Sierra Bombardment Group
Encyclopedia
The Sierra Bombardment Group was a provisional United States Army Air Corps
organization. It was established on 8 December 1941 at Minter Field, California
. It consisted of air crews and ten B-17E Flying Fortresses formerly assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group 32d Bombardment Squadron and 427th Bombardment Squadron
. In addition, thirty five B-25 Mitchell
medium bombers of the 17th Bombardment Group, Second Air Force
, Pendleton Army Airfield, Oregon
, were also assigned.
The squadrons were located in the Western United States and were awaiting transfer to the Philippines in early December 1941. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the provisional unit was formed. It performed coastal patrols for a short time stationed at Muroc Army Airfield, California
, but as the conditions in the Philippines worsened, the B-17s departed via Hawaii
on 17 December. However upon arrival at Hickam Field, the aircraft were pressed into service for defensive reconnaissance patrols. Three B-17s were released and were allowed to depart for Mindanao
, but were diverted to Java
, Netherlands East Indies, where they were assigned to evacuated 19th BG components that were operating from Singosari Airfield. The remainder stayed at Hickam until 10 January when they flew to Australia via Christmas Island; Kanton Island and Fiji where the aircraft were held for almost a week while Vichy French guerrilla activity was put down. Upon arrival at Townville, Queensland
, unit was assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group as replacements.
The B-25 Mitchells remained in Oregon and continued to provide coastal antisubmarine patrols along the Northwest Pacific Coast. However, the available aircraft were not equipped with radar or other devices, and detection of enemy submarines depended solely on eyesight. The antisubmarine aircrews occasionally mistook whales and floating logs for Japanese submarines, They frequently reported and attacked enemy submarines, but rarely confirmed results. A B-25 crew claimed they bombed a submarine near the mouth of the Columbia River
on December 24, 1941. They claimed it sank, but in fact no Japanese submarine was sunk off the West Coast during
World War II.
The unit was deactivated in early February 1942
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
organization. It was established on 8 December 1941 at Minter Field, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It consisted of air crews and ten B-17E Flying Fortresses formerly assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group 32d Bombardment Squadron and 427th Bombardment Squadron
427th Bombardment Squadron
The 427th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 303d Bombardment Wing, based at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. The unit was inactivated on 1 January 1962.-History:...
. In addition, thirty five B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
medium bombers of the 17th Bombardment Group, 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....
, Pendleton Army Airfield, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, were also assigned.
The squadrons were located in the Western United States and were awaiting transfer to the Philippines in early December 1941. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the provisional unit was formed. It performed coastal patrols for a short time stationed at Muroc Army Airfield, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but as the conditions in the Philippines worsened, the B-17s departed via Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
on 17 December. However upon arrival at Hickam Field, the aircraft were pressed into service for defensive reconnaissance patrols. Three B-17s were released and were allowed to depart for Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, but were diverted to Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Netherlands East Indies, where they were assigned to evacuated 19th BG components that were operating from Singosari Airfield. The remainder stayed at Hickam until 10 January when they flew to Australia via Christmas Island; Kanton Island and Fiji where the aircraft were held for almost a week while Vichy French guerrilla activity was put down. Upon arrival at Townville, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, unit was assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group as replacements.
The B-25 Mitchells remained in Oregon and continued to provide coastal antisubmarine patrols along the Northwest Pacific Coast. However, the available aircraft were not equipped with radar or other devices, and detection of enemy submarines depended solely on eyesight. The antisubmarine aircrews occasionally mistook whales and floating logs for Japanese submarines, They frequently reported and attacked enemy submarines, but rarely confirmed results. A B-25 crew claimed they bombed a submarine near the mouth of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
on December 24, 1941. They claimed it sank, but in fact no Japanese submarine was sunk off the West Coast during
World War II.
The unit was deactivated in early February 1942