417th Bombardment Group
The 417th Bombardment Group was an inactive United States Army Air Forces light-bomber unit that served in the Southwest Pacific and Philippines during World War II.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 417th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces light-bomber formation constituted on 23 March 1943 and activated five days later at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma. It was organized with four squadrons—the 672d, 673d, 674th, and 675th Bombardment Squadrons—and drew its initial personnel cadre from the 46th and 416th Bombardment Groups. The unit was created to provide tactical and close-support bombing capability using the Douglas A-20 Havoc, a fast, heavily armed aircraft suited to low-level attacks against airfields, shipping, bridges, supply installations, and troop concentrations. The group undertook its initial combat preparation in the United States. Key personnel traveled to Orlando Army Air Base for instruction at the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics, while the first A-20s arrived at Will Rogers Field in May 1943. Training was conducted with assistance from the 46th Bombardment Group, followed by advanced instruction at DeRidder Army Air Base in Louisiana. During August and September, the 417th supported exercises with the II Tactical Air Division, practicing low-level operations and close support for ground forces. It departed the San Francisco Port of Embarkation on 1 January 1944 and reached New Guinea later that month. Assigned to Fifth Air Force through V Bomber Command, the group entered combat in March 1944. From bases in New Guinea, it struck Japanese airfields, aircraft facilities, bridges, shipping, personnel concentrations, and other installations. Its A-20s commonly operated at low altitude, where speed, maneuverability, bomb capacity, and forward-firing guns were particularly valuable. Some aircraft were fitted with additional machine guns in modified noses, while experimental underwing rocket launchers were used only to a limited extent because of their weight and mechanical complexity. The group participated in major attacks around Hollandia on 16 April 1944, contributing to operations in which large numbers of Japanese aircraft were destroyed on the ground or in the surrounding area. From September through December 1944, the 417th operated from Noemfoor against targets on western New Guinea, Ceram, and Halmahera, including airfields and oil installations. It then shifted to the Philippines. The ground echelon traveled by ship while aircrews flew forward to McGuire Field after an advance party prepared the base. The convoy carrying the ground personnel came under Japanese air attack during the movement. In late December 1944 and early January 1945, the group attacked Japanese shipping near Lingayen in support of the American invasion of Luzon. These operations earned it a Distinguished Unit Citation; the group was credited with sinking or damaging approximately 36,000 tons of shipping. Its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Howard S. Ellmore, was killed during the 2 January attack. The group continued tactical operations across Luzon, Cebu, Negros, and Mindanao, striking transportation networks, installations, and Japanese airfields. It also conducted attacks against targets on Formosa during 1945. Its final operational missions were flown in July 1945 and involved dropping propaganda leaflets to Japanese forces on Luzon. After the war, the group moved to Okinawa in August and subsequently to Itami Air Base in Japan. It was inactivated on 15 November 1945. For its wartime service, the 417th received the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. It is therefore best understood as a historical military organization rather than a commercial brand.
History
The 417th Bombardment Group was constituted as a light-bomber group on 23 March 1943 and activated at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, on 28 March. Its assigned components were the 672d, 673d, 674th, and 675th Bombardment Squadrons. The group’s initial cadre came from the 46th and 416th Bombardment Groups. In April, selected personnel traveled to Orlando Army Air Base for combat instruction at the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics. The first Douglas A-20 Havocs arrived at Will Rogers Field in May, including some aircraft based on export DB-7 configurations. Initial training was conducted with the 46th Bombardment Group, which served as the operational training unit at Will Rogers Field. The group later moved to DeRidder Army Air Base, Louisiana, for advanced preparation. During August and September 1943, it supported exercises with the II Tactical Air Division, practicing low-level support for maneuvering ground forces. The 417th left the United States from the San Francisco Port of Embarkation on New Year’s Day 1944 and reached New Guinea near the end of January. The group entered combat in March 1944 under Fifth Air Force and V Bomber Command. It attacked Japanese airfields, bridges, supply areas, personnel concentrations, shipping, and fixed installations throughout the New Guinea area. Low-level tactics were central to its operations. Because many missions did not require conventional bombardier functions, some A-20s were modified with additional forward-firing machine guns in place of the standard bombardier position. The aircraft’s speed, maneuverability, bomb load, and concentrated gunfire made it effective against aircraft on the ground, hangars, supply dumps, and vessels. Some aircraft also carried experimental M8/T-30 rocket arrangements beneath the wings, although these systems were not widely favored because they were cumbersome and unreliable in field use. On 16 April 1944, the group participated in Fifth Air Force attacks near Hollandia that caused extensive damage to Japanese aircraft and airfield facilities. From September to December, it operated from Noemfoor against targets on western New Guinea, Ceram, and Halmahera, including oil facilities and airfields. At the end of 1944, the group shifted to the Philippines. Its ground personnel moved by ship, while aircrews flew to the forward area after an advance party prepared McGuire Field. The transport convoy carrying the ground echelon was attacked twice by Japanese aircraft during the journey. The group’s most prominent action occurred during the Lingayen operations from 30 December 1944 through 2 January 1945. Its A-20s attacked Japanese convoys and shipping in support of the invasion of Luzon. The attacks disrupted enemy logistics and were credited with sinking approximately 36,000 tons of shipping, including a freighter, a destroyer escort, and several transports. Lieutenant Colonel Howard S. Ellmore, the group commander, was lost to enemy fire during the 2 January action. The group received the Distinguished Unit Citation for this operation. During the following months, the 417th supported Allied ground forces and attacked Japanese airfields, transportation routes, and installations on Luzon, Cebu, Negros, and Mindanao. It also directed attacks toward Japanese positions on Formosa. Its last combat missions were flown in July 1945, when it dropped propaganda leaflets to Japanese troops on Luzon. After Japan’s surrender, the group moved to Okinawa in August and then to Itami Air Base near Osaka in November. It was inactivated there on 15 November 1945. In addition to the Distinguished Unit Citation, the group received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat service. Its four bombardment squadrons were inactivated with the group.
