749th Bombardment Squadron

History

Training in the United States

The 749th Bombardment Squadron was activated at Geiger Field, Washington on 1 July 1943 as one of the four squadrons of the 457th Bombardment Group. It moved a week later to Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, where it began training with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber and completed the first two phases of training there. It completed its training at Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, then moved to Wendover Field, Utah for final preparation for overseas movement. It departed for the European Theater of Operations on New Years Day, 1944.

Combat in Europe

The squadron assembled at its combat station, RAF Glatton by the end of the month.

In June 1944, the squadron was diverted from its strategic mission to prepare for Operation Overlord, the invasion of France. On D Day, it attacked coastal defenses on the Cherbourg Peninsula. For the remainder of the month it was engaged in air interdiction, striking airfields, rail systems and roads and depots behind enemy lines. The squadron was also diverted to tactical targets for shorter periods. In July 1944, it supported Operation Cobra the breakout of ground forces at Saint Lo. During Operation Market Garden, the attempt to secure bridgeheads across the Rhine River in the Netherlands, it supported the British 1st Airborne Division. It provided similar support during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, and Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

The squadron flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945. Following V-E Day, it transported prisoners of war from Austria to France. The air echelon departed Glatton between 19 and 23 May, while the ground echelon sailed on the on 24 June, arriving at the New York Port of Emarkation five days later. It assembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in late July. It was inactivated there the following month.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 749th Bombardment Squadron (heavy) on 19 May 1943 : Activated on 1 July 1943 : Redesignated 749th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy in 1944 : Inactivated on 28 August 1945

Assignments

• 457th Bombardment Group, 1 July 1943 – 28 August 1945

Stations

• Geiger Field, Washington, 1 July 1943
• Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, 9 July 1943
• Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 28 October 1943
• Wendover Field, Utah, 6 December 1943 – 1 January 1944
• RAF Glatton, (Station 130) England, 28 January 1944 – c. 1 June 1945
• Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, c. 20 July–28 August 1945

Aircraft

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945

Campaigns

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

References

1. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 735
2. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 332-333
3. Freeman, pp. 258-259
4. Station number in Anderson, p. 20.
5. Station information in Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 735, except as noted.