454th Bombardment Group

The 454th Bombardment Group was a United States military aviation unit constituted in May 1943 and activated the following month at Davis–Monthan Field near Tucson, Arizona. Originally organized as a heavy-bombardment formation, it trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberators before moving through a series of American bases and deploying overseas in late 1943. The group joined the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy and operated primarily from San Giovanni Airfield near Cerignola. During World War II, the group flew long-range bombing missions against targets associated with Axis military production and transportation. Its targets included oil refineries, aircraft and munitions factories, industrial areas, harbors, airfields, marshalling yards, bridges, rail lines, and other installations. The group participated in operations supporting the Allied drive toward Rome, the invasion of Southern France, and the defeat of Axis forces in northern Italy. From Italy it conducted 243 missions against more than 150 primary targets across a wide area of Europe, including Italy, Yugoslavia, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Greece, and Poland. The reference material credits the formation with 7,091 sorties and the delivery of 13,389.19 tons of bombs. The 454th received two Distinguished Unit Citations. The first recognized its action against the Messerschmitt aircraft factory at Bad Vöslau, Austria, on 12 April 1944. The second followed its mission against the Hermann Göring Steel Works at Linz, Austria, on 25 July 1944. These awards made the group one of the more highly decorated B-24 formations associated with the Fifteenth Air Force. After Germany’s capitulation, the group returned to the United States in July 1945. It was redesignated a very-heavy bombardment group and equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses for a planned transfer to the Pacific Theater. Japan’s surrender removed the operational requirement, and the group was inactivated on 17 October 1945. The organization was later reactivated in the Air Force Reserve. It operated from McChord Field, Washington, beginning in April 1947, using B-29 aircraft drawn from storage. In 1949 it moved to Spokane Air Force Base and served as a corollary unit to the 98th Bombardment Group, with a reduced organization. The Korean War led to another activation on 1 May 1951. Rather than deploying as an intact group, its personnel and equipment were used to reinforce the 98th Bombardment Wing, which moved to Yokota Air Base, Japan. The 454th was inactivated as a paper unit on 16 June 1951. A short-lived reserve transport incarnation followed in 1952. The group was redesignated the 454th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, activated at Portland International Airport, Oregon, and equipped with Curtiss C-46 Commandos. Its mission ended when the 403d Troop Carrier Wing returned from active duty and assumed the Portland reserve mission, personnel, and equipment in January 1953. The group was inactivated on 1 January 1953. In 1985, the Air Force restored its bombardment designation, but the unit remained inactive. It is therefore best understood as a historical military organization rather than a commercial brand or operating business.

The 454th Bombardment Group was constituted as the 454th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 May 1943 and activated on 1 June at Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona. It began training on the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. Its ground cadre went to the Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, in July, while aircraft and air personnel moved to Pinecastle Army Airfield for field training. The ground echelon subsequently transferred to McCook Army Airfield, Nebraska, where the group became the first operational unit to use the newly constructed field. The organization moved again to Charleston Army Air Base, South Carolina, in September. In December 1943, aircrews and selected ground personnel moved through Mitchel Field, New York, and Morrison Field, Florida, before flying the southern route to North Africa. After additional training in Tunisia, they joined the ground echelon in Italy. The group was assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force and operated from San Giovanni Airfield near Cerignola. Although it conducted some interdiction and support missions, its principal work involved long-range attacks on petroleum facilities, aircraft and munitions production, industrial centers, ports, airfields, rail facilities, and other strategic or operational targets. The group’s wartime operations extended across much of Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe. It supported the Allied advance toward Rome, the invasion of Southern France, and the campaign that defeated Axis forces in northern Italy. The 454th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its attack on the Messerschmitt aircraft factory at Bad Vöslau, Austria, on 12 April 1944. A second citation recognized its performance during the 25 July 1944 attack on the Hermann Göring Steel Works at Linz, Austria. The group is credited with 243 missions, more than 150 primary targets, 7,091 sorties, and 13,389.19 tons of bombs dropped. Following Germany’s surrender in May 1945, the group returned to the United States on 8 July. At Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, it was redesignated the 454th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, and received B-29 Superfortresses. The group was intended for deployment against Japan, but Japan’s capitulation in August made that deployment unnecessary. The unit was inactivated on 17 October 1945 after personnel reductions and demobilization. The group entered the Air Force Reserve in 1947 and was activated at McChord Field, Washington, on 27 April. It used B-29 aircraft taken from storage and retained a reserve bombardment mission. In July 1949, it moved to Spokane Air Force Base and operated as a corollary unit to the 98th Bombardment Group, with only one squadron retained in the reduced arrangement. Its designation was changed to the 454th Bombardment Group, Medium, in June 1949. The Korean War produced a further activation on 1 May 1951. The 454th did not operate as an independent deployed combat group; its personnel and equipment were reassigned to fill out the active-duty 98th Bombardment Wing before that wing moved to Yokota Air Base, Japan, under Far East Air Forces. The 454th was inactivated on 16 June 1951. Continental Air Command later established a reserve organization at Portland International Airport, Oregon. The unit was redesignated the 454th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and activated on 13 June 1952 as the operational group of the 454th Troop Carrier Wing. It flew Curtiss C-46 Commandos. This incarnation lasted only until 1 January 1953, when the 403d Troop Carrier Wing resumed control of the Portland reserve mission and absorbed the group’s personnel and equipment. In 1985, the Air Force restored the 454th Bombardment Group, Heavy, designation, although the group remained inactive.

