Baer Field, Ind, I Jul 1943
Sedalia AAFld, Mo, 9 Jul 1943;
Alliance AAFld, Neb, 7 Sep 1943;
Pope Field, NC, 4 Jan 1944;
Baer Field, Ind, 14-2I Feb 1944
Bottesford, England, II Mar 1944;
Exeter, England, 18 Apr 1944;
Reims, France, II Sep 1944;
Le Mans, France, 30 Sep 1944;
Orleans, France, 2 Nov 1944-18 Oct 1945
Group COs
Maj Charles H Young, 5 Jul 1943
Lt Col Frank X Krebs, 7 Jul 1943
Lt Col, Loyd C Waldorf, 18 Sep 1944
Col Frank X Krebs, 29 Oct 1944-1945
CAMPAIGNS
Rome-Arno
Normandy
Northern France
Southern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
DECORATIONS
Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944.
Early History:
Constituted as 440th Troop Carrier Group on 25 May 1943. Activated
on 1 Jul 1943. Prepared for duty overseas with C-47's. Moved to England, Feb-Mar
1944 and assigned to Ninth AF. Began to France in Sep. During the attack on
Holland the 440th dropped paratroops of 82d Airborne Division near Groesbeek
on 17 Sep 1944 and released gliders with reinforcements on 18 and 23 Sep. On
26 Dec 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, it hauled gliders filled with supplies
for 101st Airborne Division encircled at Bastogne. In Mar 1945 the unit towed
gliders with troops of 17th Airborne Division to the battle area near Wesel
during the airborne assault across the Rhine. When not engaged in airborne operations
the group transported food, clothing, medical supplies, gasoline, ammunition,
and other cargo to the front lines and evacuated casualties to rear-zone hospitals.
DUC awarded for operations by dropping paratroops of foist Airborne Division
near Carentan on the Cotentin Peninsula on 6 Jun 1944 and by transporting gasoline,
ammunition, food, and other supplies to the same area on 7 Jun, being awarded
a DUC for completing these missions during the invasion of Normandy. Began flying
supply and evacuation missions between England and France after the invasion
of the Continent. In Jul 1944 part of the group was sent to Italy where it transported
supplies to Rome until Aug. The detachment also participated in the invasion
of Southern France, dropping paratroops of 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
near Le Muy on 15 Aug 1944 and towing gliders carrying reinforcements to that
area later in the day. Meanwhile, the group in England continued to haul cargo,
and on 10 Aug 1944 it dropped supplies to an infantry battalion encircled at
Mortain in northern France. The detachment returned to England on 25 Aug and
the group moved. After the war the group transported liberated prisoners and
displaced persons. Inactivated in Europe on 18 Oct 1945.
Subsequent History:
Allotted to the reserve. Activated in the US on 3 Sep
1947. Redesignated 440th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) in Jun 1949. Ordered to
active duty on 1 May 1951. Inactivated on 4 May 1951. Redesignated 440th Fighter-Bomber
Group. Allotted to the reserve. Activated on 15 Jun 1952. STATIONS. Wold-Chamberlain
Field, Minn, 3 Sep 1947-4 May 1951. Ft Snelling, Minn, 15 Jun 1952; Minneapolis-St
Paul Intl Aprt, Minn, 8 Jan 1953. Currently the unit is assigned to General
Mitchell Field in Milwakee, WI. INSIGNE. Shield: Argent, on and over the upper
edge of a targe azure bearing Polaris and Ursa Major of the field within an
orle or, a winged viking helmet of the like, behind the targe a sword and spear
in saltire of the last all detailed and fimbriated of the second; all within
an orle of the last and a diminished border gold. (Approved 14 Nov 1 958.)
