416th Air Expeditionary Operations Group - History - World War II

World War II

Activated on 5 February 1943 without personnel, at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma. The authority for the organization of this Group was contained in General Orders #3, Headquarter Army Air base, Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, dated 4 February 1943. The components making up the Group were the 668th, 669th, 670th and 671st Bombardment Squadrons Light. The original transfer of fifty-one officers and two hundred and forty-one (241) enlisted men was made on 15 February 1943. The source of the cadre was the 46th Bombardment Group and units from Will Rogers Field; from Blythe, California; from Barksdale Field, La.; and a number of men with considerable overseas experience from the Third Air Force Replacement Center, Plant Park, Florida. Until 15 February, all personnel were attached to their parent organization for duty, rations, and quarters. However, on that date, the 46th Bombardment Group Light moved to the North side of Will Rogers Field, leaving the South side to the 416th Bombardment Group.

The Group originally operated as an Operational Training Unit under the III Air Support Command. The Group fell back on the 46th Bomb Group for assistance with its training. Pilots were attached to the 46th BG for transition flying during the first three months of its existence. On 11 May, the first eight (8) planes were assigned to the 416th Group. One B-25C and one A-20-B was given to each of the 668th and 669th Squadrons. Two A-20-B's were assigned to each of the 670th and 671st Squadrons. Classes in all the military occupational specialties were conducted by the 46th Bomb Group until 1 June 1943. The Pilots attended Ground School, for five hours a day, in the following subjects: code, link trainer, aircraft recognition, operation and maintenance of the A-20 and B-25, air navigation, radio, instrument procedure, etc. The Intelligence personnel attended classes for one hour a day.

Moved to England, January— February 1944, and assigned to Ninth Air Force. Entered combat in March 1944, and during the next several weeks directed most of its attacks against V-weapon sites in France. Flew a number of missions against airfields and coastal defenses to help prepare for the invasion of Normandy. Supported the invasion in June 1944 by striking road junctions, marshalling yards, bridges, and railway overpasses. Assisted ground forces at Caen and Saint-Lô in July and at Brest later in the summer, by hitting transportation facilities, supply dumps, radar installations, and other targets. In spite of intense resistance, the group bombed bridges, railways, rolling stock, and a radar station to disrupt the enemy's retreat through the Falaise gap, 6–9 August 1944, and received a DUC for the missions.

Assisted the airborne attack on Holland in September. Supported the assault on the Siegfried Line by pounding transportation, warehouses, supply dumps, and defended villages in Germany. Converted to A-26 Invader aircraft in November. Attacked transportation facilities, strong points, communications centers, and troop concentrations during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944—January 1945. Aided the Allied thrust into Germany by continuing its strikes against transportation, communications, airfields, storage depots, and other objectives, February—May 1945. Bombed flak positions in support of the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

Returned to the US, July—October 1945. It was inactivated on 24 October 1945.