305th Bomber Group
Can Do
Squadrons of the 305th BG
364th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy365th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
366th Bombardment Squadron -Heavy
422nd Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
Assigned 8th AAF: September 1942
Wing/Command Assignment
VIII BC, 1 BW Sep 1942
VIII BC, 1 BW, 102 PCBW: Feb 1943
VIII BC, 1 BD, 40 CBW: 13 Sep 1943
1 BD, 40 CBW 8 Jan 1944
1 AD, 40 CBW 1 Jan 1945
VIII BC, 1 BW, 102 PCBW: Feb 1943
VIII BC, 1 BD, 40 CBW: 13 Sep 1943
1 BD, 40 CBW 8 Jan 1944
1 AD, 40 CBW 1 Jan 1945
Combat Aircraft:
B-17F
B-17G
B-17G
Stations
GRAFTON UNDERWOOD 12 September 1942 to 11 December 1942
CHELVESTON 6 December 1942 to 20 July 1945
CHELVESTON 6 December 1942 to 20 July 1945
Group COs
Col. Curtis E. LeMay 4 June 1942 to 15 May 1943
Lt. Col. Donald K. Fargo 18 May 1943 to late October 1943
Col. Ernest H. Lawson November 1943 to 18 June 1944 - KIA
Col. Anthony Q. Mustoe 22 June 1944 to 22 October 1944
Col. Henry G. MacDonald 23 October 1944 to 22 April 1946
First Mission: 17 November 1942
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Missions: 337
Total Sorties: 9,231
Total Bomb Tonnage: 22,363 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 154
Lt. Col. Donald K. Fargo 18 May 1943 to late October 1943
Col. Ernest H. Lawson November 1943 to 18 June 1944 - KIA
Col. Anthony Q. Mustoe 22 June 1944 to 22 October 1944
Col. Henry G. MacDonald 23 October 1944 to 22 April 1946
First Mission: 17 November 1942
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Missions: 337
Total Sorties: 9,231
Total Bomb Tonnage: 22,363 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 154
Major Awards:
Distinguished Unit Citations:
11 January 1944 to all 1 BD units
4 April 1943: Paris
Two Medals of Honor
1 LT. William R. Lawley Jr. 20 February 1944
1 LT. Edward S. Michael 11 April 1944
11 January 1944 to all 1 BD units
4 April 1943: Paris
Two Medals of Honor
1 LT. William R. Lawley Jr. 20 February 1944
1 LT. Edward S. Michael 11 April 1944
Claims to Fame
Under Col. LeMay the Group pioneered many formations and bombing procedures
that became Standard Operating Procedures in the 8th AAF
The 422nd Bomb Squadron undertook the first night attacks by the 8th AF
Suffered heaviest loss of the 14th October 1943 Schweinfurt mission, and for this reason was given the Nazi flag found flying in the city when it was captured by the US troops
The 422nd Bomb Squadron undertook the first night attacks by the 8th AF
Suffered heaviest loss of the 14th October 1943 Schweinfurt mission, and for this reason was given the Nazi flag found flying in the city when it was captured by the US troops
Early History:
Activated 1 March 1942 at Salt Lake City AB, Utah. They trained there until
the 2nd of March 1943. Then moved to Geiger Field, Washington on 11 June 1942
Intensive training at Muroc Lake AB, California from the 29t June to 20th August
1942. The ground unit went by train to at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The ground unit
sailed on the Queen Mary on the 5th September 1942, and disembarked from Greenock
on the 12th of September 1942. the Aircraft assembled at Syracuse, New York
and spent six weeks in advance flight training. They received new B-17F bombers,
and left for the United Kingdom in October 1942 via the presque Isle, and Gander
to Prestwick.
Subsequent History:
Between 20-27 July 1945 the Group moved to St. Trond, Belgium, where it conducted
photo-mapping flights which was called Project: Casey Jones over Europe and
North Africa. On the 15th December 1945 moved to Lechfeld, Germany which they
had bombed on the 18th March 1944. The 364th Bomb Squadron was inactivated on
the 1st of July 1946. The 423 Bomb Squadron of the 306th Bomb Group was attached
to the Group after this date but by the end of October 1946 the Group ceased
all operations. Officially the unit was inactivated on the 25th of December
1946. On the Continent came under the 9th Air Force and on the 15th of November
1945 under USAFE. The unit was reactivated in 1951 as a Strategic Air Command
B-29 unit and as the 305th Bomb Wing and converted to B-47s in 1953. Then became
one of the USAF's two B-58 Hustler units.