BACKGROUND

Constituted as 28th Composite Group on 22 Dec. 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Redesignated 28th Bombardment Group (Composite) in Dec. 1943. Aircraft included P-38’s, P-39’s, P-40’s, B-26’s and LB-30’s during 1941-1943, and B-24’s and B-25’s during 1944-2945.

Operated in Alaska from Feb. 1941 until after the war. Trained from Arctic warfare in 1941 and served as part of the defense system for the region. Helped to force the withdrawal of Japanese ships that attacked Dutch Harbor in June 1942. Flew missions against Kiska until the Japanese evacuated that island in August 1943. Bombed and strafed shipping, harbor facilities, canneries, fisheries, and military installations in the Kurils. Also flew photographic reconnaissance missions to obtain material for planning operations. Received a DUC for the period April 1944-August 1945 when the group’s attacks on the Kurils caused Japan to divert some of her air power to that northern area, thus weakening Japanese opposition to Allied forces in the south. Flew its last bombing mission on 13 August 1945 but continued reconnaissance operations in the Kurils after the war. Inactivated in Alaska on 20 October 1945.

Redesignated 28th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Activated in the US on 4 August 1946 as part of Strategic Air Command. Equipped with B-29 aircraft. Was stationed in Alaska from Oct. 1946 to April 1947. Redesignated 28th Bombardment Group (Medium) in May 1948. Redesignated 28th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in May 1949 and equipped with RB-36’s in July. Redesignated 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Group in April 1950, and 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Group (Heavy) in July 1950. Inactivated on 16 June 1952.

SQUADRONS/AIRCRAFT

• 11th Pursuit: 1942
• 18th Pursuit: 1941-1942
• 34th Pursuit: 1940
• 36th: 1940-1943
• 37th: 1940-1941
• 73d: 1941-1943
• 77th: 1942-1945; 1946-1952
• 404th: 1942-1945
• 717th: 1946-1952
• 718th: 1946-1952

STATIONS

• March Field, California, 1 Feb. 1940
• Moffett Field, California, 10 Dec. 1940-12 Feb. 1941
• Elmendorf Field, Alaska, 23 Feb. 1941
• Adak, 14 March 1943
• Shemya, 26 Feb. 1944-20 Oct. 1945
• Grand Island AAFld, Nebraska, 4 Aug.-6 Oct. 1946
• Elmendorf Field, Alaska, 20 Oct. 1946-24 April 1947
• Rapid City AAFld, S.D., 3 May 1947-16 June 1952

COMMANDERS

• Col. William H. Crom, 1 Feb. 1940
• Lt. Col. Lotha A. Smith, 12 Feb. 1940
• Maj. William O. Eareckson, 1 Sept. 1940
• Maj. Donald W. Titus, 20 Oct. 1940
• Maj. Norman D. Sillin, 7 Nov. 1941
• Col. Earl H. DeFord, 23 Jan. 1943
• Maj. Robert C. Orth, 19 March 1943
• Lt. Col. Jack N. Donohew, 27 March 1943
• Lt. Col. Ralph W. Rodieck, 18 April 1943
• Lt. Col. John W. Massion, 27 Oct. 1943
• Lt. Col. Alexander W. Bryant, 4 Jan. 1944
• Col. Robert H. Herman, 1 April 1944
• Col. Walter L. Wheeler, 21 July 1945
• Lt. Col. John C. Larson, 27 Sept.-20 Oct. 1945
• Col. Richard M. Montgomery, 4 Aug. 1946
• Col. Thomas J. Gent Jr., 23 Aug. 1946
• Lt. Col. Donald W. Lang, 15 Aug. 1947
• Lt. Col. Everett W. Best, 24 Dec. 1947
• Lt. Col. Frank W. Iseman Jr., 16 April 1948
• Lt. Col. Solomon Cutcher, 27 June 1948
• Col. John B Henry Jr, 10 July 1948
• Lt. Col. Everett W. Best, 25 April 1949
• Col. William P. Brett, 2 May 1949
• Lt. Col. Solomon Cutcher, 21 March 1950
• Col. Donald W. Eisenhart, 3 April 1950
• Col. Donald W. Eisenhart, 3 April 1950
• Col. Frank W. Iseman Jr., 24 July 1950
• Col. Bertram C. Harrison, 18 Oct. 1950
• Col. Richard E. Ellsworth, 10 Feb. 1951-16 June 1952

CAMPAIGNS

• Air Offensive, Japan
• Aleutians

DECORATIONS

• Distinguished Unit Citation: Kuril Islands, 1 April 1044-13 Aug. 1945

EMBLEM/INSIGNE

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ASSIGNMENTS

• N/A

OPERATIONS

• N/A

SERVICE STREAMERS

• N/A

COLLECTION LINKS

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