9th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
9th Bomb Group
Active	August 1, 1922
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Type	Very heavy bombardment group
Role	Strategic Bombardment
Size	2200 personnel, 48-50 B-29 aircraft
Part of	Twentieth Air Force
Garrison/HQ	North Field, Tinian, Mariana Islands
Motto	Semper Paratus - Always Ready
Battles/wars	Tokyo fireboming, March 9, 1945 Kawasaki, PUC April 15, 1945 Mining campaign, PUC May 1945 71 combat missions

The 9th Bomb Group (Very Heavy) was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War and as the 9th Operations Group, a current unit of the United States Air Force. A unit of the pre-war Army Air Corps dating back to 1922, the USAAF bombardment group operated the B-29 Superfortress bomber while the current USAF group operates U-2s and RQ-4s. August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Boeing Model 341/345) was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the United States Army Air Force. ... Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). ... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan (Click to enlarge) Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. ... The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Islas de los Ladrones meaning Islands of Thieves) are a group of islands made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the western Pacific Ocean. ... The U.S. bombing of Tokyo during World War II took place between 1942 and 1945. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. ... The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The U.S. Air Force redirects here, for the offical song, see The U.S. Air Force (song) The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... 1. ... A United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bombardment group was a military combat unit during the Second World War. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. ... The U-2 designation may refer to the: Lockheed U-2, US reconnaissance aircraft Polikarpov U-2, Soviet utility biplane This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft The RQ-4 Global Hawk is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used by the US Air Force as a surveillance aircraft. ...

The 9th Bomb Group conducted 71 bombing missions while assigned to the Twentieth Air Force. The group later served as both a reconnaissance group and bomb group of the Strategic Air Command, before being inactivated in 1952. Its lineage, honors, and history were bestowed on the like-numbered wing of the Strategic Air Command until September 1, 1991, when after nearly forty years the group was activated again as part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing. Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). ... Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ... The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal, as well as the infrastructure necessary to support their operations (such as tanker aircraft to fuel the bombers and, until 1959... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Air Service and Air Corps history

Originally created as the 9th Observation Group on July 19, 1922, as part of the U.S. Army Air Service, the 9th was organized on August 1, 1922, at Mitchel Field, New York. The squadrons assigned to the group were the 1st and 5th Aero Squadrons (Observation), both re-designated bomb squadrons in March 1935. July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The United States Army Air Service was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Mitchel Field is a complex located in Uniondale, New York, and home to Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ...

The 1st Squadron was the first squadron organized in the air force, and the oldest, formed on March 5, 1913, at Texas City, Texas, as the 1st Aero Squadron. It served in both the Punitive Expedition to Mexico in 1916-1917 and in France during World War I, with seven campaign streamers. The 5th Squadron was organized in 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas, and served as a flying training unit. From June to September 1921 both squadrons served as part of the 1st Provisional Air Brigade, organized by Brig. Gen. William L. Mitchell to demonstrate aerial bombardment of battleships. March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Texas City is a city located in Galveston County in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area. ... The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron is the oldest squadron in the United States Air Force, and the first organization to be established as a U.S. military flying unit. ... The Pancho Villa Expedition was an abortive punitive expedition conducted by the United States against the military forces of Mexican Revolutionary General Pancho Villa in retaliation for Villas invasion of the United States and attack on the village of Columbus, New Mexico. ... Combatants Allied Powers: France Italy Russia Serbia United Kingdom United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Paul von Hindenburg Reinhard... A campaign streamer is a long streamer attached to the headpiece of a military flag, denoting participation of that military service in a particular battle/campaign/war (not to be confused with a tassel, which also hangs from a headpiece). ... Kelly Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located in San Antonio, Texas. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... William L. (Billy) Mitchell (December 28, 1879–February 19, 1936) was an American general who is regarded as the father of the U.S. Air Force. ... HMS Victory in 1884 Battleship was the name given to the most powerfully gun-armed and most heavily armored classes of warships built between the 15th and 20th centuries. ...

