469th Bombardment Group
The 469th Bombardment Group is a former United States Army Air Forces (AAF) unit. It was activated in May 1943 and served as a Replacement Training Unit until it was disbanded in April 1944 when the AAF reorganized its training and support units in the United States.
| 469th Bombardment Group | |
|---|---|
.jpg) B-17 Flying Fortress as flown by the group | |
| Active | 1943–1944 |
| Country |  |
| Branch |  |
| Role | Heavy bomber training |
History
The 469th Bombardment Group was activated at Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado on 1 May 1943, but within a week of activation, moved to Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, where it served as a Replacement Training Unit for aircrews flying the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.[1] Replacement Training Units were oversized units that trained individual pilots and aircrews.[2] The group was composed of the 796th, 797th, 798th, and 799th Bombardment Squadrons.[1]
However, the Army Air Forces was finding that standard military units like the 469th, which were assigned personnel and equipment based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were not proving well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit, which was manned and equipped based on the station's requirements.[3] Accordingly, the 469th Group was disbanded, and along with its elements and supporting units at Alexandria was used to form the 221st AAF Base Unit.[1][4]
The group was reconstituted in July 1985 as the 469th Electronic Warfare Group, but has not been active since.[5]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 469th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
- Activated on 1 May 1943
- Disbanded on 1 April 1944[6]
- Reconstituted and redesignated 469th Electronic Warfare Group on 31 July 1985[5]
Assignments
- II Bomber Command, 1 May 1943 – 1 April 1944
Components
Stations
- Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado, 1 May 1943
- Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, 7 May 1943 – 1 April 1944[1]
Aircraft
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1944[1]
References
Notes
- Maurer, Combat Units, p. 344
- Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
- Goss, p. 75
- See Mueller, p. 168 (showing simultaneous disbanding and organization of units).
- Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
- Lineage through 1963 in Maurer, Combat Units, p. 344
- Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 760
- Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 760-761
- Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 761
Bibliography
- Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Goss, William A. "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L. (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes.
- 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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- 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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
