489th Bombardment Group

The 489th Bomb Group is a United States Air Force Reserve organization whose lineage extends from a heavy-bomber group created during World War II to a modern reserve associate unit operating Rockwell B-1B Lancer bombers. It is assigned to the 307th Bomb Wing and is stationed at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, where it works alongside the Regular Air Force's 7th Bomb Wing. When mobilized, the group is operationally gained by Air Force Global Strike Command. The unit was constituted as the 489th Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 14 September 1943 and activated at Wendover Field, Utah, on 1 October of that year. Its original operational components were the 844th, 845th, 846th, and 847th Bombardment Squadrons. The group trained in the United States with Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, including exercises designed to prepare its personnel for overseas combat. Its air echelon reached Britain through the southern ferry route, while the ground echelon crossed the Atlantic aboard USS Wakefield. By May 1944, the group was established at RAF Halesworth in Suffolk as part of the Eighth Air Force. Combat operations began on 30 May 1944 with an attack on Oldenburg, Germany. In the period immediately preceding the Allied invasion of Normandy, the group concentrated heavily on targets in France, including coastal defenses, airfields, bridges, rail facilities, and launch installations associated with German V-1 and V-2 weapons. On 5 June 1944, during an attack near Wimereux, France, the formation's lead aircraft was badly damaged and its pilot was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Leon Vance, the deputy group commander and formation leader, took control despite suffering severe injuries, completed the bombing mission, and directed the evacuation of the crew before ditching the aircraft in the English Channel. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor, in recognition of actions that made him the only B-24 crewman flying from England to receive that decoration for a mission during the war. The group supported the Normandy landings on 6 June and continued operations during the campaign in France. It participated in attacks supporting the Saint-Lô breakthrough, carried food to liberated French civilians and Allied forces, and later delivered supplies to the Netherlands. Its regular strategic missions against Germany targeted industrial facilities, oil refineries and storage sites, marshalling yards, and airfields in locations including Ludwigshafen, Magdeburg, Brunswick, and Saarbrücken. In November 1944, the 489th became the first Eighth Air Force group selected for redeployment to the Pacific. It ceased operations on 14 November, was released from its European assignment later that month, and returned to the United States. At Lincoln Army Air Field, Nebraska, the group was prepared for conversion to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress and was redesignated the 489th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, in March 1945. It moved to Great Bend Army Air Field, Kansas, but the Japanese surrender ended the planned Pacific deployment. The group was inactivated on 17 October 1945. The organization was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve on 17 October 2015, exactly seven decades after its inactivation. In its current form, the 489th operates B-1B Lancers as an associate unit of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess. Its contemporary identity therefore combines historical continuity with reserve integration, maintaining a World War II bombardment lineage while supporting the United States' long-range strike force.

The 489th Bombardment Group was created during the rapid expansion of the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. Constituted on 14 September 1943 as a heavy-bomber group, it was activated at Wendover Field, Utah, on 1 October. The group initially comprised the 844th, 845th, 846th, and 847th Bombardment Squadrons. Personnel underwent combat preparation in the United States, including training associated with the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics. The group operated Consolidated B-24 Liberators and completed its preparation for overseas service in the spring of 1944. The unit departed the United States in April 1944. Its aircraft traveled by the southern ferry route, passing along the northern coast of South America and across the Atlantic before continuing to Britain. The ground echelon sailed from Boston aboard USS Wakefield and arrived at Liverpool on 21 April. In May, the group moved to RAF Halesworth in England and joined the Eighth Air Force. It entered combat on 30 May with a mission against Oldenburg, Germany. During the buildup to Operation Overlord, the 489th focused much of its effort on targets in France. These included coastal defenses, airfields, bridges, railways, and facilities connected with Germany's V-1 flying bombs and V-2 rockets. Its most notable wartime action occurred on 5 June 1944 during an attack near Wimereux. The formation's lead B-24 was crippled by enemy fire, killing its pilot and severely wounding Lieutenant Colonel Leon Vance, who had assumed command of the formation. Despite a nearly severed right foot, Vance directed the attack to its target, then managed the damaged aircraft's return toward England. After ordering the crew to leave, he ditched the aircraft in the English Channel when he believed one wounded airman could not safely parachute. Vance survived and received the Medal of Honor. The group flew in support of the Normandy landings the following day. During the subsequent French campaign, it attacked defensive positions and transportation infrastructure and contributed to the air effort preceding the Saint-Lô breakthrough and Operation Cobra. It also performed humanitarian and logistical missions. In August and September 1944, its aircraft dropped food to liberated French civilians and Allied troops. In September, the group carried food and ammunition to the Netherlands, with specialized personnel helping direct the supply drops. Some aircraft also delivered supplies directly to Orleans/Bricy Airfield. Alongside these tactical and support missions, the 489th conducted strategic bombing against Germany from July through November 1944. Its targets included factories, oil refineries, fuel storage areas, marshalling yards, and airfields. Missions reached industrial and transportation centers such as Ludwigshafen, Magdeburg, Brunswick, and Saarbrücken. The group was selected for Pacific redeployment in November and became non-operational on 14 November. Most of its B-24s were transferred to other Eighth Air Force units, and the group was released from the European theater on 29 November. The organization returned to the United States late in December 1944. At Bradley Field, Connecticut, many personnel were reassigned, while the group moved to Lincoln Army Air Field, Nebraska. It returned to Second Air Force control and was selected for conversion to the B-29 Superfortress. The transition required duplicate organizational records because the group was being shifted from a four-squadron heavy-bomber structure to a three-squadron very-heavy-bomber structure. It moved to Great Bend Army Air Field, Kansas, and was redesignated the 489th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 17 March 1945. Although it was alerted for overseas movement, the end of the war in the Pacific prevented deployment. The group was inactivated on 17 October 1945. The lineage was revived seventy years later. On 8 October 2015, the organization was redesignated the 489th Bomb Group, and it was activated in the Air Force Reserve on 17 October at Dyess Air Force Base. The modern group belongs to the 307th Bomb Wing and serves as a reserve associate to the active-duty 7th Bomb Wing. It operates B-1B Lancers and includes the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 489th Maintenance Squadron, and the 489th Aerospace Medical Flight. This arrangement allows reserve personnel to train and operate with the active-duty bomber force while retaining the historical identity of the World War II group.