From 1923 to 1929 both squadrons of the 9th were reassigned to higher echelons, but remained in actuality a part of the group. The 99th Observation Squadron, organized at Kelly Field in 1917 and earning four campaign streamers in France, was added to the 9th Group on November 9, 1928, and on February 15, 1929, all three squadrons were assigned permanently. The 9th Observation Group used the DH-4 for its observation airplane between 1922 and 1928, and the Curtiss O-1B Falcon from 1928 to 1935. November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Airco DH.4 was a British two seat biplane day-bomber of the First World War. ... A number of biplanes built by Curtiss were named Falcon, most under the US Army designation O-1. ...

The Air Service became the U.S. Army Air Corps on July 2, 1926. In early 1935 the Air Corps was re-organized, with all combat groups being centrally controlled for the first time, under a new command organization called General Headquarters, Air Force. The role of observation as the primary function of the air arm had been strongly de-emphasized in the creation of eight new groups between 1927 and 1932. With the creation of GHQAF it was further de-emphasized and the 9th was converted into a bombardment group and made a part of the 2nd Wing, responsible for the air defense of the East Coast of the United States. 1. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Martin B-10B

The group's designation was changed to the 9th Bombardment Group on February 19, 1935, the 9th Bombardment Group (Medium) on December 6, 1939, and the 9th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on November 20, 1940. During the period 1935-1940 the 9th Bomb Group trained aircrews, took part in maneuvers, and participated in air shows, equipped with Keystone B-6 (1935-36), Martin B-10 (1936-38), and Douglas B-18 aircraft (1938-1942). USAF photo of Martin B-10B in flight, collected from http://www. ... USAF photo of Martin B-10B in flight, collected from http://www. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... In 1931, the United States Army Air Corps received five working models (Y1B-6s) of the B-6 bomber. ... A B-10 being flown during a training session at Maxwell Field. ... The Douglas Aircraft Company was founded by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. ... Douglas B-18 Bolo, Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s based on the Douglas DC-2. ...

The 9th moved to Rio Hato, Panama, on November 12, 1940, to serve as part of the defense force for the Panama Canal. The 44th Reconnaissance Squadron stationed at Albrook Field, Canal Zone, was attached to the 9th on November 20, 1940. In addition to 5 additional B-18's it provided a single B-17B to the group. November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... A canal tug, making its way down to the Caribbean end of the canal, waits to be joined by a ship in the uppermost chamber of the Gatun Locks. ... Around the world there are a number of canal zones. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... <B-17 Flying Fortress A B-17 nicknamed Sally B in England in 2001 The following is an extensive catalogue of the variants and specific unique elements of each variant and/or design stage of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. ...

The 9th Bomb Group relocated in a series of moves to Caribbean bases to conduct antisubmarine patrols. The 1st Bomb Squadron moved to Piarco Airport, Trinidad, on April 24, 1941; followed by the 5th Bomb Squadron to Beane Field, Saint Lucia, on September 28; the group headquarters squadron to Waller Field, Trinidad, on October 30 (where it was joined by the 1st Bomb Squadron); the 44th Recon Squadron to Atkinson Field, British Guiana, on November 4; and the 99th Bomb Squadron to Zandrey Field, Surinam, on December 3, 1941. World map depicting Caribbean: West Indies redirects here. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... Trinidad (Spanish, Trinity) is the largest and most populous of the 23 islands which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago. ... April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Trinidad (Spanish, Trinity) is the largest and most populous of the 23 islands which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago. ... October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... British Guiana and its boundary lines, 1896 Flag of British Guiana British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

The 44th Recon Squadron was formally assigned to the 9th Bomb Group on February 25, 1942, and redesignated the 430th Bomb Squadron on April 22. The group's Headquarters Squadron was disbanded on July 22, 1942. The 1st Bomb Squadron changed stations to Edinburg Field, Trinidad, on August 23, and the group was assigned to the Antilles Air Task Force on September 18, where it continued antisubmarine patrols and conducted reconnaissance of the Vichy French fleet at Martinique. February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Vichy France (French: now called Régime de Vichy or Vichy; called itself at the time État Français, or French State) was the French state of 1940-1944 which was a puppet government under Nazi influence, as opposed to the Free French Forces, based first in London and later...

