467th Bombardment Group

The 467th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces heavy-bombardment organization established in 1943. It was formed as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator group, trained in the western United States, and deployed to England for operations with the Eighth Air Force during World War II. Its home station in Britain was RAF Rackheath in Norfolk, and its aircraft carried the Eighth Air Force tail identification known as Circle-P. The group operated under the 96th Combat Bombardment Wing and included the 788th, 789th, 790th, and 791st Bombardment Squadrons. The unit began combat operations in April 1944 with an attack on an airfield at Bourges, France. Its principal role was long-range strategic bombardment against German and occupied-European targets. Missions struck industrial, transportation, military, and infrastructure objectives, including the harbor at Kiel, chemical facilities near Bonn, textile production at Stuttgart, power facilities at Hamm, steel works at Osnabrück, and aircraft-industry targets around Brunswick. The group also performed tactical and interdiction work in support of Allied ground operations. On D-Day it attacked coastal installations and bridges near Cherbourg, later struck German troop and supply concentrations during the Allied advance through France, and supported operations during the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of the Rhine. A distinctive logistical assignment occurred in September 1944, when aircraft transported gasoline from Rackheath to Clastres Airfield in France for Allied mechanized forces. The group is also associated with a notably accurate attack on 15 April 1945 against a German battery at Pointe de Grave on France's Atlantic coast. The strike was recorded as a 100-percent hit and was described as an Eighth Air Force bombing-accuracy record. After Germany's surrender, the group returned to the United States in June and July 1945. It was redesignated as a very-heavy bombardment group and reconstituted with personnel for B-29 Superfortress training. The planned move to the Pacific was canceled after Japan's surrender, although training continued at several American airfields. The group eventually moved to Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico, and became one of the original bombardment groups assigned to the newly created Strategic Air Command on 21 March 1946. It was inactivated on 4 August 1946 as the postwar Air Force reduced personnel and retained only selected lower-numbered groups. Its remaining aircraft, equipment, and personnel were transferred primarily to the 301st Bombardment Group. In 2010, the lineage was converted to provisional status as the 467th Air Expeditionary Group. The expeditionary organization was activated at Balad Air Base, Iraq, around November 2010, replacing the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group. It provided administrative and operational control for deployed airmen, including Joint Expeditionary Tasked Airmen and Individual Augmentees. The date of its later inactivation is not established in the supplied sources. The subject is therefore best understood as a military unit lineage rather than a commercial brand.

The 467th Bombardment Group was constituted as a heavy-bombardment group on 19 May 1943 and activated during the summer of that year. It was organized at Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho, moved to Kearns Center, Utah, for personnel processing, and then trained at Wendover Field, Utah. The group was equipped with Consolidated B-24 Liberators and assigned to the Second Air Force before receiving orders for the European Theater. The ground echelon traveled to Camp Shanks, New York, in February 1944 and sailed for Britain aboard the USAT Frederick Lykes. The aircraft crossed by a southern Atlantic ferry route; one aircraft was lost with its entire crew over the Atlas Mountains. By March, the group was established at RAF Rackheath in Norfolk and assigned to the Eighth Air Force's 96th Combat Bombardment Wing. Its aircraft used the Circle-P tail marking. Beginning operations on 10 April 1944, the group attacked targets throughout France and Germany. Its strategic missions included attacks on ports, chemical works, textile factories, electric-power facilities, steel plants, aircraft factories, rail and transport systems, and other military objectives. It also supported Allied ground forces through attacks on coastal defenses, bridges, troop concentrations, communications, and fortifications. During September 1944 it carried gasoline to a forward French airfield, while later missions supported the Battle of the Bulge and the Allied Rhine crossing. The group remained in combat until the end of the European war. Its attack on Pointe de Grave on 15 April 1945 produced a reported complete hit on the target and became associated with an Eighth Air Force bombing-accuracy record. After Germany surrendered, the organization returned to the United States. The air echelon left Rackheath in June, and the ground element sailed from Greenock aboard RMS Queen Mary in July. Much of the wartime personnel was demobilized after arrival, while a cadre was retained for reorganization. In August 1945 the unit was redesignated the 467th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). It rebuilt its personnel structure and trained for B-29 operations at Sioux Falls, Harvard, and Alamogordo. The planned Pacific deployment was canceled following Japan's surrender. The group nevertheless completed additional B-29 training and moved to Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico, in December 1945. It was assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21 March 1946, but was inactivated on 4 August 1946 amid postwar reductions. Its aircraft and remaining personnel were transferred chiefly to the 301st Bombardment Group. On 25 February 2010, the lineage was converted to provisional status and redesignated the 467th Air Expeditionary Group under Air Combat Command. It was activated at Balad Air Base, Iraq, around 12 November 2010, replacing the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group. Its role was to coordinate and control deployed airmen, including personnel assigned through expeditionary and individual-augmentation arrangements. The available reference does not identify a subsequent inactivation date.

