416th Bomb Group History

During World War II, the 416th Bombardment Group (L) was composed of 416th Headquarters and four Bombardment Squadrons (L), the 668th (5H), 669th (2A), 670th (F6) and 671st (5C); and was under the operational control of the IX Bomber Command, 97th Combat Bombardment Wing of the 9th Air Force.

The members of the 416th greatly distinguished themselves in their 14 months of combat operations in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO).

The Group had many "Firsts". They were the First A-20 Havoc Group in the ETO, the First Group to completely convert to the new A-26 Invader and the First 9th Air Force Bomb Group to fly missions in Czechoslovakia as well as Austria.

They fought in seven Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; and Air Combat European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater, and received many Letters of Commendation. On July 25, 1945, they were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for their critical part in trapping German forces in the Falaise Gap between August 6-9, 1944.

Along with these Group honors, many 416th Officers and Enlisted Men received individual awards and medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldiers' Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Motor Vehicle Driver's Badge, Motor Vehicle Mechanic's Badge, many Oak Leaf Clusters and the French Croix de guerre.

Prior to D-Day, the 416th was instrumental in the preparation for the invasion of Europe and mostly targeted German Coastal Defenses, NOBALL V-1 Launch Sites, Airfields and Marshalling Yards. The 416th flew two missions on D-Day, June 6th, 1944. After the Allied Expeditionary Forces secured their beachhead and began the drive to Germany, the Group's primary role became one of tactical support for the advancing ground troops, destroying enemy Transportation Infrastructure (Railroad/Highway Bridges and Junctions, Marshalling Yards), Communication Centers, Ordnance and Fuel Storage Depots, Strong Points, among other important targets.

The 416th BG flew a total of 285 Combat Missions during their Operational Period of March 3, 1944 through May 3, 1945.

No bomb group can perform their duties without critical support units. Some that provided these support services to the 416th BG during their combat months included: 913th Air Engineering Squadron; 495th Air Service Group; 4th Combat Camera Unit; 2055th Engineer Fire Fighter Platoon; 199th Medical Dispensary Aviation (RS); 1297th Military Police Company (Aviation); 40th Mobile Communication Squadron; 46th Mobile R & R Squadron; 1781st Ordnance Service and Maintenance (Aviation) Group; 1179th QM Service Company; 2250th QM Truck Company; Red Cross; 4th Service Group; 484th Service Squadron; 1112th Signal Company Supply and Maintenance Platoon; 79th Station Complement Squadron; and 21st Weather Squadron.

On the numerous missions when the weather prohibited visual bombing, Pathfinder equipped aircraft from the 1st Pathfinder Squadron led the bomb runs. The "Little Friends" fighter escort during combat missions was provided by the U.S. 9th Air Force's 9th (IX), 19th (XIX) and 29th (XXIX) Tactical Air Commands (TAC), as well as from the British 2nd Tactical Air Force and U.S. 8th Air Force.

The Official 416th Bombardment Group (L) Historical summaries have been transcribed from USAF Archives and are available by year - 1943, 1944 and 1945.

See also a summary of Group information, including the Intelligence Department Operational Record statistics; Colonel Aylesworth's description of the Group's conversion to A-26 Invaders; along with some examples of official orders related to 416th Bomb Group activity from 1943, 1944 and 1945.