1941 to 1945
History
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1941 to 1945
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7th Bombardment Goup (H) History
The Early Years
The 7th BG (H) is the oldest bombardment
Group/Wing that still exists today. As the ancestor of the 7th Bomb Wing located at Dyess AFB in Abilene, TX, the
7thBG's roots reach back to
01 Oct 1919, then known as the 1st Army Observation Group.
The group was redesignated as the 7th Group (Observation) in Mar 1921 which was inactivated on 30 Aug 1921. The group was then redesignated 7th Bombardment Group in 1923 and activated on 01 Jun 1928. In 1939 yet another redesignation occurred and the group was then called 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy).
WWII
During this time, the Group participated in training exercises and took part in maneuvers and experiments until war with Japan broke out. The Group was enroute to the Philippines when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 07 Dec 1941. The Group and the ground echelon, which at this time was on board ship, were diverted to Australia and then later to Java. From 14 Jan 42 to 1 Mar 42, the Group conducted operations against enemy aircraft, shipping and ground installations. For this action during this period, the Group received the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).
In March 1942, the Group moved to India and was assigned to the 10th Air Force. Operations at that time were directed primarily against the Japanese in Burma and included missions against airfields, fuel and supply dumps, locomotive works, railways, bridges, ports, warehouses and shipping. Additionally, the Group targeted oil refineries and railways in Thailand and power plants in China. The Group also ferried thousands of tons of fuel and supplies over the Hump into China to support 14th Air Force operations. In March 1945, the Group received it's second DUC for operations against railways and bridges in Thailand.
Post WWII
The Group returned to the United States in Dec 1945 and was inactivated on 06 Jan 1946. It was subsequently redesignated 7th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and reactivated on 01 Oct 1946. At this time the Group was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and was first equipped with B-29s which were later replaced with B-36s. Again the Group was redesignated 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in Jul 1948 and subsequently inactivated on 16 Jun 1952. Training exercises continued throughout 1952 in various locations throughout the United States. In August 1954, the Group received B-36Js which were stripped down with the exception of the tail gun. The crew was reduced to nine and this total weight reduction allowed the J models to fly at altitudes in excess of 50,000 feet. This made the almost immune to the current fighter attack threat. The Group made deployments during 1956 to locations such as Nouassuer Air Base and RAF Burtonwood. The B-36 remained the mainstay bomber until the end of 1957, at which time the Group prepared to received it's newest bomber, the B-52.
Viet Nam
In February 1958, the Group transitioned to B-52s and in April the 7th Air Refueling Squadron was activated to support the B-52 operations. By early 1959, the Group was combat ready in the B-52. When war in Viet Nam started, the Group deployed tankers to the war zone to support bomber operations and in June 1965, the Group deployed bombers to Guam for operations in Viet Nam. The Group continued to support the war effort in Viet Nam flying missions out of Guam until the end of the war.
Cold War and Desert Storm
In early 1982, the Group received the new B-52H which was the last model of B-52 produced. The Group performed nuclear alert duties during the Cold War with the B-52H and did so until all B-52s came off nuclear alert in September 1991.
When Iraq invaded Kuwait, the 7th Air Refueling Squadron supported air lift operations into theater. However, B-52s from the Group were not deployed to support Desert Storm.
Today
Many changes to Air Force command structure occurred after Desert Storm including the disestablishment of the Military Airlift Command and the establishment of the Air Mobility Command. With this change, the Group lost the air refueling mission and the tankers and in September 1993, the Group was inactivated. With this came the end of the Cold War as it had been known and the military underwent massive military cut-backs. The Group managed to maintain it's bare existence during these cut-backs and also managed to maintain its role as a bomber unit. In late 1993, the Group was moved to Dyess AFB where it transitioned to the B-1B bomber. The Group today , now known as the 7th Wing, operates out of Dyess AFB flying the B-1B bomber.
Aircraft Flown By The 7thBG
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