- 1945
Lingayen operations
[1]Attacks on Japanese shipping from 30 December 1944 to 2 January 1945 supported the Luzon invasion and led to a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1945
Final missions and inactivation
[1]The group flew its final missions in July, moved through Okinawa and Itami, and was inactivated on 15 November.
- 1944
Arrived in the Southwest Pacific
[1]The group reached New Guinea in January and began combat operations in March.
- 1944
Hollandia airfield operations
[1]The group took part in major Fifth Air Force attacks near Hollandia on 16 April.
- 1944
Moved to Noemfoor
[1]From September through December, the group operated from Noemfoor against targets across the region.
- 1943
Constituted as a light-bomber group
[1]The group was constituted on 23 March and activated at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, on 28 March.
- 1943
Began A-20 Havoc training
[1]The group received Douglas A-20 Havocs and completed initial and advanced training in Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Products and positioning
A World War II tactical light-bomber group optimized for low-level precision attack, close support, and interdiction in the Southwest Pacific and Philippines.
Light bomber aircraft · 1943
Douglas A-20 Havoc
The Douglas A-20 Havoc was the group’s principal aircraft throughout its operational life. The twin-engine light bomber was used for low-level bombing, strafing, anti-shipping attacks, and battlefield interdiction. Group aircraft could be modified with additional forward-firing machine guns and, in some cases, underwing rocket launchers.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Philippines campaign
Luzon · Cebu · Negros · Mindanao · Formosa
The group supported the invasion and subsequent ground campaign by attacking Japanese shipping, airfields, transportation routes, and installations.
Outcome. The group received the Distinguished Unit Citation for its Lingayen actions and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its Philippine service.
- 1944New Guinea campaign
New Guinea
The group supported Allied ground operations and attacked Japanese airfields, bridges, shipping, personnel concentrations, and installations across New Guinea.
Outcome. The unit helped disrupt Japanese air and logistical infrastructure during the Allied advance.
- 1944Hollandia operations
Hollandia · New Guinea
On 16 April, the group joined Fifth Air Force attacks against Japanese aircraft and airfields near Hollandia.
Outcome. The operation caused extensive losses to Japanese aircraft and supported the Allied advance along the New Guinea coast.
- 1944Noemfoor operations
Noemfoor · Ceram · Halmahera · Western New Guinea
From September to December, the group attacked Japanese airfields, oil facilities, and other installations from its base at Noemfoor.
Outcome. The missions supported the isolation of Japanese positions in the Southwest Pacific.
Brand decisions
1945
Shifted from combat bombing to leaflet operationsStrategyBackground
After major combat operations in the Philippines and the Japanese surrender period, the group’s tactical mission changed.
Action taken
Its final missions in July involved dropping propaganda leaflets to Japanese troops on Luzon.
Aftermath
The group subsequently moved to Okinawa and Japan before being inactivated in November 1945.
1944
Adopted heavily armed low-level attack tacticsStrategyBackground
The group’s missions frequently involved low-level attacks where conventional bombardier functions were less important.
Action taken
Some A-20s were modified with additional forward-firing machine guns, while limited experiments were made with underwing rocket launchers.
Aftermath
The modifications reinforced the group’s role in close support, strafing, and anti-shipping operations, although the rocket equipment was not widely used.
Recent events
- 1945
Lingayen shipping attacks earned the group a Distinguished Unit Citation[1]
Other
Operations against Japanese shipping between 30 December 1944 and 2 January 1945 supported the invasion of Luzon and resulted in a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1945
417th Bombardment Group inactivated in Japan[1]
Other
Following its postwar movement from Okinawa to Itami Air Base, the group was inactivated on 15 November 1945.
- 1944
417th Bombardment Group began combat operations in New Guinea[1]
Other · Product generation
After arriving in the Southwest Pacific, the group began low-level attacks against Japanese airfields, shipping, bridges, and military installations.
- 1943
417th Bombardment Group activated at Will Rogers Field[1]
Other
The United States Army Air Forces activated the newly constituted light-bomber group in Oklahoma with four assigned bombardment squadrons.
Sources2 sources
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