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396th Bombardment Group

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396th Bombardment Group
B-17 as used by the 396th Group for training
Active1943–1944
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Roleheavy bombertraining

The396th Bombardment Groupis a formerUnited States Army Air Forcesunit. It was active duringWorld War IIas aBoeing B-17 Flying FortressOperational Training Unit,training newly organized units, then as aReplacement Training Unitfor aircrews. It was inactivated in 1944 in a general reorganization ofArmy Air Forcestraining units..

History

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The396th Bombardment Groupwas activated atMountain Home Army Air Field,Idaho on 16 February 1943 with the592d,593d, 594th and595th Bombardment Squadronsassigned.[1][2][3][4]After initial organization and equipping withBoeing B-17 Flying Fortressheavy bombers, thegroupmoved toMoses Lake Army Air Base,Washington. There the 396th acted as anOperational Training Unit(OTU) for B-17 units. The OTU program was patterned after the unit training system of theRoyal Air Force.The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to providecadresto "satellite groups". It assumed responsibility for their training and oversaw their expansion with graduates ofArmy Air Forces Training Commandschools to become effective combat units.[5][6][7]Phase I training concentrated on individual training increwmemberspecialties. Phase II training emphasized the coordination for the crew to act as a team. The final phase concentrated on operation as a unit.[8]

In August 1943, the unit's mission changed to being aReplacement Training Unit(RTU).[1]By This time most combat units had been activated and many of them had deployed overseas. With the exception of special programs, like formingBoeing B-29 Superfortressunits, training "fillers" for existing units became more important than unit training.[9]Like OTUs, RTUs were oversized units. Their mission, however was to train individualpilotsor aircrews.[5]

In November 1943, the 396th moved toDrew Field,Florida, where it would remain for the duration of its active service.[1]However, theArmy Air Forceswas finding that standard military units, based on relatively inflexibletables of organizationwere not well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[10]The 592d was inactivated on 1 May 1944 at Drew Field, Florida.[1]Its personnel and equipment became part of the 326th AAF Base Unit.[11]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the396th Bombardment Group(Heavy) on 29 January 1943
Activated on 16 February 1943.
Inactivated on 1 May 1944[1]

Assignments

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Components

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  • 592d Bombardment Squadron: 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944[2]
  • 593d Bombardment Squadron: 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944[3]
  • 594th Bombardment Squadron: 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944[4]
  • 595th Bombardment Squadron: 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944[4]

Stations

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  • 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[1]

Aircraft

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  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943-1944[1]

Campaign

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Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription 19 January 1943 – 1 May 1944 [1]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^abcdefghMaurer,Combat Units,p. 283
  2. ^abMaurer,Combat Squadrons,p. 676
  3. ^abMaurer,Combat Squadrons,pp. 676-677
  4. ^abcMaurer,Combat Squadrons,p. 677
  5. ^abCraven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
  6. ^Goss, p. 74
  7. ^Greer, p. 601
  8. ^Greer, p. 606
  9. ^Goss, pp. 74-75
  10. ^Goss, p. 75
  11. ^SeeMueller, p. 351 (simultaneous inactivation of 396th Bombardment Group units and organization of 326th Base Unit).

Bibliography

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Public DomainThis article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theAir Force Historical Research Agency

  • 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.LCCN48003657.OCLC704158.Retrieved17 December2016.
    Goss, William A. (1955). "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(PDF).Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.LCCN48003657.OCLC704158.Retrieved17 December2016.
    Greer, Thomas H. (1955). "Recruitment and Training, Chapter 18 Combat Crew and Unit Training". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L. (eds.).The Army Air Forces in World War II(PDF).Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.LCCN48003657.OCLC704158.Retrieved17 December2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961].Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF)(reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-02-1.LCCN61060979.Retrieved17 December2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969].Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF)(reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-405-12194-6.LCCN70605402.OCLC72556.Retrieved17 December2016.
  • Mueller, Robert (1989).Air Force Bases(PDF).Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-53-6.Retrieved17 December2016.
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