• 2015

  Air Force Reserve reactivation

  [1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 489th Bomb Group was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve at Dyess Air Force Base on 17 October, seventy years after its inactivation.

• 1945

  Conversion to B-29 organization

  [1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After returning to the United States, the group converted to Boeing B-29 Superfortresses and was redesignated very heavy on 17 March.

• 1945

  World War II inactivation

  [1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 17 October after the Japanese surrender ended its planned Pacific deployment.

• 1944

  Arrival in the European theater

  [1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to RAF Halesworth in England in May and joined the Eighth Air Force with B-24 Liberator bombers.

• 1944

  First combat mission

  [1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 489th entered combat on 30 May with a bombing mission against Oldenburg, Germany.

• 1944

  Wimereux mission and Medal of Honor action

  [1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 5 June, Lieutenant Colonel Leon Vance led his damaged formation to its target despite grave injuries during an attack near Wimereux, France. He later received the Medal of Honor.

• 1944

  End of European operations

  [1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group became non-operational on 14 November and was released from its Eighth Air Force assignment later that month for planned redeployment to the Pacific.

• 1943

  Constitution and activation

  [1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was constituted as the 489th Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 14 September and activated at Wendover Field, Utah, on 1 October.

A reserve associate bomber unit that preserves a World War II combat lineage while providing trained personnel and operational capacity for the Air Force's long-range strike mission.

• World War II heavy bomber · 1943

  Consolidated B-24 Liberator

  The B-24 Liberator was the group's principal aircraft during its European combat service from 1943 through 1944. The 489th used the type for strategic bombing, attacks on transportation and defensive infrastructure, support of the Normandy invasion, and the delivery of food and ammunition to Allied and liberated populations.

• Very heavy bomber · 1945

  Boeing B-29 Superfortress

  The group began conversion to the B-29 after returning from Europe. It was redesignated as a very-heavy bombardment group and prepared for a possible Pacific deployment, but the war ended before the unit could operate overseas with the aircraft.

• Long-range bomber · 2015

  Rockwell B-1B Lancer

  The reactivated reserve group operates B-1B Lancers at Dyess Air Force Base as an associate unit of the active-duty 7th Bomb Wing. Its personnel support training, readiness, maintenance, and operational employment of the long-range bomber force.

• 1944Normandy campaign

  France · England

  The group attacked coastal defenses, airfields, bridges, rail facilities, and other targets in preparation for and support of the Allied invasion of Normandy.

  Outcome. The unit supported the 6 June landings and continued bombing operations during the campaign in France.

  Source
• 1944Operation Crossbow

  France · Western Europe

  The 489th attacked German V-1 flying-bomb and V-2 rocket launch and support sites as part of the Allied effort against Germany's long-range weapons program.

  Outcome. The missions formed part of the broader Allied campaign to disrupt German rocket and flying-bomb operations.

  Source
• 1944Strategic bombing of Germany

  Germany

  From July through November, the group conducted strategic bombing missions against industrial, fuel, transportation, and airfield targets in Germany.

  Outcome. The group completed its European combat service before being selected for redeployment to the Pacific.

  Source

• 2015

  Reactivation as a reserve associate bomber unitStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force Reserve restored the group's lineage as part of the reserve component supporting the active-duty bomber force.

  Action taken

  The 489th was redesignated and activated at Dyess Air Force Base under the 307th Bomb Wing, operating B-1B Lancers alongside the 7th Bomb Wing.

  Aftermath

  The group became an active reserve associate organization and remains available for operational employment through Air Force Global Strike Command when mobilized.

  Source

• 1945

  Conversion from B-24 Liberators to B-29 SuperfortressesGeneration change

  Background

  Following its return from Europe, the group was selected for the very-heavy-bomber force being prepared for operations against Japan.

  Action taken

  It moved through the transition process at Lincoln Army Air Field and Great Bend Army Air Field and was redesignated as a very-heavy bombardment group.

  Aftermath

  The conversion was overtaken by the end of World War II, and the group was inactivated in October 1945.

  Source

• 1944

  Selection for Pacific redeploymentStrategy

  Background

  After its European combat operations, the 489th became the first Eighth Air Force group selected for transfer to the Pacific theater.

  Action taken

  The group ceased operations, transferred most of its B-24 aircraft to other units, and returned to the United States for conversion and redeployment preparation.

  Aftermath

  The planned Pacific deployment did not occur because Japan surrendered before the group completed its transition and overseas movement.

  Source

• 2015

  489th Bomb Group reactivated in the Air Force Reserve[1]489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Leadership change

  The Air Force Reserve reactivated the 489th Bomb Group at Dyess Air Force Base, restoring the World War II unit's lineage and establishing it as a B-1B Lancer associate unit of the 7th Bomb Wing.

1. 1489th Bomb Groupen.wikipedia.org