The 330th Bomb Group

    The 330th Bomb Group, Heavy (H), was relieved of their assignment as a B-24 replacement training unit at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, on 1 April, 1944. The unit was re-designated as a B-29 bomb group, Very Heavy (VH), and reassigned to Walker Army Airfield, Victoria, Kansas, for training as a combat unit. During April and early part of May, personnel were assigned to the new group in small numbers, but no aircraft were yet available. . On 25 May, the group was reassigned to Dalhart Army Airfield, Texas, where the ground echelon was formed, and the operational squadrons trained with B-17s. In August, the group returned to Walker Army Airfield, where limited B-29 training began while waiting for the 500th Bomb Group to complete training and deploy to the Pacific. Full-time training was finally initiated in October 1944, and ground school instruction began want all men in the unit. In January and February,1945, the air echelon deployed to Batista Army Airfield, Cuba, for over-water navigation flying and bombing training.

    The ground echelon departed 8 January, 1945, for Seattle, where it embarked on the S.S. Howell Lykes for North Field, Guam. The air echelon has returned from Cuba and received their new operational B-29s from Boeing-Wichita. The unit formed at North Field in Mid-February. On 18 February, the group was assigned to the 314th Bomb Wing that has just arrived from Colorado. By mid-March, most personnel were able to move into the quonset huts from the initial assigned tents.
   
    On 12 April, 1945, the group conducted its first mission against the Hodagaya chemical works at Koriyama. The success of the mission was tempered by the loss of two aircraft and 13 airmen, including the commander of the 458th Bomb Squadron, Col. Doyne Turner. The group supported missions on military and industrial targets and incendiary raids on urban areas until the end of the war. The last week in April, they supported the allied invasion of Okinawa by attacking airfield that served as bases for Kamikaze pilots. After the surrender, and until 2 September, , the group flew mercy missions dropping food, clothing, and supplies to allied prisoners and participated in the show of force mission over Japan and the battleship USS Missouri during the surrender ceremony.

    The 330th Bomb Group received a distinguished unit citation for an attack against airfields in Kyushu 27 April to 4 May. They received their second citation for striking the Mitsubishi aircraft factory at Gobo on 22 June.

Commanders: Col. Elbert Reynolds – 23 June 1944; Col. Douglas Polhamus – 12 Aug 1944