377th Bombardment Group
104th Observation Squadron O-47s
Active1942
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleBombardment
Part ofAAF Antisubmarine Command
EngagementsAntisubmarine

The 377th Bombardment Group was activated in October 1942 as the headquarters for antisubmarine units operating along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Shortly after it was organized, Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command reorganized its squadrons in the area to reassign them directly to the 25th Antisubmarine Wing and the group was inactivated. In 1985, the group was redesignated the 357th Tactical Missile Group.

History

The group was first activated as the 377th Bombardment Group on 18 October 1942, when it replaced the 59th Observation Group at Fort Dix Army Air Field and assumed its mission, personnel and equipment. It was equipped with the various observation aircraft flown by the 59th, but its squadrons would finally convert to North American B-25 Mitchell bombers shortly after the 377th was inactivated.[1][2] only one of the group's squadrons, the 516th Bombardment Squadron, was located with it at Fort Dix.[3] Its 517th Bombardment Squadron was at Atlantic City Airport, New Jersey;[4] the 518th Bombardment Squadron was at Grenier Field, New Hampshire;[5] while the 519th Bombardment Squadron made its home at Hyannis Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Massachusetts.[6]

Just as the group was activating, the Army Air Forces organized its antisubmarine forces into the single Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, which established the 25th Antisubmarine Wing the following month to control its forces operating over the Atlantic.[7][8] The group's squadrons were all renamed as antisubmarine squadrons in late November.[3][4][5][6] The command's bombardment group headquarters, including the 377th, were inactivated and the group's squadrons were assigned directly to the 25th Wing.[1][3][4][5]

In July 1985, the group was redesignated the 357th Tactical Missile Wing, but it has never been active under this name.[9]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 377th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 13 October 1942
Activated on 18 October 1942
Inactivated on 9 December 1942[10]
  • Redesignated 357th Tactical Missile Wing on 19 July 1985[9]

Assignments

  • Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, 18 October 1942–9 December 1942[1]

Components

  • 516th Bombardment Squadron (later 11th Antisubmarine Squadron), 18 October-9 December 1942[3]
  • 517th Bombardment Squadron (later 12th Antisubmarine Squadron), 18 October-9 December 1942[4]
  • 518th Bombardment Squadron (later 13th Antisubmarine Squadron), 18 October-9 December 1942 (attached to Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command)[note 1]
  • 519th Bombardment Squadron (later 14th Antisubmarine Squadron), 18 October-9 December 1942[6]

Stations

  • Fort Dix Army Air Base, New Jersey, 18 October 1942 – 9 December 1942[10]

Aircraft

Campaign

Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Antisubmarine18 October 1942–9 December 1942377th Bombardment Group[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Maurer, in Combat Units says the squadron was assigned to the 377th Group, but in Combat Squadrons says it was assigned to the 25th Wing. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 265-266; Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 786-787
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 265-266
  2. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 123
  3. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 773-774
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 785
  5. 1 2 3 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 786-787
  6. 1 2 3 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 265–266
  7. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 437
  8. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 388-389
  9. 1 2 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
  10. 1 2 Lineage through 1942 in Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 265-266

Citations

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
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