493d Bombardment Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 493d Bombardment Group


caption= 493d Bombardment Group Insignia
dates= 1942 - 1946
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Army Air Forces
type=
role= Bombardment
size=
command_structure= Eighth Air Force
current_commander=
garrison= European Theatre of World War II
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=The 493d Bombardment Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It served primarily in the European Theatre of World War II.

History

Operational Units

* 860th Bomb Squadron (NG)
* 861st Bomb Squadron (G6)
* 862d Bomb Squadron (8M)
* 863d Bomb Squadron (Q4)

Aircraft Flown

* Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
* Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Stations Assigned

* McCook AAF, NE 1 Nov 1943
* Elvedon Hall, England 1 Jan 1944
* RAF Debach, England Apr 1944-6 Aug 1945
* Sioux Falls AAF, SD 12-28 Aug 1945

Operational History

Constituted as 493d Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 Sep 1943. Activated on 1 Nov 1943. On 1 Jan 1944 transferred, less the air echelon and without personnel and equipment, to RAF Debach England where personnel were assigned. Joined by the air echelon in May 1944. Served in combat with the Eighth Air Force. The 493d was assigned to the 93d Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Square-X".

The 493d BG used B-24's until they were replaced with B-17's in September 1944. The group operated chiefly against industrial and military installations in Germany, attacking an ordnance depot at Magdeburg, marshalling yards at Cologne, synthetic oil plants at Merseburg, a railroad tunnel at Ahrweiler, bridges at Irlich, factories at Frankfurt, and other strategic objectives.

Additional operations included striking airfields, bridges, and gun batteries prior to and during the invasion of Normandy in June 1944; hitting enemy positions to assist ground forces south of Caen and at St Lo in July 1944; bombing German fortifications to cover the airborne attack on Holland in September 1944; attacking enemy communications during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945; and assisting the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

The 493d Bomb Group flew its last combat mission, an attack on marshalling yards at Nauen, on 20 April 1945.

The unit returned to Sioux Falls AAF South Dakota and was deactivated on 28 August 1945.

References

* Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
* Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.

External links