The 9th Bomb Group

    The 9th Observation Group was activated on 19 July, 1922. It was re-designated as the 9th Bombardment Group, Medium (M) in 1939 and then Heavy (H) in 1940. It was then re-designated as Very Heavy (VH) on 3 March, 1944. It was relocated to McCook Army Airfield, McCook, Nebraska, on 19 May, 1944. Due to a shortage of B-29s, the group was equipped with B-17 flying fortresses. The B-17s were used for all initial training: take offs and landings, instrument & night flying, cross- country navigation, and formation flying, as well as bombing and gunnery practice. In July, intensive crew training was directed with specific tasks tailored to the newly assigned B-29 superfortress.

    In November 1944, the group was deployed to Tinian. The ground echelon went by train to Seattle. They then boarded a troop ship, Cape Henlopenby, for a rough 30-day trip to Tinian. The air echelon began their overseas movement at Harrington field, Kansas, where they received 37 new B-29s. The first bombers left their staging field at Mather Army Airfield, California, on 15 January 1945. They deployed individually, by way of Mather Army Airfield, California, then Hickam Field, Hawaii, and Kwajalein Atoll, arriving at Northfield, Tinian. The first 5 planes arrived on 18 January. The last of the planes arrived on 12 February. By that time, the group had already flown its first combat mission.

    The group was assigned to the 313th Bomb Wing. Their B-29s were marked with a circle X tail code. Their first combat mission with 30 B-29s was to the island of Truk on 9 February. Their second mission was to Iwo Jima on 12 February with 21 aircraft. This was followed with their first two missions to Tokyo in February with 32 B-29s and in March with 23 B-29s.

    The group flew 132 combat missions, which included strategic bombing sorties, mining missions, and wide scale incendiary attacks.

    They received their first distinguished unit citation for their 15 April night raid on Kawasaki. Four of the crew were lost on this mission. Their second citation was for the first of 14 mining missions to the Shimonoseki straits. This was a navy mining blockade campaign that was assigned to the 313th Bomb Wing.

    The 9th Bomb Group was eventually move to Guam, where it was deactivated on 20 Oct, 1948.

Commanders: Col. Donald Eisenhart – 1 May 1944; Col. Henry Huglin – 6 Mar 1945