396th Bombardment Group

History

The 396th Bombardment Group was activated at Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho on 16 February 1943 with the 592d, 593d, 594th and 595th Bombardment Squadrons assigned. After initial organization and equipping with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, the group moved to Moses Lake Army Air Base, Washington. There the 396th acted as an Operational Training Unit (OTU) for B-17 units. The OTU program was patterned after the unit training system of the Royal Air Force. The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres to "satellite groups". It assumed responsibility for their training and oversaw their expansion with graduates of Army Air Forces Training Command schools to become effective combat units. Phase I training concentrated on individual training in crewmember specialties. Phase II training emphasized the coordination for the crew to act as a team. The final phase concentrated on operation as a unit.

In August 1943, the unit's mission changed to being a Replacement Training Unit (RTU). Like OTUs, RTUs were oversized units. Their mission, however was to train individual pilots or aircrews.

In November 1943, the 396th moved to Drew Field, Florida, where it would remain for the duration of its active service. The 592d was inactivated on 1 May 1944 at Drew Field, Florida.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 396th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 29 January 1943 : Activated on 16 February 1943. : Inactivated on 1 May 1944

Assignments

• II Bomber Command, 16 February 1943
• Second Air Force, 6 October 1943
• III Bomber Command, 5 November 1943 – 1 May 1944

Components

• 592d Bombardment Squadron: 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944
• 593d Bombardment Squadron: 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944
• 594th Bombardment Squadron: 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944
• 595th Bombardment Squadron: 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944

Stations

• Mountain Home Army Air Field, Idaho, 16 February 1943
• Moses Lake Army Air Base, Washington, 10 April 1943
• Drew Field, Florida, 5 November 1943 – 1 May 1944

Aircraft

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943-1944

Campaign

References

Notes

Bibliography

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References

1. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 283
2. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 676
3. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 676-677
4. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 677
5. Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
6. Goss, p. 74
7. Greer, p. 601
8. Greer, p. 606
9. By This time most combat units had been activated and many of them had deployed overseas. With the exception of special programs, like forming [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] units, training "fillers" for existing units became more important than unit training.Goss, pp. 74-75