The 9th Bomb Group's assets were transferred to the 25th Bomb Group and it was returned without personnel or equipment to the US in October 1942, where it was reconstituted as part of the Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT) at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida. The group's squadrons were assigned as school squadrons, with the 1st located at Brooksville Field, the 5th at Pinecastle Field, and the 99th at Montbrook Field. These used B-17, B-24, and B-26 aircraft to train cadres for 44 bomb groups in organization and operations, performed bombing pattern tests, experimented with 3-plane formations to attack moving ships, and performed over a hundred equipment tests. McCoy Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base near Orlando, Florida. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Brooksville is a city located in Hernando County, Florida. ... McCoy Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base near Orlando, Florida. ... A B_17 nicknamed Sally B in England in 2001 The B_17 Flying Fortress was the first mass_produced, four_engine heavy bomber. ... Royal Canadian Air Force B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was produced in greater numbers than any other American combat aircraft, and was used by most of the Allied air forces in World War II. Designed as a heavy bomber, it served with distinction not only in that... See A-26 Invader for the plane known as the B-26 from 1948 to 1962. ...

Commanders, 1922-1944

September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

Organization of the 9th Bomb Group (VH)

The group was redesignated as the 9th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) on March 9, 1944. The combat and post-war Army Air Forces staff of the group follows: March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

Group Commanders: Col. Donald W. Eisenhart, (May 1, 1944—March 6, 1945), Col. Henry C. Huglin, (March 6, 1945—August, 1945), Col. David Wade (September 1945—April 25, 1947) May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (116th in leap years). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

Deputy Group Commanders: Lt.Col. Henry C. Huglin (May 1, 1944—March 6, 1945), Lt.Col. William L. Hall (March 8, 1945—) May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

Operations Officers (S-3's): Lt.Col. Frank L. Luschen (May 1, 1944—September 1, 1945), Major Dean A. Fling (September 2, 1945—) May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

Group Executive Officer: Lt.Col. Albert L. Perry (March 9, 1944—) March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

Group Adjutant: Major Thell E. Rhea (May 1, 1944—) An adjutant (from the Latin adiutor, itself from the verb adiutare, to help) is an officer who assists a more senior officer. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

The original three squadrons assigned to the group were re-designated very heavy bomb squadrons on March 9, 1944. The 430th Bomb Squadron was disbanded. The squadron commanders of the 9th Bomb Group (VH) were: A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

• 1st Bomb Squadron (VH)
  • Major Ralph E. Settle (May 1, 1944—February 24, 1945), Lt.Col. Leroy V. Casey (February 24, 1945—)

• 5th Bomb Squadron (VH)
  • Major Malvern H.W. Brown (May 1, 1944—)

• 99th Bomb Squadron (VH)
  • Major William L. Hall (May 1, 1944—March 8, 1945), Lt.Col. Lewis J. Wright (March 8, 1945—)

May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

Training history and movement overseas

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

On March 3, 1944, the 9th Bomb Group was established on paper at Dalhart Army Airfield, Texas, as part of the 313th Bomb Wing, to organize and train for B-29 operations in the Western Pacific. Image File history File links Boeing_B-29_Superfortress. ... Image File history File links Boeing_B-29_Superfortress. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Dalhart is a city located in Texas. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Boeing Model 341/345) was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the United States Army Air Force. ... Categories: Rail stubs | Defunct railroad companies of the United States | Defunct companies | California railroads | Nevada railroads | Utah railroads ...

During April the key personnel of the new group (including group commander Col. Donald Eisenhart and Deputy Group Commander Lt.Col. Henry Huglin) assembled at Dalhart, forming the command and operations cadres, and were transferred with the group to McCook Army Airfield, Nebraska. After a brief period establishing the units at McCook, the cadre of group and squadron operations staffs went by train to AAFSAT in May for the 4-week training course in organizing and conducting combat operations with very heavy bomb group units. While the cadre was at AAFSAT, an influx of new personnel continued at McCook. McCook Regional Airport (IATA: MCK, ICAO: KMCK), formerly known as McCook Municipal Airport is a public airport located in McCook, Nebraska. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 0. ...

