468th Bombardment Group

The 468th Bombardment Group was a World War II combat organization of the United States Army Air Forces, formed to operate the Boeing B-29 Superfortress in the very-heavy-bombardment role. Constituted in May 1943 and activated at Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas, it was one of the four original operational groups assigned to the 58th Bombardment Wing, the first B-29 wing intended for overseas combat deployment. The group’s early development took place while the B-29 program was still experiencing serious technical, logistical, and training difficulties. Its crews initially trained with a mixed fleet that included Martin B-26 Marauders, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, and preproduction YB-29 aircraft. Production Superfortresses were scarce, maintenance facilities were inadequate, and many aircraft required modification by Boeing personnel. These problems forced crews and mechanics to work in difficult conditions and delayed the group’s transition to an effective B-29 force. In spring 1944, the group deployed to India as part of the China-Burma-India theater. It operated from Kharagpur, India, under XX Bomber Command, while using an advanced base at Pengshan in China’s Sichuan Province for missions against Japanese-held territory. The logistical system was exceptionally demanding: aircraft and crews had to move bombs, fuel, ammunition, and spare parts over long distances to sustain combat operations from China. Engine overheating and other reliability problems further complicated the campaign. The 468th flew its first operational mission on 5 June 1944 against railroad facilities at Bangkok, Thailand. On 15 June it participated in the opening B-29 attack on Japan’s home islands, striking the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata. Between June 1944 and May 1945, it conducted reconnaissance and bombing missions against targets in Japan, Manchuria, China, Taiwan, Burma, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and Sumatra. Missions commonly lasted sixteen hours, with some extending to approximately twenty-one hours. The group developed a strong operational reputation. By late 1944, XX Bomber Command regarded it as the best-performing of its four combat B-29 groups and authorized it to use the honorary name “The General Billy Mitchell Group,” commemorating the pioneer of American strategic air power. During its wartime service, the group participated in eight campaigns and received three Distinguished Unit Citations. In October 1944, the 795th Bombardment Squadron was inactivated because of shortages of aircraft and equipment, and its personnel were consolidated into the remaining squadrons. In 1945, the group moved from the China-Burma-India theater to Tinian in the Mariana Islands. From West Field, Tinian, it operated under XXI Bomber Command and continued strategic bombing missions against Japan. Its final combat mission took place on 15 August 1945, the date associated with the end of organized Japanese resistance. After Japan’s surrender, the group performed humanitarian and occupation-related duties, including dropping supplies to Allied prisoners of war, flying show-of-force missions, and surveying bombing damage. On 2 September 1945, Major General Curtis LeMay selected the group to lead the Twentieth Air Force show-of-force flight over the USS Missouri during the Japanese surrender ceremony. The unit returned to the United States in December 1945 and was assigned first to Continental Air Forces’ Second Air Force at Fort Worth Army Airfield, Texas. It later moved to Roswell Army Airfield, New Mexico, under Fourth Air Force. On 21 March 1946, it was transferred to the newly established Strategic Air Command, but postwar demobilization was already reducing the force. The group surrendered its aircraft and was inactivated on 31 March 1946. It therefore represents a wartime military organization rather than a continuing commercial brand or active institution.

