346th Bombardment Group
Encyclopedia
The 346th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 316th Bombardment Wing
, being stationed at Kadena Airfield, Okinawa. It was inactivated on 30 June 1946.
The unit was initially a World War II
B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator
operational training unit (OTU). Redesignated as a replacement training unit (RTU) in December 1943. Inactivated on 1 April 1944 when Second Air Force
switched to B-29 Superfortress
training. Late in the war the group was reactivated and trained as a Very Heavy (VH) B-29 Superfortress
group and assigned to Eighth Air Force
in Okinawa. However, the war ended before the group could enter combat.
After the war the group participated in several show-of-force missions over Japan and for a time ferried Allied prisoners of war from Okinawa to the Philippine Islands before its inactivation.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last assigned to the 316th Bombardment Wing
316th Air Division
The 316th Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, assigned to Seventeenth Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
, being stationed at Kadena Airfield, Okinawa. It was inactivated on 30 June 1946.
The unit was initially a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
operational training unit (OTU). Redesignated as a replacement training unit (RTU) in December 1943. Inactivated on 1 April 1944 when Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
switched to B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
training. Late in the war the group was reactivated and trained as a Very Heavy (VH) B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
group and assigned to Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in Okinawa. However, the war ended before the group could enter combat.
After the war the group participated in several show-of-force missions over Japan and for a time ferried Allied prisoners of war from Okinawa to the Philippine Islands before its inactivation.
Lineage
- Constituted as 346th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 3 September 1942
- Activated on 7 September 1942
- Inactivated on 1 April 1944
- Redesignated 346th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and activated on 8 August 1944
- Inactivated on Okinawa on 30 June 1946.
Assignments
- II Bomber CommandII Bomber CommandThe II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
, 7 September 1942 – 1 April 1944; 18 August 1944-29 June 1945 - 316th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy316th Air DivisionThe 316th Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, assigned to Seventeenth Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
, 31 July 1945 – 30 June 1946
Components
- 461st Bombardment Squadron461st Bombardment SquadronThe 461st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 346th Bombardment Group stationed at Kadena Airfield, Okinawa. It was inactivated on 30 June 1946.-History:...
8 August 1944 – 30 June 1946 (B-29) - 462d Bombardment Squadron462d Bombardment SquadronThe 462d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 346th Bombardment Group stationed at Kadena Airfield, Okinawa. It was inactivated on 30 June 1946.-History:...
8 August 1944 – 30 June 1946 (B-29) - 463d Bombardment Squadron463d Bombardment SquadronThe 463d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 346th Bombardment Group stationed at Kadena Airfield, Okinawa. It was inactivated on 30 June 1946.-History:...
8 August 1944 – 30 June 1946 (B-29) - 502d Bombardment Squadron 1942–1944 (B-17, B-24)
- 503d Bombardment Squadron 1942–1944 (B-17, B-24)
- 504th Bombardment Squadron 1942–1944 (B-17, B-24)
- 505th Bombardment Squadron 1942–1944 (B-17, B-24)
Stations
- Salt Lake City Army Air Base, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, 7 September 1942 - Smoky Hill Army Airfield, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 3 October 1942 - Dyersburg Army Air BaseDyersburg Army Air BaseDyersburg Army Air Base is an inactive United States Air Force base, approximately 2 miles north of Halls, Tennessee. It was active during World War II as a training airfield. It was closed on 30 November 1945...
, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, 26 February 1943 – 1 April 1944 - Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, 18 August 1944
- Pratt Army AirfieldPratt Army AirfieldPratt Army Airfield is a closed United States Air Force base. It is located north-northwest of Pratt, Kansas, and was closed in 1946. Today it is used as Pratt Regional Airport....
, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 18 January – 29 June 1945 - Kadena Airfield, Okinawa 7 August 1945 – 30 June 1946
Aircraft flown
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress