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{{no footnotes|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
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{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=334th Bombardment Group<br/>(later 334th Air Refueling Wing)
|unit_name=334th Bombardment Group<br/>(later 334th Air Refueling Wing, 334th Air Expeditionary Group)
|image=B-25 (5230249372).jpg
|image=B-25 (5230249372).jpg
|image_size=300
|image_size=300
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|identification_symbol=[[File:334th Bombardment Group - Emblem.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol=[[File:334th Bombardment Group - Emblem.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol_label=Patch with the the 334th Bombardment Group emblem<ref name=Maurer334BG>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 214</ref>
|identification_symbol_label=Patch with the 334th Bombardment Group emblem<ref name=Maurer334BG>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 214</ref>
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
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}}
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The '''334th Bombardment Group''' is an inactive [[United States Air Force]] unit. From 1942 to 1944, it served as a [[Operational - Replacement Training Units#Replacement Training Units|Replacement Training Unit]] at [[Greenville Army Air Base]], South Carolina. It was disbanded on 1 May 1944 in a reorganization of [[Army Air Forces]] training units. The group was reconstituted in inactive status in 1985 as the '''334th Air Refueling Wing'''.
The '''334th Bombardment Group''' is an inactive [[United States Air Force]] unit. From 1942 to 1944, it served as a [[Operational - Replacement Training Units#Replacement Training Units|Replacement Training Unit]] at [[Greenville Army Air Base]], South Carolina. It was disbanded on 1 May 1944 in a reorganization of [[Army Air Forces]] training units. The group was reconstituted in 1985 as the '''334th Air Refueling Wing'''. It was converted to provisional status in 2005 as the '''334th Air Expeditionary Group''' and has been activated for exercises.


==History==
==History==
The '''334th Bombardment Group''' was activated on 16 July 1942 at [[Greenville Army Air Base]], South Carolina. Its original components were the [[470th Bombardment Squadron|470th]], [[71st Air Refueling Squadron|471st]], [[472nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron|472nd]] and [[473d Bombardment Squadron]]s, and the [[group (military aviation unit)|group]] was equipped with [[North American B-25 Mitchell]]s. It became part of [[Third Air Force]], which was responsible for the majority of [[medium bomber]] training for the [[Army Air Forces]] (AAF).<ref name=Maurer334BG/><ref name=Maurer470BS>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 575</ref><ref name=Maurer471BS>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 575-576</ref><ref name=Maurer4724733BS>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 576</ref><ref name=intro>Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi</ref>

The 354th acted as a [[Operational - Replacement Training Units#Replacement Training Units|Replacement Training Unit]] (RTU) for the B-25. The RTU was an oversized unit which trained individual [[aviators|pilots]] and [[aircrew]]s, after which they would be assigned to operational units.<ref name=intro/> However, the AAF found that standard military units, whose manning was based on relatively inflexible [[tables of organization]] were not well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit, manned according to the base's specific needs.<ref>Goss, p. 75</ref> As this reorganization was implemented in the spring of 1944, the 334th Group, its components and supporting units at Greenville, were disbanded on 1 May and replaced by the 330th AAF Base Unit (Medium, Bombardment).

The emblems of the group's four squadrons were variations of "Bomby the Bear", and were featured in a [[National Geographic]] article about military insignia.<ref>Hubbard, p. 714</ref>

The group was reconstituted in July 1985 as the '''334th Air Refueling Wing''', but remained in inactive status.<ref name=DAFMPM648q>Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations</ref> It was converted to provisional status as the '''334th Air Expeditionary Group''' and assigned to [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC) to activate or inactivate as needed. ACC activated the group in 2007 for Exercise Ardent Sentry<ref name=AFOCSRMay2007>Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, May 2007, Maxwell AFB, AL</ref> It was again active to control exercise units in July 2010<ref name=AFOCSRJuly2010>Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, July 2010, Maxwell AFB, AL</ref>

