490th Bombardment Group
The 490th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces heavy-bomber unit that conducted combat operations in Europe during World War II.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 490th Bombardment Group was a former United States Army Air Forces heavy-bomber formation established during World War II. Constituted as the 490th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 September 1943, it was activated at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, on 1 October 1943. Its original organization comprised the 848th, 849th, 850th and 851st Bombardment Squadrons. The 851st Squadron, which had previously served in an antisubmarine role, supplied much of the group's initial cadre while based at Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho. The group moved its headquarters and most of its squadrons to Mountain Home in December 1943, where it trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers. It deployed to the European Theater in April 1944. The ground echelon sailed from New York aboard SS Nieuw Amsterdam on 11 April and reached the United Kingdom on 25 April, while the air echelon ferried aircraft through the southern route. The group arrived at RAF Eye in Suffolk on 28 April 1944, joining the Eighth Air Force's heavy-bomber structure. Before the group's first combat mission, the 850th Bombardment Squadron was detached for special operations under VIII Air Force Composite Command. It subsequently flew Carpetbagger missions with the 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), supporting clandestine activity and resistance operations. The remaining three squadrons began combat operations on 31 May 1944. Early missions supported preparations for Operation Overlord, concentrating on targets in France. During and after the Normandy landings, the group attacked coastal defenses, airfields, rail infrastructure and transport targets. It also performed close-support missions for Allied ground forces near Caen in July and Brest in September. In August 1944, the 490th temporarily left combat operations to convert from B-24 Liberators to Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. The transition reflected the reorganization of the 3d Bombardment Division around the B-17. The 850th Squadron's crews and aircraft were transferred for the Carpetbagger role before the squadron formally returned to the 490th as part of the conversion. After completing the transition on 24 August, the group resumed combat with a strategic-bombing focus. Its targets included oil facilities, aircraft plants, armored-vehicle factories, airfields and marshalling yards. Missions reached major German industrial and transportation centers including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Hanover, Kassel, Merseburg and Münster. The group's first B-17 mission, on 27 August 1944, was directed against the BMW engine factory at Genshagen, Germany, although poor weather caused the mission to be aborted. The unit also undertook tactical and interdiction assignments when operational circumstances required. From December 1944 through January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, it attacked German lines of communication. In the final month of the European war, it supported Allied ground advances through interdiction missions. Its last combat mission took place on 20 April 1945. Across its European operations, the group flew more than 5,000 sorties and lost 22 aircraft. After V-E Day, the group performed humanitarian and repatriation duties, carrying food to flood-affected areas of the Netherlands and transporting prisoners of war to Allied processing and repatriation centers. Its aircraft began returning to the United States on 6 July 1945. The ground echelon sailed from Southampton aboard RMS Queen Elizabeth on 26 August. After regrouping at Drew Field, Florida, the 490th Bombardment Group was inactivated on 7 November 1945. A memorial near the former fuel dump at RAF Eye was dedicated on 29 May 2016 in recognition of the unit and its personnel.
History
The 490th Bombardment Group was created as part of the wartime expansion of the United States Army Air Forces. It was constituted as a heavy bombardment group in September 1943 and activated at Salt Lake City Army Air Base on 1 October. The 848th, 849th and 850th Bombardment Squadrons were activated alongside the group, while the 851st Squadron contributed an experienced cadre from its earlier antisubmarine service. In December 1943, the group relocated to Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho, where it trained with B-24 Liberators. The unit moved to the European Theater in April 1944. Its aircraft reached RAF Eye in England on 28 April, while the ground personnel arrived after a transatlantic voyage aboard SS Nieuw Amsterdam. The group was assigned within the Eighth Air Force's bomber organization and prepared for operations supporting the Allied campaign in Western Europe. The 850th Squadron was temporarily separated before the group's first combat mission and used for Carpetbagger operations, which involved specialized flights connected with support to resistance activity. The other three squadrons began combat missions on 31 May 1944. During the period surrounding the Normandy invasion, the group attacked French coastal defenses, airfields, railways and vehicles. It later provided close air support near Caen and Brest as Allied forces expanded their foothold in France. The group was withdrawn from combat in August 1944 to convert to the B-17 Flying Fortress. This change accompanied the effort to make the 3d Bombardment Division an all-B-17 formation. The conversion was completed by 24 August, and the group returned to combat as a strategic-bombing unit. Its targets included German oil refineries, aircraft and armored-vehicle plants, airfields, factories and railway marshalling yards. The group participated in attacks on cities and industrial areas including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Hanover, Kassel, Merseburg and Münster. Although strategic bombing was its principal post-conversion mission, the unit also responded to changing battlefield requirements. During the Battle of the Bulge it struck German communications and transport networks. In the spring of 1945 it conducted interdiction missions in support of Allied ground forces. The final combat operation occurred on 20 April 1945. The group had flown over 5,000 sorties in Europe and lost 22 aircraft. After Germany's surrender, the 490th shifted to relief and transport work. Its aircraft delivered food to flooded Dutch communities and carried prisoners of war to repatriation centers. The air echelon returned to the United States beginning in July 1945, and the ground echelon followed by ship in August. The group assembled at Drew Field, Florida, and was inactivated there on 7 November 1945. Its wartime service is commemorated by a memorial dedicated at RAF Eye in 2016.