• 1985

  Restoration of bombardment designation

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Air Force restored the 454th Bombardment Group, Heavy, designation, but the unit remained inactive.

• 1953

  Final inactivation

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The troop-carrier group was inactivated on 1 January after its mission, personnel, and equipment were transferred to the returning 403d Troop Carrier Wing.

• 1952

  Troop-carrier reconstitution

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was redesignated and activated as the 454th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, at Portland International Airport with C-46 Commandos.

• 1951

  Korean War activation

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated on 1 May, and its personnel and equipment were used to reinforce the deploying 98th Bombardment Wing.

• 1949

  Move to Spokane

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The reserve group moved to Spokane Air Force Base and became a corollary organization to the 98th Bombardment Group.

• 1947

  Air Force Reserve activation

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was allotted to the Air Force Reserve and activated at McChord Field, Washington, with B-29 aircraft.

• 1945

  B-29 conversion and inactivation

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After returning to the United States, the group was redesignated very heavy, equipped with B-29s, and inactivated on 17 October when Japan’s surrender made Pacific deployment unnecessary.

• 1944

  First Distinguished Unit Citation

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its attack on the Messerschmitt aircraft factory at Bad Vöslau, Austria, on 12 April.

• 1944

  Second Distinguished Unit Citation

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  A second Distinguished Unit Citation recognized the group’s mission against the Hermann Göring Steel Works at Linz, Austria, on 25 July.

• 1943

  Constitution and activation

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was constituted as the 454th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 May and activated on 1 June at Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona.

• 1943

  Deployment to Italy

  [1]454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After training in the United States and Tunisia, the group joined the Fifteenth Air Force at San Giovanni Airfield in Italy.

A United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force combat and reserve unit whose historical identity is centered on B-24 operations with the Fifteenth Air Force in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II. It later served in B-29 reserve bombardment and C-46 reserve troop-carrier roles.

• Heavy bomber · 1943

  Consolidated B-24 Liberator

  The B-24 Liberator was the group’s principal aircraft during World War II. The 454th trained on the type in the United States and used it for long-range bombing missions from Italy against industrial, petroleum, transportation, and military targets across Europe.

• Very-heavy bomber · 1945

  Boeing B-29 Superfortress

  The group received B-29 Superfortresses after returning to the United States in 1945 and being redesignated a very-heavy bombardment group. A planned Pacific deployment was cancelled after Japan’s surrender, and the unit was inactivated later that year.

• Troop transport · 1952

  Curtiss C-46 Commando

  The C-46 Commando equipped the group during its brief reserve troop-carrier period at Portland International Airport in 1952 and early 1953. The aircraft supported the group’s transport and reserve training mission before that mission was transferred to the 403d Troop Carrier Wing.

• 1944Allied drive toward Rome

  Italy

  The group conducted bombing and interdiction operations in support of Allied operations advancing toward Rome.

  Outcome. The operations contributed to the broader Fifteenth Air Force effort against Axis positions and transportation infrastructure in Italy.

  Source
• 1944Invasion of Southern France

  Southern France · Mediterranean Theater

  The 454th supported the Allied invasion of Southern France through bombing and related operational missions.

  Outcome. The group formed part of the air effort supporting the invasion and subsequent Allied operations in the region.

  Source
• 1944Northern Italy campaign

  Northern Italy

  The group attacked Axis military and transportation infrastructure during the campaign to defeat Axis forces in northern Italy.

  Outcome. Its missions supported the Allied advance and the disruption of Axis logistical and industrial capacity.

  Source
• 1943Mediterranean Theater strategic bombing

  Italy · Yugoslavia · Austria · Bulgaria · Hungary · Romania · France · Germany

  From its Italian base, the group conducted long-range strikes against oil facilities, factories, industrial areas, harbors, airfields, rail lines, bridges, and marshalling yards across Axis-controlled and occupied Europe.

  Outcome. The group completed 243 missions against more than 150 primary targets and received two Distinguished Unit Citations for particularly notable operations.

  Source

• 1985

  Restoration of bombardment identityOther

  Background

  The Air Force revised historical unit designations as part of its lineage and honors administration.

  Action taken

  The group was redesignated the 454th Bombardment Group, Heavy.

  Aftermath

  The restored group designation remained inactive.

  Source

• 1952

  Conversion to a reserve troop-carrier groupStrategy

  Background

  Continental Air Command reorganized reserve activities at Portland International Airport under a troop-carrier wing structure.

  Action taken

  The group was redesignated the 454th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, assigned to the 454th Troop Carrier Wing, and equipped with C-46 Commandos.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement ended on 1 January 1953 when the returning 403d Troop Carrier Wing took over the mission, personnel, and equipment.

  Source

• 1951

  Personnel transfer during Korean War mobilizationStrategy

  Background

  The Korean War created a requirement for additional personnel and equipment in active-duty bomber organizations.

  Action taken

  The 454th was activated, but its personnel and equipment were reassigned to fill out the 98th Bombardment Wing before that wing deployed to Japan.

  Aftermath

  The 454th was inactivated as a paper unit on 16 June 1951 rather than deploying as an independent group.

  Source

• 1945

  Conversion to very-heavy bombardmentStrategy

  Background

  After returning from Europe, the group was selected for a possible Pacific deployment against Japan.

  Action taken

  The unit was redesignated the 454th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, and equipped with B-29 Superfortresses.

  Aftermath

  Japan’s surrender made the planned deployment unnecessary, and the group was inactivated on 17 October 1945.

  Source

1. 1454th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org