==Lineage==
==Lineage==
* Constituted as '''334th Bombardment Group (Medium)''' on 9 July 1942
* Constituted as the '''334th Bombardment Group''' (Medium) on 9 July 1942
: Activated on 16 July 1942
: Activated on 16 July 1942
: Disbanded on 1 May 1944
: Disbanded on 1 May 1944<ref name=Maurer334BG/>
* Reconstituted on 31 July 1985 and redesignated '''334th Air Refueling Wing'''<ref name=DAFMPM648q/>
:: Personnel and equipment reassigned to '''330th Army Air Forces Base Unit''', 1 May 1944
* Converted to provisional status and redesignated '''334th Air Expeditionary Group''' on 21 October 2005<ref name=AFOCSRJuly2010/>
:: Personnel and equipment reassigned to '''128th Army Air Force Base Unit''', 1 January 1945
: Activated on 9 May 2007<ref name=AFOCSRMay2007/>
⚫
:: Inactivated 1 May 1945
: Inactivated on 23 May 2007<ref name=AFOCSRMay2007/>
: Activated 5 July 2010<ref name=AFOCSRJuly2010/>
⚫
: Inactivated c. July 2010


===Assignments===
===Assignments===
* [[Third Air Force]], 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
* [[Third Air Force]], 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
* Air Combat Command, to activate or inactivate as needed after 21 October 2005<ref name=AFOCSRJuly2010/>
:: [[1st Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force]], 9 May–23 May 2007<ref name=AFOCSRMay2007/>
:: [[1st Air And Space Expeditionary Task Force]], 5 July 2010–c. July 2010<ref name=AFOCSRJuly2010/>


===Components===
===Components===
* 334th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron: 9 May–23 May 2007<ref name=AFOCSRMay2007/>
⚫
* [[470th Bombardment Squadron]]: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
* [[471st Bombardment Squadron]]: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
* 470th Bombardment Squadron: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944<ref name=Maurer470BS/>
* [[472d Bombardment Squadron]]: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
* 471st Bombardment Squadron: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944<ref name=Maurer471BS/>
* [[473d Bombardment Squadron]]: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
* 472d Bombardment Squadron: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944<ref name=Maurer4724733BS/>
⚫
* 473d Bombardment Squadron: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944<ref name=Maurer4724733BS/>


===Stations===
===Stations===
* [[Greenville Army Air Base]], 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
* Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina, 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944<ref name=Maurer334BG/>
* [[Camp Atterbury]], Indiana, 9 May–23 May 2007<ref name=AFOCSRMay2007/>
* [[Camp A. P. Hill]], Virginia, 5 July 2010–c. July 2010<ref name=AFOCSRJuly2010/>


===Aircraft===
===Aircraft===
* [[B-25 Mitchell]], 1942–1944
* North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1944<ref name=Maurer334BG/>

===Operations history===
Trained replacement crews for combat


==References==
==References==
Line 68: Line 81:
===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
* {{cite book|editor=Craven, Wesley F |editor2=Cate, James L|url=http://media.defense.gov/2010/Nov/05/2001329891/-1/-1/0/AFD-101105-019.pdf |access-date=December 17, 2016 |title=The Army Air Forces in World War II|volume=VI, Men & Planes|year=1955|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, IL|oclc=704158| lccn=48003657}}
* {{cite journal|url= http://archive.nationalgeographic.com/dynamic/National%20Geographic%20Society/National%20Geographic/Landing.aspx |url-access=subscription |last1=Hubbard|first1=Gerard|title= Aircraft Insignia, Spirit of Youth |year=1943|volume=LXXXIII |issue=6|pages=718–722|journal=The National Geographic Magazine|publisher=National Geographic Society|access-date=September 1, 2017}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|access-date= December 17, 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|access-date= December 17, 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |edition= reprint|access-date= December 17, 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |edition= reprint|access-date= December 17, 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}


{{USAF Air Combat Command}}
{{USAAF 3d Air Force World War II}}
{{USAAF 3d Air Force World War II}}