• 2010

  Conversion to expeditionary status

  [1]467th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was redesignated the 467th Air Expeditionary Group and activated in Iraq to support deployed airmen.

• 1946

  Assigned to Strategic Air Command

  [1]467th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group became one of the original bombardment organizations assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21 March.

• 1946

  Inactivation

  [1]467th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 4 August as part of postwar force reductions.

• 1945

  European combat ends

  [1]467th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After Germany's capitulation, the group returned to the United States for conversion and training with B-29 aircraft.

• 1944

  Deployment to RAF Rackheath

  [1]467th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group arrived in England and joined the Eighth Air Force for operations over occupied Europe and Germany.

• 1944

  First combat mission

  [1]467th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group began combat operations on 10 April with an attack on an airfield at Bourges, France.

• 1943

  Group constituted and activated

  [1]467th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 467th Bombardment Group was constituted as a heavy-bombardment unit and activated in the United States for B-24 training.

A United States military aviation unit specializing first in long-range heavy bombardment and later in expeditionary command and administrative support.

• Heavy bomber · 1943

  Consolidated B-24 Liberator

  The B-24 Liberator was the group's principal combat aircraft from its formation through the European campaign. The group used the type for long-range strategic bombing, interdiction, attacks on ports and industrial facilities, and support of Allied ground operations.

• Very-heavy bomber · 1945

  Boeing B-29 Superfortress

  After returning from Europe, the group was reorganized as a very-heavy bombardment unit and trained for B-29 operations. The planned Pacific deployment was canceled after Japan's surrender, but the group continued B-29 training and received the aircraft before its 1946 inactivation.

• Training aircraft · 1945

  Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

  The reorganized group used B-17 aircraft, along with pre-production YB-29 aircraft, during portions of its postwar aircrew training program before receiving B-29 Superfortresses.

• 1945Pointe de Grave strike

  France

  The group attacked a German battery at Pointe de Grave on 15 April and achieved a reported complete strike on the target.

  Outcome. The result was cited as an exceptional Eighth Air Force bombing-accuracy performance.

  Source
• 1944European strategic bombardment campaign

  France · Germany · Occupied Europe

  The group conducted long-range attacks against German and occupied-European ports, factories, power facilities, transportation systems, and military infrastructure from its base at RAF Rackheath.

  Outcome. The group completed a sustained combat record through the end of the European war.

  Source
• 1944Normandy support operations

  France

  On D-Day, the group attacked coastal installations and bridges near the Cherbourg naval area in support of the Allied invasion.

  Outcome. The missions formed part of the air campaign supporting the Normandy landings.

  Source
• 1944Fuel shuttle to France

  France

  During September, group aircraft transported gasoline from England to Clastres Airfield for Allied mechanized forces.

  Outcome. The operation extended the group's role beyond bombing into direct logistical support.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge support

  Belgium · Germany

  The group attacked German communications, transportation, and fortifications during the German winter offensive and the Allied response.

  Outcome. The missions supported Allied efforts to contain and reverse the offensive.

  Source

• 2010

  Activation as an air expeditionary groupStrategy

  Background

  Air Combat Command converted the lineage to provisional status for use in deployed operations.

  Action taken

  The 467th Air Expeditionary Group was activated at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and assumed the mission and resources of the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group.

  Aftermath

  The group provided administrative and operational control for deployed airmen; its later inactivation date is not specified.

  Source

• 1946

  Postwar inactivation and reassignmentStrategy

  Background

  The postwar United States military reduced personnel and concentrated active bombardment capability in selected units.

  Action taken

  The group was inactivated on 4 August, with its B-29 aircraft, equipment, and remaining personnel reassigned primarily to the 301st Bombardment Group.

  Aftermath

  The 467th ceased active group operations until its provisional expeditionary lineage was activated in 2010.

  Source

• 1945

  Conversion from B-24 operations to B-29 trainingGeneration change

  Background

  After the European war ended, the group was selected for reorganization as a very-heavy bombardment unit and potential deployment to the Pacific.

  Action taken

  It was redesignated in August 1945, rebuilt with new personnel, and trained on B-29 Superfortresses.

  Aftermath

  Japan's surrender canceled the planned Pacific deployment, but the group continued training until its postwar inactivation.

  Source

1. 1467th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org