II Bomber Command

II Bomber Command
II Bomber Command
Active	1941-1943
Country	United States
Branch	United States
Role	Command and training of bomber units
Part of	Second Air Force

The II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington, where it was inactivated on 6 October 1943.

Throughout its existence, it had its headquarters at Fort George Wright, Washington (5 September 1941 – 6 October 1943).

During World War II, the unit trained large numbers of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombardment groups. It controlled operational training units (OTU) and replacement training units (RTU) primarily in the west and southwest of the United States until late 1943 when its operations were taken over by Headquarters, Second Air Force and the command was disbanded.

It also performed antisubmarine patrols along the Pacific Northwest coast, until May 1943.

Lineage[]

Constituted as the 2d Bomber Command on 4 September 1941^{[note 1]}

Activated on 5 September 1941

Redesignated II Bomber Command c. 18 September 1942

Disbanded on 6 October 1943^[1]

Assignments[]

Second Air Force, 4 September 1941 – 6 October 1943^[1]^[2]

Components[]

Wings

17th Bombardment Wing, 15 May – 6 October 1943
46th Bombardment Operational Training Wing, 21 February – 15 May 1943
58th Bombardment Wing, 15 May – 8 June 1943^[3]

Groups

7th Bombardment Group, 5 September – c. 22 December 1941^[4]
17th Bombardment Group, 25 May 1941 – 9 February 1942
39th Bombardment Group, 5 September 1941 – 4 September 1943^[5]
40th Bombardment Group, 1 July – 6 October 1943
42nd Bombardment Group, 5 September 1941 – 25 January 1942^[6]
85th Bombardment Group, 10 February – 2 November 1942
88th Bombardment Group, 15 July 1942 – 6 October 1943
94th Bombardment Group, 29 June 1942 – 12 May 1943
95th Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942 – 11 May 1943
100th Bombardment Group, 26 June – 30 November 1942
303d Bombardment Group, 3 February – 10 September 1942
304th Bombardment Group, 28 January – 29 October 1942
305th Bombardment Group, 1 March – July 1942
307th Bombardment Group, 15 April – 1 November 1942
331st Bombardment Group, 6 July 1942 – 6 October 1943
351st Bombardment Group, 1 October 1942 – 12 April 1943
379th Bombardment Group, 3 November 1942 – April 1943
381st Bombardment Group, 3 November 1942 – 9 May 1943
382d Bombardment Group, 3 November 1942 – 6 October 1943
384th Bombardment Group, 1 December 1942 – 9 May 1943
385th Bombardment Group, 1 February – 19 June 1943
388th Bombardment Group, 24 December 1942 – 6 July 1943
390th Bombardment Group, 26 January – 4 July 1943

396th Bombardment Group, 16 February – 6 October 1943
398th Bombardment Group, 1 March 1943 – 4 April 1044
399th Bombardment Group, 1 March – 6 October 1943
401st Bombardment Group, 1 April – 6 October 1943
418th Bombardment Group, 1 August – 15 September 1943
445th Bombardment Group, 1 April – 6 October 1943
446th Bombardment Group, April – 6 October 1943
447th Bombardment Group, 1 May – 6 October 1943
448th Bombardment Group, 1 May – 6 October 1943
452nd Bombardment Group, 1 June – 6 October 1943
457th Bombardment Group, 4 July 1943 – 6 October 1943
458th Bombardment Group, 1 July – 6 October 1943
460th Bombardment Group, 1 July – 6 October 1943
467th Bombardment Group, 1 August �� 6 October 1943
470th Bombardment Group, 1 May – 6 October 1943
487th Bombardment Group, 20 September 1943 – 6 October 1943

References[]

Notes[]

Explanatory notes

^ Maurer indicated the unit was constituted as the "II" Bomber Command. However, the unit originally held an arabic number in its designation. Only in September 1942, did the Army establish that commands would be identifified with roman numerals. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

Citations

^ ^a ^b Maurer, p.439
^ Ream, Margaret (September 9, 2020). "Factsheet Second Air Force (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
^ "Factsheet 58 Air Division (Defense)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
^ Haulman, Daniel (June 27, 2017). "Factsheet 7 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ Haulman, Daniel (June 8, 2017). "Factsheet 39 Air Base Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
^ Haulman, Daniel (June 13, 2018). "Factsheet 42 Air Base Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 30, 2021.

Bibliography[]

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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 December 17, 2016.

[1] Maurer indicated the unit was constituted as the "II" Bomber Command. However, the unit originally held an arabic number in its designation. Only in September 1942, did the Army establish that commands would be identifified with roman numerals. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

[MaurerIIBC-2] Maurer, p.439

[3] Ream, Margaret (September 9, 2020). "Factsheet Second Air Force (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 12, 2021.

[4] "Factsheet 58 Air Division (Defense)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2014.

[5] Haulman, Daniel (June 27, 2017). "Factsheet 7 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[6] Haulman, Daniel (June 8, 2017). "Factsheet 39 Air Base Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 30, 2021.

[7] Haulman, Daniel (June 13, 2018). "Factsheet 42 Air Base Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 30, 2021.

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