The 468th Bombardment Group was constituted as the 468th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May 1943 and activated on 1 August 1943 at Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas. It was assigned to the 58th Bombardment Wing, one of the formations selected to pioneer overseas combat use of the B-29 Superfortress. In November 1943, the group was redesignated as a very-heavy bombardment group. Its original organization included the 792d, 793d, 794th, and 795th Bombardment Squadrons. Training began with an assortment of aircraft because operational B-29s were not yet available in sufficient numbers. The group used B-26 Marauders and B-17 Flying Fortresses for training, along with a small number of YB-29 preproduction aircraft. Delays in aircraft production, technical modifications, tools, support equipment, and maintenance infrastructure severely constrained training. Crews sometimes had access to only a fraction of the aircraft required, while mechanics worked outdoors in harsh weather because available hangars could not accommodate the Superfortress. A major Army Air Forces effort to accelerate B-29 readiness eventually supplied the 58th Bombardment Wing with enough aircraft for overseas deployment. Between March and April 1944, individual aircraft, crews, and crew chiefs moved toward the China-Burma-India theater. The group arrived at Kharagpur Airfield in India on 13 April 1944 and came under XX Bomber Command. Engine overheating temporarily grounded the B-29 fleet during the movement and delayed the start of operations. The group’s China-based campaign required a difficult supply arrangement. Aircraft staged through India had to transport fuel, bombs, ammunition, and spare parts to the advanced base at Pengshan, Sichuan Province. Multiple round trips were required to accumulate sufficient fuel for a single combat sortie from China. Despite the logistical burden and mechanical problems, the group flew its first operational mission on 5 June 1944 against Bangkok railroad yards. On 15 June, it attacked the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata, Japan, in the first B-29 operation of the strategic air offensive against the Japanese home islands. From June 1944 through May 1945, the group performed long-range bombing and reconnaissance missions across a wide area. Its targets included Japan, Manchuria, China, Taiwan, Burma, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and Sumatra. Crews frequently spent sixteen hours in combat operations, with the longest missions lasting about twenty-one hours. The unit had to refine B-29 tactics while dealing simultaneously with weather, terrain, Japanese defenses, and the aircraft’s continuing technical development. In October 1944, the 795th Bombardment Squadron was inactivated because aircraft and equipment shortages had reduced the group’s ability to sustain four squadrons. Its personnel were absorbed into the other squadrons. By the end of that year, the 468th had developed the best operational record among the four B-29 groups then serving with XX Bomber Command. Headquarters authorized the group to use the honorary name “The General Billy Mitchell Group.” Across its wartime service it took part in eight campaigns and received three Distinguished Unit Citations. The group’s command and operational framework changed as the American campaign shifted toward the Mariana Islands. After West Field on Tinian became available in 1945, the group moved from India to the Marianas and resumed strategic bombing operations under XXI Bomber Command. From Tinian, it attacked Japanese home-island targets and flew its final combat mission on 15 August 1945. Following Japan’s surrender, the group’s duties changed from combat to humanitarian, demonstration, and assessment missions. Its aircraft dropped supplies to Allied prisoners of war, conducted show-of-force flights, and surveyed bombing damage over Japan. On 2 September 1945, the group led the Twentieth Air Force show-of-force formation over the USS Missouri during the formal surrender ceremony. The 468th returned to the United States in December 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Forces’ Second Air Force at Fort Worth Army Airfield, Texas. The 512th Bombardment Squadron was added to the group during this postwar period; the squadron had previously served with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy and was undergoing B-29 conversion training. In January 1946, the group moved under Fourth Air Force at Roswell Army Airfield, New Mexico. It entered Strategic Air Command on 21 March 1946, but was inactivated only ten days later, on 31 March, after turning in its aircraft during rapid postwar demobilization.

• 1946

  Transfer to Strategic Air Command

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was transferred to Strategic Air Command on 21 March.

• 1946

  Inactivation

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group turned in its aircraft and was inactivated on 31 March during postwar demobilization.

• 1945

  Transfer to Tinian

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to West Field, Tinian, and continued the air offensive against Japan under XXI Bomber Command.

• 1945

  Final combat mission

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group flew its final combat mission on 15 August.

• 1945

  Postwar show-of-force and relief operations

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After V-J Day, the group delivered supplies to Allied prisoners, evaluated bombing damage, and led the Twentieth Air Force formation over the USS Missouri on 2 September.

• 1945

  Return to the United States

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group returned in December and was assigned to Continental Air Forces’ Second Air Force at Fort Worth Army Airfield.

• 1944

  Arrival in India

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group arrived at Kharagpur Airfield on 13 April and joined XX Bomber Command operations in the China-Burma-India theater.

• 1944

  First operational mission

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 5 June, the group attacked railroad yards at Bangkok, Thailand, from Kharagpur.

• 1944

  First B-29 attack on Japan’s home islands

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 15 June, aircraft operating from China bombed the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata, Japan.

• 1944

  795th Bombardment Squadron inactivated

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Aircraft and equipment shortages led to the inactivation of the 795th Squadron in October and consolidation of its personnel.

• 1943

  Constitution as a heavy bombardment group

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was constituted as the 468th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May.

• 1943

  Activation at Smoky Hill Army Airfield

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated on 1 August at Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas, with four newly constituted bomb squadrons.