After the return of the group and squadron cadres in June 1944, the squadrons organized new combat crews and the group conducted an intensive program of ground and flying training using B-17 aircraft to practice takeoffs, landings, instrument and night flying, cross-country navigation, high altitutde formation flying, and bombing and gunnery practice.

The 9th Group had been forced to use B-17's in its training because the development of the B-29 as an operational weapon had been plagued since an early flight test on December 28, 1942, resulted in an engine fire, culminating in a massive emergency modification program in the winter of 1943-44 ordered by General Henry H. Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Forces, and nicknamed the "Battle of Kansas". In particular the program sought to resolve a spate of problems with serious engine fires and faulty gunnery central fire control systems. All B-29s modified in this program were diverted to the 58th Bomb Wing to meet President Franklin D. Roosevelt's commitment to China to have B-29's deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater in the spring of 1944, leaving none available to equip the 12 new groups being formed in the 73rd, 313th, and 314th Wings, including the 9th Bomb Group. December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... A General is an officer of high military rank. ... Henry Hap Arnold Henry Harley Hap Arnold was an aviation pioneer and commander of the United States Army Air Corps (from 1938), commander of the U.S. Army Air Forces (from 1941 until 1945) and the first General of the Air Force (in 1949. ... The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States (1861-1865) The majority of this article is about heads of states. ... FDR redirects here. ... China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the name used by the United States Army for its forces in China, Burma, India during World War II. Well_known US units in this theater included the Flying Tigers, transport and bomber units flying the Hump, the engineers who built Ledo Road, and Merrill...

The 9th Group received its first training B-29 on July 13, 1944. After four further months of training Col. Eisenhart declared the unit ready for movement overseas, and its ground echelon left McCook for Seattle, Washington, Port of Embarkation on November 18, 1944, traveling by the troopship U.S.S. Cape Henlopen to the Mariana Islands on a voyage that required thirty days. The ground echelon of the group debarked at Tinian on December 28 and was assigned a camp on the west side of the island between the two airfields. July 13 is the 194th day (195th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 171 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Nickname: The Emerald City Location of Seattle in King County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County King County Incorporated December 2 1869 Mayor Greg Nickels Area    - City 369. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Cape Henlopen from space, October 1994 Cape Henlopen is the southern cape of the Delaware Bay along the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Islas de los Ladrones meaning Islands of Thieves) are a group of islands made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the western Pacific Ocean. ... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan (Click to enlarge) Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ...

The air echelon of the 9th Bomb Group began its overseas movement in January 1945 by sending the combat crews to Herington Field, Kansas, where over a three-week period they accepted 37 new B-29's. The first bombers left their staging field at Mather Army Airfield, California on January 15, 1945, and proceeded individually by way of Hickam Field, Hawaii, and Kwajalein to North Field, Tinian, with the first five arriving on January 18, 1945. The last of the original 37 airplanes to reach Tinian arrived on February 12 by which time the group had already flown its first combat mission. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Mather Air Force Base was a base of the United States Air Force located in Rancho Cordova, California. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Hickam Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base located in the city and county of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kwajalein Atoll - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Kwajalein Atoll (Marshallese: Kuwajleen) is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Combat operations and tactics

B-29 Dinah Might (1st BS / 9th BG), first to land on Iwo Jima, March 4, 1945

The 9th Bomb Group was one of four of the 313th Bomb Wing stationed at North Field as part of XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force. It was assigned the group identification tail marking of the letter "X" above a small black triangle symbol, both placed above the aircraft's tail fin serial and victor number (a one- or two-digit number assigned an airplane to identify it individually both within the group and squadron). The group carried this marking until April, when the 313th Wing changed its marking to that of a 126-inch diameter circle in black to outline a 63-inch high group letter. Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). ... Unit identification aircraft markings were numbers, letters, geometric symbols, and colors painted onto the tails (vertical stabilizer fins) of the combat aircraft (primarily bombers) of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. ... Its very easy to find the area of a triangle the formula is Italic textbase times Italic texthight equals (area of a square). ...

