2nd Combat Bombardment Wing

The wing was organized in 1919 at Langley Field, Virginia and assumed control of all Air Service units on the Atlantic Coast. It was inactivated at Langley in 1921 and most of its personnel were assigned to Air Park No.3. It was reactivated the following year and conducted mostly bombardment operations.Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 374–375 As the 2nd Wing, the unit became one of the original wings of the GHQ Air Force on 1 March 1935. It once again conducted much of the United States Army's pursuit, bombardment and observation operations in the eastern part of the United States. The wing's 2nd Bombardment Group was the first group of the Air Corps to equip with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.[http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/199/294.xml Abstract of HISTORY OF SECOND WING, GENERAL HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE, 1 Jan 1939 – 7 Dec 1941] (retrieved 29 December 2012) The wing provided cadres for new tactical units activating as the Air Corps expanded under the Woodring Plan. It participated in maneuvers during 1940 that influenced Air Corps doctrine on the employment of airpower.[http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/199/295.xml Abstract History I Bomber Command, Part 1, 2nd Bombardment Wing, GHQ Air Force] (retrieved 29 December 2012) The wing was inactivated in 1941 and its personnel used as the cadre for 1st Bomber Command.[http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/199/313.xml Abstract, History I Bomber Command Sep 1941 – Nov 1943] (retrieved 29 December 2012)

The group was reactivated as a heavy bomber operational command and control organization in June 1942. It moved to England, August–September 1942, and became a heavy bombardment wing of Eighth Air Force. In the fall of 1942, it helped to train bombardment groups assigned to Twelfth Air Force. It served in combat in the European theater from November 1942 to June 1943. The wing ceased combat temporarily during July and August 1943 while its groups were detached to the Mediterranean theater. The wing resumed combat in the European theater in October 1943 and continued operations until April 1945. In August 1945 it returned to the US and was inactivated in November.

• Authorized on 15 August 1919 as the 2nd Observation WingClay, p. 1243

: Organized on 4 September 1919

• Redesignated as 2nd Wing on 14 March 1921

: Inactivated on 30 September 1921.

• Activated on 8 August 1922

: Redesignated 2nd Bombardment Wing on 8 May 1929

: Redesignated 2nd Wing on 1 March 1935

: Redesignated 2nd Bombardment Wing on 19 October 1940

: Inactivated on 5 September 1941

• Activated on 7 June 1942

: Redesignated 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) 31 August 1943

: Redesignated 2nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) June 1945

: Inactivated on 7 November 1945

• Disbanded on 15 June 1983

• Eastern Department, 4 September 1919
• Third Corps Area, 20 August 1920 - 8 August 1922
• General Headquarters, 1921 – 30 September 1921
• Third Corps Area, 8 August 1922
• General Headquarters Air Force, 1 March 1935
• Northeast Air District, 19 October 1940 – 5 September 1941
• I Bomber Command, 7 June 1942
• VIII Bomber Command, 7 September 1942
• 2nd Bombardment Division (later 2nd Air Division), 16 August 1943 – 25 August 1945
• Continental Air Forces, 6 September 1945 – 7 November 1945
• Disbanded on 15 June 1983Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 4989q, 15 September 1983, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units

• Langley Field, Virginia, 4 September 1919 – 30 September 1921
• Langley Field, Virginia, 8 August 1922 – 5 September 1941
• Detrick Field, Maryland, 7 June – 15 August 1942
• Old Catton (AAF-108),Station number in Anderson England, c. 7 September 1942
• RAF Hethel (AAF-114), England, 14 September 1943
• RAF Alconbury (AAF-102), England, c. 12 June – c. 25 August 1945
• McChord Field, Washington, 6 September – 7 November 1945.

Groups

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• 1st Army Observation Group (later 7th Group (Observation)), 1 October 1919 – 30 August 1921[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/434136/7-operations-group-acc/ AFHRA Factsheet, 7th Operations Group] 11 May 2007 (retrieved 28 December 2012)
• 1st Pursuit Group, 1 March 1935 – 16 January 1941[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433960/1-operations-group-acc/ AFHRA Factsheet, 1st Operations Group] 1 February 2008 (retrieved 28 December 2012)
• 2nd Bombardment Group, ca. July 1922 – 19 November 1940[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/434143/2-operations-group-acc/ AFHRA Factsheet, 2nd Operations Group] 11 February 2007 (retrieved 28 December 2012)
• 8th Pursuit Group, 1 April 1931 – 18 December 1940[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/434134/8-operations-group-pacaf/ AFHRA Factsheet, 8th Operations Group] 11 May 2007 (retrieved 28 December 2012)
• 9th Bombardment Group, 1 March 1935 – 12 November 1940[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/434133/9-operations-group-acc/ AFHRA Factsheet, 9th Operations Group] 11 May 2007 (retrieved 28 December 2012)
• 15th School Group, 6 February 1923 -13 June 1924Clay, p. 1308. The unit was assigned for mobilization, but was not organized while assigned to the wing.
• 22nd Bombardment Group, 1 February 1940 – 4 September 1941[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/434116/22-operations-group-amc/ AFHRA Factsheet, 22nd Operations Group] 28 November 2007 (retrieved 28 December 2012)
• 31st Pursuit Group, 1 February 1940 – 18 December 1940[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/434112/31-operations-group-usafe/ AFHRA Factsheet, 31st Operations Group] 28 November 2007 (retrieved 28 December 2012)

