41st Bombardment Wing

41st Combat Bombardment Wing
Wing B-17 Flying Fortress [a]
Active	1943 - 1945
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command of heavy bomber forces
Engagements	European Theater of Operations
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation
Commanders
Notable commanders	Robert F. Travis

The 41st Combat Bombardment Wing is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. It was organized in February 1943 as the 41st Bombardment Wing. After organizing and training in the United States, it moved to England as an element of VIII Bomber Command. It took over the resources of a provisional wing in September 1943 and engaged in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany until V-E Day, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. In June 1945, its component groups were reassigned and it was disbanded.

History

the wing was activated at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah in February 1943 as the 41st Bombardment Wing. The following month it moved to Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, where it organized and trained until July, when it moved to the European Theater of Operations. ^[1]

Shortly after its arrival at Brampton Grange, in August 1943 it was redesignated the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing. In September, it moved to RAF Molesworth and received its combat components and began operations. In addition to the 303rd Bombardment Group at Molesworth, this included the 379th Bombardment Group at RAF Kimbolton and the 384th Bombardment Group at RAF Grafton Underwood. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} These groups had been previously attached to the 103rd Combat Bombardment Wing (Provisional). ^[5] The 103rd had been organized in May 1943 to provide tactical control over the number of groups (two or three) that made up the "wing" combat formations. ^{[b] [6]}

On 11 January 1944, the wing conducted a raid on aircraft factories in central Germany, including an aircraft assembly plant at Oschersleben for which it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. ^{[1] [7]} Adverse weather prevented American fighter escorts from protecting the wing's groups, exposing them to continuous attack by enemy interceptors. ^{[7] [8]}

To attack targets from outside the range of flak defenses, the Army Air Forces had experimented with glide bombs, including a 2,000 pounds (910 kg) high explosive bomb with wooden wings and empennage. The wing's groups were given the task of using the weapon in a trial 0n 28 May 1944, with the glide bombs mounted on racks beneath the wings of their B-17s. They attacked a marshalling yard at Eifeltor, near Köln, which was selected as a large target. The wing released 109 bombs, but only a few glided into the intended target, while others exploded miles away. As a result of this failure, VIII Bomber Command recommended that no more of the bombs be procured. ^[9]

The wing continued combat operations until shortly before V-E Day. In June 1945, its components were reassigned, with the 303rd and 379th Bombardment Groups moving to Cazes Field, Morocco, where they were assigned to the North African Division, Air Transport Command for participation in the Green Project. ^{[2] [3] [10]} The 384th Bombardment Group moved to Istres Airfield, France, where it also participated in the Green Project, but was programmed to become part of the occupation forces. ^{[4] [11]} The wing was then disbanded on 18 June 1945. ^[1]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 41st Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 29 January 1943

Activated on 16 February 1943

Redesignated 41st Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) c. 30 August 1943

Disbanded on 18 June 1945

Assignments

• Second Air Force, 16 February 1943
• VIII Bomber Command (later Eighth Air Force), 26 July 1943
• 1st Bombardment Division (later 1st Air Division), 13 September 1943 – 18 June 1945 ^{[1] [5]}

Components

• 303d Bombardment Group: 13 September 1943 – 15 June 1945 ^[2]
• 379th Bombardment Group: 16 September 1943 – 16 June 1945 ^[3]
• 384th Bombardment Group: 13 September 1943 – 16 June 1945 ^[12]

Stations

• Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, 16 February 1943
• Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, March – c. 4 July 1943
• Brampton Grange (AAF-103), ^[13] England, c. 26 July 1943
• RAF Molesworth (AAF-107), ^[13] England, c. 16 September 1943 – 18 June 1945 ^[14]

Awards and Campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	11 January 1944	41st Combat Bombardment Wing [1]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Air Offensive, Europe	c. 26 July 1943–5 June 1944	41st Combat Bombardment Wing [1]
	Normandy	6 June 1944–24 July 1944	41st Combat Bombardment Wing [1]
	Northern France	25 July 1944–14 September 1944	41st Combat Bombardment Wing [1]
	Rhineland	15 September 1944–21 March 1945	41st Combat Bombardment Wing [1]
	Ardennes-Alsace	16 December 1944–25 January 1945	41st Combat Bombardment Wing [1]
	Central Europe	22 March 1944–21 May 1945	41st Combat Bombardment Wing [1]

See also

• B-17 Flying Fortress units of the United States Army Air Forces

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Airplane is Boeing B-17G-75-BO Flying Fortress, serial 43-38050 of the 359th Bombardment Squadron.
2. The regular wings of VIII Bomber Command had grown to control as many as a dozen groups.

Citations

1. Maurer, p. 390
2. Robertson, Patsy (2 May 2011). "Factsheet 303 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
3. Endicott, Judy G. (4 December 2001). "Lineage and Honors History 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
4. Maurer, pp. 271-72
5. Freeman, pp. 247, 253-54
6. No byline. "Abstract, History 41 Bombardment Wing, May-Sep 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
7. Maurer, pp. 175-76
8. Maurer, pp. 266-67
9. Freeman, pp. 145-46
10. Freeman, pp. 247, 253
11. Freeman, p. 254
12. Freeman, p. 254
13. Station number in Anderson, p. 19.
14. Station information in Maurer, p. 390, except as noted.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
• Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN   978-0-87938-638-2.* Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-02-1. LCCN   61060979 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.