The 9th Bomb Group conducted four training missions against the Japanese-held Maug Islands in the Northern Marianas on January 27, 29, 31, and February 6. Its first combat mission took place on February 9, 1945 with 30 aircraft bombing a Japanese naval airfield located on the island of Moen at Truk atoll (now known as the Chuuk Islands). Flown by day at an altitude of 25,000 feet, it was in actuality a further training mission, encountering no opposition. Three islands, the caldera of an ancient volcano, form the Maug Islands of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is a commonwealth in political union with the United States of America at a strategic location in the West Pacific Ocean. ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Moen is the name of the following places: An anglisised spelling of Møn. ... A view of Chuuk Chuuk is an island group that comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. ... A view of Chuuk Chuuk is an island group that comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. ...

The second group mission was a pre-invasion bombing of Iwo Jima on February 12, one week prior to D-Day for Operation Detachment. The capture of Iwo Jima had as its objective an emergency landing field for Twentieth Air Force bombers attacking Japan and a base for P-51D and P-47N fighters to fly escort and strafing missions. Landsat photo of Iwo Jima, circa 2006 Iwo Jima   (Japanese 硫黄島 Iōtō, or Iōjima, meaning sulfur island) is a volcanic island in Japan, part of the Volcano Islands (the southern part of the Ogasawara Islands), approximately 650 nautical miles (1200 km) south of Tokyo (24°472N, 141... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Battle of Iwo Jima Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date February 16, 1945 &#8211; March 26, 1945 Place Iwo Jima, Japan Result American victory The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between the United States and Japan during February and March of 1945, during the Pacific Campaign of World... Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). ... The North American P-51 Mustang was a successful long range fighter aircraft which set new standards of excellence and performance when it entered service in the middle years of World War II and is still regarded as one of the very best piston-engined fighters ever made. ... The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, or Jug as it was known, was one of the main US Army Air Force (USAAF) fighters of World War II. The P-47 was a big, rugged, overbuilt aircraft that was effective in air combat but proved particularly useful as a fighter-bomber. ...

Its first mission to the Japanese home islands was the 9th Bomb Group's fifth, flown February 25, 1945. Again a day mission flown at high altitude, the target was the port facilities of Tokyo. That same day Col. Eisenhart was made Operations Officer of the 313th Bomb Wing and succeeded in command of the group by Lt.Col. Huglin. February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Tokyo , literally Eastern capital)   is the capital and one of the forty-seven prefectures of Japan. ...

Unlike their counterparts in the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces, B-29's of the Twentieth Air Force did not assemble in defensive formations over friendly territory before proceeding on the mission. On daytime missions to Japan (which because of the seven-to-eight-hour flight time to Japan from the Marianas almost always resulted in night takeoffs) B-29's took off from Tinian's multiple runways to shorten group launch times. The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force (NAF) of the major command (MAJCOM) of Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force and it is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. ... Activated on November 1, 1943, the Fifteenth Air Force was established as part of the U.S. Army Air Force in the World War II Mediterranean Theater of Operations as a strategic air force and commenced combat operations the day after it was formed. ... Runway 13R/31L of El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, D.C. Aerial picture of a runway of Chennai International Airport, Tamil Nadu A runway is a strip of land on an airport, on which aircraft can take off and land. ...

To conserve fuel and engine stress when the aircraft were at their heaviest, the bombers flew individually at low altitude, usually climbing to bombing altitude only in the last hour before rendezvous (dictated by weather conditions encountered). After March 9 bombing altitudes rarely exceeded 20,000 feet, reducing the amount of climb required to assemble and further conserving fuel and engine life. Flight profiles were carefully calculated during mission planning and recorded as detailed performance tables, specifying power settings and fuel consumption rates, and carried by the flight deck crews during the mission. March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ...

At a designated rendezvous point off the coast of Japan, lead B-29's (using colored-smoke generators to identify themselves) flew circles of a mile or more radius, at different altitudes and in different directions for squadrons within a group. Aircraft formed on the leader as they arrived, and it was not uncommon for formations to include aircraft from other groups that had been unable to locate their own group formation. If the mission plan called for a wing assembly, the lead group flew to a second assembly point and flew one large circle, measured in minutes and not distance, to allow following groups to join up. The formation stayed together only in the target area, breaking up again and reducing altitude to return to base (or Iwo Jima) individually.