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• 44th Bombardment Group, September 1942-13 September 1943 (detached to 201st Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing after 25 March 1943)[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432477/44-fighter-group-afrc/ AFHRA Factsheet, 44th Fighter Group] 1 July 2011 (retrieved 28 December 2012) (attached to IX Bomber Command 28 June 1943 – 4 October 1943){{Citation needed|date=December 2012}}
• 93rd Bombardment Group, 6 December 1942 – 1943
• 389th Bombardment Group, 11 June 1943 – 30 May 1945 (attached to IX Bomber Command, 3 July – 3 October 1943){{Citation needed|date=December 2012}}
• 392nd Bombardment Group, July 1943 – 1943
• 445th Bombardment Group, ca. 9 November 1943 – 9 June 1945[https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433981/445-operations-group-afrc/ AFHRA Factsheet, 445th Operations Group] 27 December 2007 (retrieved 28 December 2012)
• 453rd Bombardment Group, 23 December 1943 – 9 May 1945

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Squadrons

• Base Headquarters and 1st Air Base Squadron, 1 September 1936 – 1 September 1940
• 1st Squadron (Observation), 30 August 1921 – 30 September 1921Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 4
• Base Headquarters and 2nd Air Base Squadron, 1 September 1936 – 1 September 1940
• Base Headquarters and 3rd Air Base Squadron, 1 September 1936 – 1 September 1940
• 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron, 15 January 1941 – 5 June 1941 (attached to 13th Bombardment Group)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 38
• 19th Airship Squadron see 19th Balloon Company below
• 36th Pursuit Squadron, 2 October 1930 – 1 April 1931 (attached to 1st Pursuit GroupMaurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 172
• 37th Attack Squadron, 1 March 1935 – 31 January 1938 (attached to 8th Pursuit Group)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 175
• 55th Pursuit Squadron, 15 November 1930 – 1 April 1931 (attached to 20th Pursuit Group
• 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 September 1936 – ca. September 1940 (attached to 9th Bombardment Group)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 499
• 21st Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 September 1936 – ca. September 1940 (attached to 2nd Bombardment Group to September 1939, 7th Naval District to 1940)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 503
• 41st Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 March 1935 – 1 September 1936 (attached to Air Corps Advanced Flying School), (attached 1 February 1940 – ca. December 1940)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 527
• 50th Squadron (Observation) (later 50th Observation Squadron), 5 August 1922 – Jun 1927 (attached to Air Service Field Officer School (later Air Service Tactical School, Air Corps Tactical School)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 531
• 88th Reconnaissance Squadron, September 1919 – 24 March 1920 (attached to 1st Army Observation Group after October 1919)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 539

Company

• 19th Balloon Company (later 19th Dirigible Company, 19th Airship Company 19th Airship Squadron), 4 September 1919 – 30 September 1921 (attached to 1st Provisional Air Brigade after 6 May 1921), 8 August 1922 – 8 May 1929 (attached 8 May 1929 – 3 November 1935)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 18

Except as noted, lineage and station information is in Maurer, Combat Units.

• 325px
• European Theater of World War II
• Campaigns:

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: Air Offensive, Europe

: Naples-Foggia

: Normandy

: Northern France

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: Rhineland

: Ardennes-Alsace

: Central Europe

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{{Reflist}}

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

• {{cite book|url=http://www.afhra.af.mil./shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf |title= Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II|last=Anderson|first=Capt. Barry|publisher=Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center|year=1985|location=Maxwell AFB, AL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062523/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date= 7 July 2012}}
• {{cite book|last=Clay|first=Steven E.|title=US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941|url = http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle3.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120916232053/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle3.pdf |url-status = dead |archive-date = 16 September 2012 |access-date=16 October 2012|volume=3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919–1941|year=2011|publisher=Combat Studies Institute Press|location=Fort Leavenworth, KS|isbn=9780984190140|oclc=637712205|lccn=2010022326}}
• {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
• {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
• [http://www.usaaf.com/8thAF.html US Army 8th Air Force in World War II, US Army Air Force Web site]

{{USAAF 8th Air Force UK}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2nd Bombardment Wing (World War II)}}

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Category:Military units and formations established in 1919

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945