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SAC's Original Bomb
Groups |
SAC was formed on March 21,
1946, and was assigned ten bomb groups and one reconnaissance group. All
of the bomb wings except for the 93rd and the 509th
were inactivated in 1946. The 40th, 44th, and 449th
designations were later assigned to newly activated Bombardment Wings.
This permitted the new unit to enjoy the honors won by its predecessor
group.
Unless otherwise stated, the patches shown below are from the modern bomb wings, not
the original groups. |
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40th Bombardment Group
The group flew B-29s in the Pacific Theater and after the war, it was
relocated to Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona. It turned in it's
aircraft and was inactivated on Oct. 1, 1946. Established as
the 40th Bombardment Wing, Medium on May 9, 1952. Activated at
Schilling Air Force Base, (then Smoky Hill) on May 28, 1952.
See 40th Bomb Wing for SAC History |
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44th Bombardment Group
The group flew B-24s in Europe during World War II. It was
inactivated on July 12, 1946. Reactivated and assigned to SAC
on July 1, 1947, but was not manned. Reactivated again on Sept. 6,
1948.Established as the 44th Bombardment Wing,
Medium, on December 20, 1950. Activated
January 2, 1951 at March
AFB. Moved to Lake Charles (later Chennault) AFB on August 1,
1951.
See 44th Bomb Wing for SAC History |
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58th
Bombardment Group
The Eighth Air Force of World War II fame in the European Theater of
Operations was relocated to Okinawa on July 16, 1945 into prepared for the
final assault on the Japan. The Japanese surrendered and the assault
never took place On June 7, 1946, Eight Air Force Headquarters was
moved to MacDill Field, Florida in a paper move without the transfer of
personnel and equipment. Eighth Air Force Headquarters was actually
manned chiefly by personnel from the 58th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy,
which was stationed at Fort Worth. Eighth Air Force was assigned to SAC on Nov 30,
1946.
The 58th Bomb Group was inactivated the next day.. |
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93rd Bombardment Group
The 93rd Bomb Group flew B-24s
with the 8th Air Force and was instrumental in the defeat of Nazi
Germany. At the end of the war, it was assigned to the 15th Air
Force, which was assigned to the newly formed Strategic Air Command on March 31, 1946. The 93rd was one of SAC's first
ten bomb groups. All but it and the 509th
Bombardment Wing were deactivated in 1946.
See 93rd Bomb Wing for SAC History |
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311
Reconnaissance Group / Wing
The 311 Reconnaissance Wing was a World II unit
that continued after the war.
It flew B-29/F-13 Superfortress. The 311th was SAC's first major reconnaissance organization. It's
components were so scattered around the world that SAC apparently did not
know what to do with it's headquarters. It was moved to MacDill
Field around April 17, 1946, but only stayed a month before being
transferred to Andrews AFB. It moved to Topeka AFB Kansas on
July 20, 1948 and a month later to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. The 311th was Inactivated on November 1, 1949
The 311th had five squadrons: 1st, 12th,
16th, 91st, and 46th/72nd recon squadrons. |
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No SAC
Patch |
444th Bombardment Group
The
444th Bomb group flew B-29s in the Pacific Theater. On May 6, 1946, it
relocated to Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona and turned in it's
aircraft. It was inactivated on Oct. 1, 1946.
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No SAC
Patch |
448th Bombardment Group
During World War II, the 448th Bomb group flew B-24s with the Eighth Air
Force in Europe. It received B-29s and transferred to the Pacific
Theater in 1945. The 448th was inactivated Aug 4, 1946. The
following year, it was reactivated as a light bombardment group in the
reserves.
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The 449th Bombardment Group
The 449th Bomb Group flew B-17s, B-24s and B-25s in the European Theater
of Operations during World War II. It was inactivated August 4,
1946. Established as the 449th Fighter-Bomber Wing on March 23, 1953.
Redesignated 449th Bombardment Wing, Heavy and activated on Nov. 15, 1962.
See
449th Bomb Wing
for SAC History |
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No SAC
Patch |
467th Bombardment Group
During World War II, the group flew B-24s with the Eighth Air Force in
Europe. It was inactivated Aug 4, 1946.
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No SAC
Patch |
485th Bombardment Group
During World War II, the 485th Bomb Group flew B-24s with the Eighth Air
Force in Europe. At the time it was assigned to SAC, it was stationed
at Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico and was training in B-17s and B-29s.
It was inactivated Aug 4, 1946.
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No SAC
Patch |
498th Bombardment Group
During World War II, the group flew B-29s with the Twentieth Air Force in
the Pacific. At the time it was assigned to SAC, it was stationed at
MacDill Field Army Air Field, Florida. Inactivated Aug 4, 1946.
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509th Composite Group
During World War II, the 509th Composite Group was established in the
states and flew extensive training missions for some unknown mission.
It was then assigned to the Twentieth Air Force in the Pacific and became
the group that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. Of the ten
original groups, all but the 93rd and the 509th were inactivated in 1946.
At the time SAC was formed, the 509th was the only unit to have experience
with nuclear weapons. Many historians regard it as the foundation on
which SAC was built.
See
509th Bomb Wing
for SAC History. |
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