Night missions had similar profiles to and from the target, except that aircraft did not assemble in the target area but bombed individually, guided by their own navigation systems and by the glow of fires started by pathfinder aircraft. Also, bombing altitudes were rarely higher than 8,000 feet. Pathfinder can have several meanings: // Fiction Relating to James Fenimore Coopers Leatherstocking Tales novels:(Also is known as The Inland Sea) Pathfinder, a nickname for Natty Bumppo The Pathfinder, the title of one of the novels Relating to the Star Trek fictional universe: Pathfinder (Voyager episode), an episode of...

On the group's seventh mission, March 9-March 10, 1945, XXI Bomber Command radically changed tactics at the direction of its commander, Maj.Gen. Curtis LeMay, attacking Tokyo's urban center by night with incendiary bombs and at altitudes of only 6,400 to 7,800 feet, resulting in one of the most destructive attacks in history. The mission resulted in the first two losses to the group when B-29's from both the 1st and 99th Bomb Squadrons were forced to crash-land at sea after they ran out of fuel while returning to Tinian. The crew of the 1st BS B-29 was rescued, but three members of the 99th BS crew were killed, including the Group Radar Officer. March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... General Curtis Emerson LeMay. ... The U.S. bombing of Tokyo during World War II took place between 1942 and 1945. ... This long range RADAR antenna, known as ALTAIR, is used to detect and track space objects in conjunction with ABM testing at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll[1]. RADAR is a system that uses radio waves to detect, determine the direction and distance and/or speed...

The Tokyo fire raid was the first of five flown between March 9 and March 18, resulting in devastation of four urban areas (Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe) and extensive civilian loss of life. The 9th Bomb Group had its first bomber shot down on the March 16 Kobe mission, and its second on March 24, 1945, attacking the Mitsubishi Aircraft factory at Nagoya (ironically the same crew that had ditched on March 10). March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... Nagoya Castle in June of 2004. ... Osaka ) is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ... , Kobe ) is a city in Japan located on the island of Honshu. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in Leap years). ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Mitsubishi Logo The Mitsubishi Group ), Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies, all refer to a large grouping of independently operated Japanese companies which share the Mitsubishi brand name. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ...

On March 27 the 9th Bomb Group began a week of night missions sowing both acoustic and magnetic aerial anti-shipping mines in Japanese harbor approaches and Inland Sea ship passages, with a mission to block the Shimonoseki Straits. Attacks in April were a combination of night and medium altitude day missions against the Japanese aircraft industry, and beginning April 18, three weeks of daytime attacks against Japanese airfields on Kyūshū launching Kamikaze attacks against U.S. naval forces at Okinawa. March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy ships or submarines. ... View of Inland Sea Formally named the Seto Inland Sea (Japanese: 瀬戸内海, Seto Naikai), the Inland Sea is the body of water separating HonshÅ«, Shikoku, and KyÅ«shÅ«, three of the main islands of Japan. ... April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ... Kyushu region, Japan Kyushu (九州) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... Navy Kamikaze pilot with the rank of Lieutenant (Chui) receives orders, pilots stand at attention in formation. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... This article is about the prefecture. ...

The 9th Bomb Group was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for the mission of April 15-16, 1945. The group attacked the industrial area of Kawasaki, Japan, a target judged to be "an important link in the component productive capacity...upon which industries in Tokyo and Yokahama depended" (from the citation). "Because of its strategic location between two heavily-defended areas, the objective was strongly guarded by masses of defenses both on the flanks and in the immediate target area, making the approach, the bomb run, and the break-away from the target extremely hazardous." The 9th Group, dispatching 33 aircraft on a "maximum effort", was the last group over the target. Japanese anti-aircraft defenses had by then determined the bombing altitude and direction of attack and the 9th Bomb Group experienced close coordination between Japanese search lights and anti-aircraft guns while over land, and accurate fire from flak boats on ingress and egress to the target area. 56 Japanese fighters were reported by returning crews, including a number of suicide planes, with 2 claimed as shot down. The 9th had four B-29s shot down and six others severely damaged. The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... April 16 is the 106th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (107th in leap years). ... Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ... Navy Kamikaze pilot with the rank of Lieutenant (Chui) receives orders, pilots stand at attention in formation. ...

