44th Air Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 44th Air Division


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dates= 15 February 1943–4 October 1945
27 May 1947–27 June 1949
country= United States
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History

The 44th Bombardment Wing's subordinate units attacked enemy airfields in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands between December 1943 and February 1944. Beginning in March 1944, they bombed rail road and highway bridges, oil tanks, and missile sites in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. Its subordinate units supported the Allied offensive at Caen, France, and the breakthrough at Saint-Lô, France, in July 1944. Between October and December 1944, they bombed bridges, road junctions, and ordnance depots in support of the assault on the Siegfried Line. On 16 December 1944, during a period of poor flying weather, the Germans launched a major offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, in the Ardennes Forest. When the weather cleared, 44th wing units bombed supply points, communication centres, bridges, marshalling yards, roads, and oil storage tanks. The 44th activated in the Reserve from 26 June 1947–27 June 1949 and became an Air Division in April 1948.

Background of name

Mission

Operations

Lineage and honors

Established as 44 Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 15 February 1943.Activated on 1 March 1943.Redesignated: 99 Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 2 November 1943; 99 Combat Bombardment Wing, Medium on 13 August 1944; 99 Bombardment Wing, Medium on 16 June 1945.Inactivated on 4 October 1945.

Redesignated 44 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 27 May 1947.Activated in the Reserve on 26 June 1947.Redesignated 44 Air Division, Bombardment on 16 April 1948.Inactivated on 27 June 1949.

Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

* World War II: European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater.

Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

none

Armed forces expeditionary streamers

none

Decorations

This unit earned the following unit decorations:

none

Awards

Emblem

None.

Assignments

Second Air Force, 1 March 1943;
Eighth Air Force, c.28 July 1943;
VIII Air Support Command, c.28 September 1943;
IX Bomber Command (later, 9 Bombardment Division [Medium] , 9th Air Division), c. November 1943–16 September 1945;
Army Service Forces, 17 September 1945–4 October 1945.

Tenth Air Force, 26 June 1947;
Fourteenth Air Force, 1 July 1948;
Twelfth Air Force, 12 January 1949–27 June 1949.

Components

Groups:
* 312 Bombardment: 30 July 1947–27 Jun 1949.
* 322 Bombardment: 17 November 1943–8 June 1945.
* 344 Bombardment: c.28 February 1944–c.30 April 1945.
* 386 Bombardment: c.30 November 1943–c.30 August 1945.
* 391 Bombardment: 15 February 1944–3 June 1945.
* 394 Bombardment: c.22 January 1945–30 November 1945.
* 401 Bombardment: 17 October 1947–27 June 1949.
* 447 Bombardment: 12 August 1947–27 June 1949.

Stations

Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, 1 March 1943;
Biggs Field, Texas, 14 May 1943–4 July 1943;Aldermaston, England, 28 July 1943;Great Dunmow, England, 12 November 1943;Beaumont, France, 25 September 1944;Tienen, Belgium, 27 April 1945;Namur, Belgium, 1 July 1945–c.8 August 1945;Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, 3 October 1945–4 October 1945. (for inactivation)

Brooks Field (later, Brooks Air Force Base, Brooks City-Base), Texas, 26 June 1947–27 June 1949.

Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles

B-26 Marauder, 1943–1945;
A-26 Invader, 1944–1945.

B-29 Superfortress, 1948–1949.

Commanders

Unknown, 1 March 1943–11 November 1943;Brigadier General Herbert B. Thatcher, 12 November 1943;Colonel Reginald F. C. Vance, 7 November 1944;Major Charles F. Salter, 1 July 1945;Lieutanant Colonel William W. Brier, 13 July 1945;Brigadier General Richard C. Sanders, 12 August 1945–c.4 October 1945.

Unknown, 26 June 1947–27 June 1949.

References

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0044ad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 44th Air Division]