389th Bomb Group Historical Summary
Constituted as 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 Dec 1942 and activated on 24 Dec. Trained for combat with B-24 Liberators. The 389th Bomb Group was the third B-24 heavy bomber unit assigned to the Eighth Air Force. It flew more than 300 combat missions between July 1943 and April 1945, most of which were from its permanent base in England, however, its first missions were from a temporary base near Benghazi, Libya, and additional missions were flown out of a temporary base near Massicault, Tunis.
Moved to England, June to July 1943, and assigned to Eighth Air Force. Shortly after arrival in England, the Air Echelon was sent to Libya on detached service with IX Bomber Command, where it began operations on 9 July 1943. The detachment flew missions to Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria, and Rumania. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its participation in the famous low-level attack against oil refineries at Cāmpina, near Ploesti, Rumania, on 1 August 1943. For his actions on this mission, 2nd Lt Lloyd H. Hughes was awarded the Medal of Honor.
The detachment returned to England in late August 1943, and the group flew several missions against airfields in France and Holland, until it was again sent to North Africa for temporary duty XII Bomber Command. Operating from Massicault, Tunisia, the 389th supported Allied operations at Salerno and hit targets in Corsica, Italy, and Austria. The group returned to England after less than two weeks in the desert. Operations continued from the 389th's permanent base in England until flying its last mission on April 25, 1945, concentrating on strategic objectives in France, the Low Countries, and Germany. Targets included shipbuilding yards at Vegesack, industrial areas of Berlin, oil facilities at Merseburg, factories at Munster, railroad yards at Sangerhausen, and V-weapon sites at Pas de Calais. The 389th participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 February 1944. Also flew tactical and interdictory missions on several occasions, bombing gun batteries and airfields in support of the Normandy Invasion in June 1944, striking enemy positions to aid the breakthrough at St Lo in July 1944, hitting storage depots and communications centers during the Battle of the Bulge (late December 1944 through January 1945), and dropping food, ammunition, gasoline, and other supplies to troops participating in the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.
Movement back to the USA was accomplished through May and June 1945. Inactivated on 13 September 1945. Squadrons: 564th: 1942-1945; 565th: 1942-1945; 566th: 1942-1945; 567th: 1942-1945. Stations: Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 24 December 1942; Biggs Field, Texas, 1 February 1943; Lowry Field, Colorado, 19 April to 8 June 1943; Hethel, England, 11 June 1943 to 30 May 1945; Charleston Army Airfield, South Carolina, 12 June to 13 September 1945.
Commanders: Col David B. Lancaster-24 December 1942; Col Jack W. Wood-16 May 1943; Col Milton W. Arnold-30 December 1943; Col Robert B. Miller-29 March 1944; Col Ramsay D. Potts-17 August 1944; Col John B. Herboth-4 December 1944 to 7 April 1945; Lt Col Jack G. Merrell-14 April 1945 to unknown. Campaigns: Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation: Ploesti, Rumania, 1 August 1943.
For for in-depth history read HISTORIES OF THE COMBAT UNITS OF THE 389TH BOMB GROUP (H) and HISTORIES OF THE ATTACHED GROUND UNITS OF THE 389TH BOMB GROUP (H)
|