On May 18, 1945, the 9th Bomb Group resumed mine-laying operations which continued through May 28, for which the group was awarded its second Presidential Unit Citation. Flying at night at 5,500 feet in what the citation stated was "the second most heavily-defended zone in Japan", the group sowed 1425 mines in 209 sorties with a 92% accuracy rate, primarily against the Shimonoseki Straits and harbors on Kyūshū and the northwest coast of Honshū. During the mining campaign the 9th lost one B-29 on a takeoff accident on May 20 and a second in combat on May 28. May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... Kyushu region, Japan Kyushu (九州) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... HonshÅ« (本州 Literally Main State) is the largest island of Japan, called the Mainland; it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait. ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ...

On June 1 the 9th Bomb group began a grim campaign of night incendiary raids against the remaining urban areas of Japan not previously attacked that continued to its final mission, August 14, 1945. June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

Summary of combat operations

In all the 9th Bomb Group flew 71 combat missions, three show-of-force flyover missions after the cessation of hostilities, and one mission to drop medical and food supplies to liberated prisoners-of-war. Total combat sorties for the group were 2,012, of which 1,843 were against the Japanese home islands. The group logged approximately 28,000 total hours of combat flight time and dropped approximately 12,000 tons of bombs and mines. Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ...

Of the 71 combat missions, 27 were incendiary raids, 14 mining operations (with 328 total sorties), 13 against airfields, 9 against aircraft production, and 9 against other industry or targets other than the home islands. 39 of the missions were flown at night, and 32 by day. Only six of the 71 combat missions were flown above 20,000 feet altitude.

The group began combat operations with 37 aircraft and ended them with 48 B-29's, with an average of 47 on hand and 33 in commission at any one time. A total of 78 B-29's were assigned to the group while it was stationed on Tinian, of which 5 were transferred to other groups. Of the remainder, 11 were shot down in combat or lost on return because of battle damage (a combat attrition rate of 16%), 2 were lost after running out of fuel, 1 crashed on takeoff, 1 crashed attempting to land, 4 were written off as salvage, and 3 were declared "war-weary" and retired from combat operations while being carried on the group inventory. Salvage may refer to: Look up salvage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

91 combat crews of eleven crewmen each served with the 9th Bomb group on Tinian. 11 combat crews were lost (13%) on combat missions while 10 crews completed a full 35-mission tour by the end of hostilities (although 12 additional crews had accumulated 31 or more missions by August 15, 1945). August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

Campaigns

World War II:

• Antisubmarine, American Theater
• Air Offensive, Japan
• Western Pacific

Casualties

The 9th Bomb Group (VH) had 153 total aircrew casualties: Militaries use the term killed in action (KIA) as a casualty classification. ... WIA is a three letter abbreviation meaning Wounded in action. ... MIA is a three-letter acronym that is most commonly used to designate a combatant who is Missing In Action, and has not yet returned or otherwise been accounted for as either dead (KIA) or a prisoner of war (POW). ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ...

• 111 killed or presumed dead
  • 25 killed in action
  • 1 killed in a training accident at McCook AAB
  • 1 killed in an airfield accident on Tinian
  • 84 missing-in-action and declared dead
• 30 wounded or injured
  • 21 wounded-in-action
• 12 prisoners-of-war later repatriated

The history of the group reports that part or all of 4 crews captured after parachuting over Japan were killed in a fire in Tokyo on May 25, 1945, when prison guards intentionally kept them confined for which the guards were later prosecuted for war crimes. Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... May 25 is the 145th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (146th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... In the context of war, a war crime is a punishable offense under International Law, for violations of the laws of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ...

