| 502d Bombardment Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1944–1946 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Strategic bombardment |
| Engagements | Pacific Theater |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation |
| Insignia | |
| 502d Bombardment Group emblem[1] |  |
| Tail marking[1] | Diamond H |
The502d Bombardment Group was aWorld War IIArmy Air Forces (AAF)strategic bombardment organization. The unit was one of the last few combat groups formed by the AAF, activating on 1 June 1944. After nearly a year training withBoeing B-29 Superfortress, it moved toGuam in April 1945. It flew its first combat mission on 30 June 1945 and its first strike on the Japanese home islands in July. It was awarded theDistinguished Unit Citation for attacks on the Japanese oil industry between 5 August and 15 August 1945. AfterV-J Day it flewshow of force missions and evacuatedprisoners of war. It remained in the Pacific until it was inactivated on 15 April 1946.
Thegroup was organized on 1 June 1944 atDavis-Monthan Field, Arizona. Its operational components, the402d,411th and430th Bombardment Squadrons, were all establishedsquadrons that had briefly activated in other groups asBoeing B-29 Superfortress units, but had been inactivated when B-29 groups were reorganized to consist of only three squadrons.[2][3][4] Five days later, the group moved without personnel or equipment[5] toDalhart Army Air Field, Texas.[6] The group was finally manned in July, when 11 officers and 82 enlisted men were reported assigned to the group.[5] At Dalhart, it began to equip and train with B-29s. The group trained at Dalhart and atGrand Island Army Air Field, Nebraska until 7 April 1945, when it departed for the Pacific.[6] The ground echelon departed Grand Island forFort Lawton and 9 April 1945, and embarked on theSS Cape Newenham on 14 April.[7]
The 502d was deployed to theCentral Pacific Area in late 1944. Upon arrival the group's personnel were engaged inQuonset hut construction. By mid-July most personnel were able to move into the huts from the initial tents which they were assigned on arrival.[citation needed]
The group arrived at its combat station,Northwest Field, Guam on 12 May 1945. It flew its first combat mission on 30 June, an attack onRota. It carried out attacks onTruk during July. It flew its first mission against the Japanese Home Islands on 15 July, against theoil refinery atKudamatsu,[8] and until the end of the war, concentrated on attacks on the Japanesepetroleum industry. It was awarded aDistinguished Unit Citation for August 1945 attacks on thecoal liquefaction plant atUbe, atank farm atAmagasaki and theNippon Oil refinery atTsuchizaki. After the war it participated inshow of force missions and evacuatedprisoners of war. The squadron remained on Guam until it was inactivated on 15 April 1946.[4][6]
Due to a shortage of B-29s, the group was equipped with formerII Bomber CommandB-17 Flying Fortresses previously used for training heavy bomber replacement personnel. The 502d eventually received Atlanta-built B-29B Superfortresses.[citation needed]
AfterV-J Day, the 502d flew over Japan to evaluate bombardment damage. In the fall of 1945, the group largely demobilized as part of the "Sunset Project", with some aircraft being sent reclamation onTinian; others being returned to the United States for storage at aircraft depots in the southwest. By Christmas, the group fleet was reduced to 30 or fewer planes and the remaining elements of the group was effectively consolidated into the501st Bombardment Group. Many of the remaining personnel signed for "any conditions of travel" to get home, arriving three weeks later inOakland, California, where troop trains scattered them for points of discharge close to their homes.[citation needed]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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