- 2016
RAF Eye memorial dedicated
[1]A permanent memorial honoring the group was dedicated near the former fuel dump at RAF Eye on 29 May 2016.
- 1945
Last combat mission
[1]The group's final combat mission was flown on 20 April 1945 during the closing phase of the European war.
- 1945
Inactivated
[1]After returning to the United States and regrouping at Drew Field, Florida, the unit was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
- 1944
Arrived at RAF Eye
[1]The group reached its combat station at RAF Eye, England, on 28 April 1944.
- 1944
First combat operations
[1]The group began combat operations on 31 May, initially attacking targets in France in support of the Allied invasion campaign.
- 1944
Converted from B-24 to B-17 aircraft
[1]The group completed its transition to Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on 24 August and resumed strategic-bombing operations.
- 1943
Constituted as a heavy bombardment group
[1]The unit was constituted as the 490th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 September 1943.
- 1943
Activated in Utah
[1]The group was activated at Salt Lake City Army Air Base on 1 October 1943 with four bombardment squadrons.
- 1943
Training moved to Mountain Home
[1]Headquarters and three squadrons moved to Mountain Home Army Air Field in December to train with B-24 Liberators.
Products and positioning
A World War II United States Army Air Forces heavy-bomber group operating first B-24 Liberators and later B-17 Flying Fortresses in the European Theater.
Heavy bomber aircraft · 1943
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
The B-24 Liberator was the group's principal training and initial combat aircraft. The 490th used it in European operations beginning in May 1944, including attacks supporting the Normandy campaign. The aircraft also equipped the 850th Bombardment Squadron during its temporary Carpetbagger assignment.
Heavy bomber aircraft · 1944
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
The group converted to the B-17 Flying Fortress in August 1944 as part of the reorganization of the 3d Bombardment Division. After conversion, the 490th concentrated on strategic bombing against German industrial, fuel, transportation and military targets, while also flying interdiction missions when required.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Postwar relief and repatriation
Netherlands · Europe
After V-E Day, the group delivered food to flood-affected parts of the Netherlands and transported prisoners of war to Allied repatriation centers.
Outcome. The group shifted from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and postwar transportation before returning to the United States.
- 1944Normandy invasion support
France · European Theater of Operations
The group attacked coastal defenses, airfields, railway targets and vehicles in France before and after the Normandy landings. It subsequently flew close-support missions for Allied forces near Caen and Brest.
Outcome. The missions supported the Allied establishment and expansion of the Western European beachhead.
- 1944Strategic bombing of Germany
Germany · European Theater of Operations
Following conversion to B-17 aircraft, the group attacked German oil facilities, aircraft and armored-vehicle factories, airfields and marshalling yards, including targets in and around Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Hanover, Kassel, Merseburg and Münster.
Outcome. The operations formed part of the Allied strategic air campaign against German military and industrial capacity.
- 1944Battle of the Bulge
Belgium · Germany · European Theater of Operations
From December 1944 through January 1945, the group was diverted from some strategic-bombing work to attack German lines of communication during the Ardennes offensive.
Outcome. The missions supported Allied efforts to disrupt German movement and supply during the counteroffensive.
Sources1 sources
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