409th Bombardment Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 409th Bombardment Group


caption= 409th Bombardment Group Insignia
dates= 1943 - 1945
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Army Air Forces
type=
role= Bombardment
size=
command_structure= Ninth Air Force
current_commander=
garrison= European Theatre of World War II
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=The 409th Bombardment Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It served primarily in the European Theatre of World War II.

The 409th Air Expeditionary Group was a short-lived unit which was activated as a part of the Global War on Terrorism in 2003.

History

Operational Units

* 640th Bomb Squadron (W5)
* 641st Bomb Squadron (7G)
* 642d Bomb Squadron (D6)
* 643d Bomb Squadron (5I)

Aircraft Flown

* Douglas A-20 Havoc
* Douglas A-26 Invader
* Boeing KC-10 Extender

Stations Assigned

* Will Rogers Field, OK 1 Jun 1943
* Woodward AAFld, OK Oct 1943
* DeRidder AAB, LA c. 10 Dec 1943-10 Feb 1944
* RAF Little Walden, England 7 Mar 1944
* Bretigny, France Sep 1944
* Laon/Couvron, France Feb-Jun 1945
* Seymour Johnson Field, NC Aug 1945
* Westover Field, MA c. 6 Oct-7 Nov 1945
* Sarafovo Air Base, Bulgaria (2003)

Operational History

World War II

Constituted as 409th Bombardment Group (Light) on 1 Jun 1943 and activated the same day. Used A-20's in preparing for duty overseas. Moved to RAF Little Walden England, Feb-Mar 1944, and assigned to Ninth Air Force.

The 409th flew the A-20 "Havoc" and A-26 "Invader" light bomber and was originally trained in low-level attack missions. However, the group was busy flying medium-altitude bombing runs from 10,000 ft. Over 100 missions were flown by the group, attacking coastal defences, V-weapon sites, aerodromes, and other targets in France in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. The group supported ground forces during the Battle of Normandy by hitting gun batteries, rail lines, bridges, communications, and other objectives. During July 1944, aided the Allied offensive at Caen and the breakthrough at St Lo with attacks on enemy troops, flak positions, fortified villages, and supply dumps.

The group moved to their Advanced Landing Ground in at Bretigny, France (A-48) to support Third Army's advance toward Germany on 10 September. A total of ten aircraft were lost by the group flying from Little Walden.

In February 1945 the 409th moved to Laon-Couvron Air Base (A-70) France, remaining until June. The group returned to the United States and was deactivated at Seymour Johnson AAF North Carolina on 6 October 1945.

War On Terror

The 409th Air Expeditionary Group was activated in March 2003 at Sarafovo Air Base, Bulgaria as part of the War On Terror. The 409th Group was responsible for refuelling operations in support of the US-led Operation Iraqi Freedom and the mission included the use of six Boeing KC-10 Extender aircraft, deployed from McGuire AFB New Jersey, to help keep coalition aircraft fuelled and flying on their air routes through Bulgaria and on to the theatre of war.

The 409th AEG was deactivated in June 2003.

ee also

* Ninth Air Force

References

* Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle ISBN 0900913800
* Freeman, Roger A. (1996) The Ninth Air Force in Colour: UK and the Continent-World War Two. After the Battle ISBN 1854092723
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.

External links

* [http://www.web-birds.com/9th/409/409th.html History of the 409th Bomb Group]
* [http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/9-million-from-sarafovo/id_7199/catid_68 409th Air Expeditionary Group]