The 9th Group since 1945

9th BG crest as part of 9th Bomb Wing

Although partially demobilized with personnel and aircraft returned to the United States, the 9th Bomb Group moved to Clark Field in the Philippines on April 15, 1946. It relocated to Harmon Field on Guam on June 9, 1947, by which time it was largely a paper organization with few personnel or aircraft. The group was inactivated on Guam on 20 October 20, 1948, and its squadrons re-assigned to other units. Clark Air Base is a former U.S. Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, now known as the Clark Special Economic Zone. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...

On May 1, 1949 the group was redesignated the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Group and activated at Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base, California, as the combat group of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. The 9th Group conducted photo reconnaissance missions for the Strategic Air Command (SAC), using B-29, RB-29, and RB-17 aircraft, but also trained with several B-36s assigned during 1949-1950. It became a bomber group again on April 1, 1950, redesignated the 9th Bombardment Group, Heavy, and after it became an all-B-29 group, was redesignated the 9th Bombardment Group (Medium) on October 2, 1950. In February 1951 the three bomb squadrons of the group were attached to the Wing in preparation for a phase-out by SAC of its groups. The 9th Bomb Group was inactivated June 16, 1952, and its squadrons assigned directly to the 9th Bomb Wing. Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air field in the Central Valley of California, near Fairfield, CA. Called the Gateway to the Pacific, Travis handles more cargo and passengers than any other military air terminal in the United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal, as well as the infrastructure necessary to support their operations (such as tanker aircraft to fuel the bombers and, until 1959... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Boeing Model 341/345) was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the United States Army Air Force. ... A B_17 nicknamed Sally B in England in 2001 The B_17 Flying Fortress was the first mass_produced, four_engine heavy bomber. ... The Convair B-36 (officially named the Peacemaker, but the name is rarely used) was an American strategic bomber aircraft, and the largest bomber ever flown by the United States. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 16 is the 167th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (168th in leap years), with 198 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

On September 1, 1991, the 9th Group was activated as the 9th Operations Group, as part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. The 9th OG has five squadrons and one detachment totaling more than 500 personnel. It is the "single-point manager" for the U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude reconnaissance fleets. Its self-described mission is to organize, train and equip U-2 and RQ-4 combat elements for peacetime intelligence gathering, contingency operations, conventional war fighting and Emergency War Order support. September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Beale Air Force Base is a base located in Yuba County, California. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The U-2 is a single-seat, single-engine, high-altitude reconnaissance airplane flown by the United States Air Force. ... The Northrop Grumman (formerly Ryan Aeronautical) RQ-4 Global Hawk (known as Tier II+ during development) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used by the US Air Force as a surveillance aircraft. ...

Lockheed U-2R

The 9th Operations Group consists of the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (U-2 training), the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron (U-2 operations from Osan Air Base, Korea), the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron (RQ-4 operations), the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron (U-2 operations), and the 9th Operations Support Squadron. USAF U-2 Dragon Lady. ... USAF U-2 Dragon Lady. ... Osan Air Base, a base of the United States Air Force, is located 4. ... Korea (Korean: 조선 or 한국, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ...

The crest and motto were approved for the 9th Operations Group on March 20, 1924, and for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing on July 1, 1952. The shield, in black and green, represents the old colors of the Air Service parted by a wavy line representing the Rio Grande River. On the gold band are four black crosses representing four World War I offensives (Aisne-Marne, Champagne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, and St. Mihiel) in which squadrons later assigned to the 9th Group fought. The crest recalls the service in Mexico of the 1st Aero Squadron. March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Rio Grande flowing in Big Bend National Park The Rio Grande in its lower course, between Matamoros and Brownsville Known as the Rio Grande in the United States and as the Río Bravo (or, more formally, the Río Bravo del Norte) in Mexico, the river, 3,034...

USAF Group commanders

May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 16 is the 167th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (168th in leap years), with 198 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Sources

• Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units of World War II, Office of Air Force history (1961). ISBN 0-40512-194-6
• Morrison, Wilbur H., Point of No Return: The Story of the Twentieth Air Force (1979), ISBN 0-81290-738-8
• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History (1984). ISBN 0-912799-12-9
• 9th Bombardment Group (VH) HISTORY on-line book

External links

• Beale AFB/9 RW site
• Air Force Historical Research Agency