and strikes against Japanese airfields and ground forces.
Light and tactical bomber · 1945
Douglas B-26 Invader
The Invader supported the group’s postwar Far East service and its early Cold War operations in France before the organization converted to the Martin B-57.
Tactical bomber · 1955
Martin B-57B Canberra
The B-57B was the group’s final operational aircraft. It provided a jet-powered tactical-bombardment capability for the United States Air Force in the NATO defense structure in Europe.
Marketing campaigns
- 1957Black Knights aerial demonstrations
Western Europe
The group’s Black Knights team performed coordinated demonstrations with tactical bombers at European air shows.
Outcome. The team appeared at the 1957 Paris Air Show and was described as the only tactical-bomber demonstration team of its kind.
- 1944New Guinea and New Britain operations
New Guinea · New Britain
The group conducted repeated attacks against Japanese bases and forces across the Southwest Pacific, including Cape Gloucester and the Jefman-Samate-Sorong area.
Outcome. The group received Distinguished Unit Citations for actions in New Britain and New Guinea.
- 1944Leyte campaign
Philippines
The group supported operations in the Philippines, including attacks around Ormoc Bay on 10 November.
Outcome. The Leyte action earned the group another Distinguished Unit Citation and contributed to its Philippine Presidential Unit Citation recognition.
- 1943Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Southwest Pacific
The group used low-level and skip-bombing techniques against Japanese shipping in one of the major air-sea engagements of the New Guinea campaign.
Outcome. The operation became an important example of coordinated low-level medium-bomber attacks.
- 1942Battle of Midway
Central Pacific
Two Marauders associated with the 69th Bombardment Squadron took part in an attempted torpedo attack on Japanese carriers. The aircraft faced fighter and antiaircraft defenses and failed to achieve a hit.
Outcome. The attack caused no recorded carrier damage, and the participating aircraft were lost or heavily damaged.
- 1942Papua campaign
New Guinea
B-25 elements attacked Japanese positions, airfields, and shipping during operations around Buna and Gona.
Outcome. The group later received a Distinguished Unit Citation for this period.
Brand decisions
1955
Transition to Martin B-57 CanberraGeneration changeBackground
The Cold War group required a modern jet tactical-bombardment platform for its NATO role in Europe.
Action taken
Following its redesignation as a tactical bombardment group, the organization converted from the Douglas B-26 Invader to the Martin B-57B Canberra.
Aftermath
The Canberra became the group’s final operational aircraft before its inactivation in 1957.
1943
Conversion to strafer-configured B-25sGeneration changeBackground
The group’s combat environment in the Southwest Pacific favored low-level attacks against shipping, airfields, and ground positions.
Action taken
Its B-25s were modified with additional forward-firing machine guns, altered turrets, and extra fuel capacity for low-level operations.
Aftermath
The 405th Bombardment Squadron made low-level strafing its standard method in March 1943, followed by the 71st Bombardment Squadron in May.
Recent events
- 1957
Black Knights perform at Paris Air Show[1]
Campaign
The group’s Black Knights aerial demonstration team appeared at the Paris Air Show during the final year of the group’s active existence.
- 1957
38th Bombardment Group inactivated[1]
Other
The tactical bombardment group was inactivated at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, on 8 December.
- 1953
Group reactivated in France[1]
Other
The organization returned to active service at Laon-Couvron Air Base as part of the United States military presence in NATO Europe.
- 1949
Group inactivated in the Far East[1]
Other
The postwar 38th Bombardment Group was inactivated after operating in the Far East.
- 1945
Group receives Philippine Presidential Unit Citation[1]
Other
The Philippine government recognized the group for its wartime service in the liberation campaign.
- 1943
38th participates in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea[1]
Other
The group employed low-level and skip-bombing techniques against Japanese shipping during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
- 1943
Ralph Cheli receives the Medal of Honor[1]
Other
Major Ralph Cheli was recognized for leading a heavily opposed attack against Dagua airfield in New Guinea.
- 1942
Elements participate in the Battle of Midway[1]
Other
Two group Marauders joined a torpedo attack against Japanese carriers at Midway; the attack failed to score hits and incurred severe aircraft losses.
- 1942
Group begins B-25 combat operations in New Guinea[1]
Other
The 71st and 405th Bombardment Squadrons began combat operations against Japanese positions and airfields in the Southwest Pacific.
- 1941
38th Bombardment Group activated[1]
Other
The group was activated at Langley Army Air Base, Virginia, with three bombardment squadrons and an attached reconnaissance squadron.
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