• 1943

  Redesignation as a very-heavy bombardment group

  [1]468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org

  In November, the group received the 468th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) designation as it transitioned to the B-29 role.

A specialized United States Army Air Forces very-heavy-bombardment group organized around the early operational deployment of the B-29 Superfortress in the Pacific war.

• Training aircraft · 1943

  Martin B-26 Marauder

  The group used a small number of B-26 Marauders during its initial training period because production B-29 aircraft were not yet available in sufficient quantity. The Marauder provided crews with an interim platform for developing bombing and flight procedures before overseas deployment, but it was not the group’s operational combat aircraft.

• Training aircraft · 1943

  Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

  B-17 Flying Fortresses formed part of the mixed training fleet used while the 468th prepared for the B-29 program. They helped crews maintain heavy-bomber proficiency during a period when Superfortress availability, maintenance capacity, and technical readiness were limited.

• Very-heavy bomber · 1944

  Boeing B-29 Superfortress

  The B-29 Superfortress was the group’s principal operational aircraft from 1944 through 1946. The four-engine bomber enabled long-range missions from India, China, and the Mariana Islands against Japanese and Japanese-held targets. The 468th operated the aircraft while its engines, maintenance systems, tactics, and logistics were still being refined in combat.

• 1945Mariana Islands strategic bombing campaign

  Japan · Mariana Islands

  After moving to Tinian, the group operated under XXI Bomber Command and continued high-altitude daylight and strategic bombing missions against the Japanese home islands.

  Outcome. The group flew its last combat mission on 15 August 1945 and then shifted to postwar support and assessment duties.

  Source
• 1944China-Burma-India theater operations

  India · China · Burma

  The group operated from India and an advanced base in China, moving fuel, bombs, ammunition, and spare parts across long distances to sustain B-29 combat sorties.

  Outcome. The campaign established the group as an effective long-range B-29 combat formation despite major logistical and mechanical constraints.

  Source
• 1944Air Offensive against Japan

  Japan · Manchuria · China · Taiwan · Burma · Singapore · Sumatra · Malay Peninsula

  From June 1944, the group conducted strategic bombing and reconnaissance missions against industrial, transportation, and other military objectives across Japanese-held territory.

  Outcome. The group completed eight campaigns and received three Distinguished Unit Citations during its wartime service.

  Source

• 1945

  Relocation from China-Burma-India to TinianStrategy

  Background

  The completion of West Field on Tinian provided a closer base for sustained operations against Japan.

  Action taken

  The group moved to the Mariana Islands and continued missions under XXI Bomber Command.

  Aftermath

  The relocation simplified access to Japanese home-island targets and continued the group’s strategic role until Japan’s surrender.

  Source

• 1945

  Shift to postwar humanitarian and assessment dutiesOther

  Background

  Following Japan’s surrender, the group no longer performed regular combat bombing.

  Action taken

  It dropped supplies to Allied prisoners of war, flew show-of-force missions, and assessed bombing damage over Japan.

  Aftermath

  The group’s aircraft supported the transition from combat operations to occupation and postwar evaluation.

  Source

• 1944

  Use of China-based forward operationsStrategy

  Background

  The distance to Japanese targets required the group to support an advanced Chinese base from India.

  Action taken

  Aircraft made repeated logistics flights carrying fuel, bombs, ammunition, and spare parts to Pengshan before conducting combat missions.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement enabled early B-29 strikes against Japan but imposed severe logistical demands on the force.

  Source

• 1944

  Consolidation after the 795th Squadron’s inactivationStrategy

  Background

  Aircraft and equipment shortages made it difficult to maintain all four original bomb squadrons.

  Action taken

  The 795th Bombardment Squadron was inactivated in October and its personnel were consolidated into the remaining squadrons.

  Aftermath

  The group continued combat operations with a reduced squadron structure.

  Source

• 1943

  Adoption of the B-29 very-heavy-bombardment missionStrategy

  Background

  The group was created as one of the first operational formations intended to deploy the new B-29 Superfortress overseas.

  Action taken

  It organized four bomb squadrons and transitioned from a mixed training fleet to B-29 operations.

  Aftermath

  The group became one of the pioneering B-29 combat units in the Pacific war.

  Source

1. 1468th Bombardment Groupen.wikipedia.org