The 500th Bomb Group

    The 500th Bomb Group, Very Heavy (VH), was activated at Davis-Monthan Army Airfield, Tucson, Arizona, on 20 November 1943, where personnel buildup and training began.

    The group relocated to Walker Army Airfield, Victoria, Kansas, on 13 April, 1944. Intensive crew training at Walker airfield was directed with specific tasks tailored to the newly assigned B-29 superfortress.

    In October 1944, they deployed to Isley Field, Saipan and were assigned to 20th Air Force. Combat missions began with strategic bombing raids and incendiary attacks continuing until the Japanese surrender.

    The group's initial attack on Tokyo took place on Thanksgiving Day, 24 November. On 3 December, the 500th commander, Col. Richard King was in Rosalia Rocket, the lead plane that was shot down over Tokyo. The crew abandoned ship, Col. king being one of the three crewmembers who survived and became POWs. They were repatriated following the Japanese surrender. The group bombed enemy airfields and other installations at Kyushu in support of the allied assault on Okinawa in April, 1945.

    B-29 plane Z-24, the Pride of the Yankees, returned to Saipan with both engines disabled on the same side twice. Lieutenant Frank Carico was the Pride’s aircraft commander. This happened first on their 27 January, 1945 Tokyo mission. The second was on an additional Tokyo mission on 25 May, 1945.

    The 500th Bomb Group flew 83 combat missions from Isley Field, Saipan.

    In November 1945, the group returned to the United States in October, 1945 and was assigned to March field, California. The group was deactivated on 17 January, 1946.

Commanders: Col. Richard King - 5 May 1944; Col. John Dougherty - 4 December 1944