[[Category:Bombardment groups of the United States Army Air Forces]]
[[Category:Bombardment groups of the United States Army Air Forces]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1942]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944]]

Latest revision as of 15:51, 20 August 2023

334th Bombardment Group
(later 334th Air Refueling Wing, 334th Air Expeditionary Group)
B-25 Mitchell of a Replacement Training Unit
Active1942–1944
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Rolemedium bomber training
EngagementsAmerican Theater of World War II
Insignia
Patch with the 334th Bombardment Group emblem[1]

The 334th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. From 1942 to 1944, it served as a Replacement Training Unit at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina. It was disbanded on 1 May 1944 in a reorganization of Army Air Forces training units. The group was reconstituted in 1985 as the 334th Air Refueling Wing. It was converted to provisional status in 2005 as the 334th Air Expeditionary Group and has been activated for exercises.

History

[edit]

The 334th Bombardment Group was activated on 16 July 1942 at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina. Its original components were the 470th, 471st, 472nd and 473d Bombardment Squadrons, and the group was equipped with North American B-25 Mitchells. It became part of Third Air Force, which was responsible for the majority of medium bomber training for the Army Air Forces (AAF).[1][2][3][4][5]

The 354th acted as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for the B-25. The RTU was an oversized unit which trained individual pilots and aircrews, after which they would be assigned to operational units.[5] However, the AAF found that standard military units, whose manning was based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were not well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit, manned according to the base's specific needs.[6] As this reorganization was implemented in the spring of 1944, the 334th Group, its components and supporting units at Greenville, were disbanded on 1 May and replaced by the 330th AAF Base Unit (Medium, Bombardment).

The emblems of the group's four squadrons were variations of "Bomby the Bear", and were featured in a National Geographic article about military insignia.[7]

The group was reconstituted in July 1985 as the 334th Air Refueling Wing, but remained in inactive status.[8] It was converted to provisional status as the 334th Air Expeditionary Group and assigned to Air Combat Command (ACC) to activate or inactivate as needed. ACC activated the group in 2007 for Exercise Ardent Sentry[9] It was again active to control exercise units in July 2010[10]

Lineage

[edit]
  • Constituted as the 334th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 9 July 1942
Activated on 16 July 1942
Disbanded on 1 May 1944[1]
  • Reconstituted on 31 July 1985 and redesignated 334th Air Refueling Wing[8]
  • Converted to provisional status and redesignated 334th Air Expeditionary Group on 21 October 2005[10]
Activated on 9 May 2007[9]
Inactivated on 23 May 2007[9]
Activated 5 July 2010[10]
Inactivated c. July 2010

Assignments

[edit]
  • Third Air Force, 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
  • Air Combat Command, to activate or inactivate as needed after 21 October 2005[10]
1st Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force, 9 May–23 May 2007[9]
1st Air And Space Expeditionary Task Force, 5 July 2010–c. July 2010[10]

Components

[edit]
  • 334th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron: 9 May–23 May 2007[9]
  • 470th Bombardment Squadron: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944[2]
  • 471st Bombardment Squadron: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944[3]
  • 472d Bombardment Squadron: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944[4]
  • 473d Bombardment Squadron: 16 July 1942 – 1 May 1944[4]

Stations

[edit]

Aircraft

[edit]
  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1942–1944[1]

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Maurer, Combat Units, p. 214
  2. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 575
  3. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 575-576
  4. ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 576
  5. ^ a b Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
  6. ^ Goss, p. 75
  7. ^ Hubbard, p. 714
  8. ^ a b Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
  9. ^ a b c d e f Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, May 2007, Maxwell AFB, AL
  10. ^ a b c d e f Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, July 2010, Maxwell AFB, AL

Bibliography

[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Hubbard, Gerard (1943). "Aircraft Insignia, Spirit of Youth". The National Geographic Magazine. LXXXIII (6). National Geographic Society: 718–722. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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