Riverside in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
2nd Bomb Group (H)
7 Dec. 1941 - 28 Feb. 1946
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 4, 2009
1. 2nd Bomb Group (H) Memorial
96th Bomb Sq (H) • 429th Bomb Sq (H)
The 2d Bombardment Group relocated
to Ephrata, Washington, then to Great
Falls, Montana in 1942. Received newer
B-17 aircraft and deployed to Algeria
in North Africa. From Algeria and
Tunisia, the Group's 20th, 49th, 96th and
429th Squadrons began combat operations
in early 1943. From December 1943
to end of WWII, it struck targets deep
into Nazi-held Europe from Italy during
412 combat missions. It suffered punishing
losses on successive days. It was awarded
2 Distinguished Unit Citations. The Group
earned battle honors for 14 campaigns
in North Africa and Europe.
[left panel] Sept. 1918 - Dec. 1941
1st Day Bombardment Group - later (1921) designated
2d Group (Bombardment). WWI in France
with DH-4 and Brequet aircraft moved from
Kelly Field, Texas in 1922 to Langley Field,
Virginia. During next 20 years at Langley, it
demonstrated effectiveness of aerial
bombardment and long range navigation.
The 2d Bombardment Group twice earned
the coveted MacKay Trophy and received
the first dozen Y1B-17 aircraft. The mother
of bombardment aviation provided cadres
for groups being equipped with
this page online
Fortress. Early WWII - flew B-17 and
B-25 aircraft on anti-submarine patrols.
[right panel] 2nd Bomb Wing SAC
Davis-Monthan Field (Tucson) Arizona 1947 - the
2d Bombardment Group was equipped with the
B-29 Super Fortress in 1947. Formed nucleus
for the 2d Bombardment Wing. Relocated to
Chatham AFB (Savannah) Georgia in 1949 and
to nearby Hunter AFB in 1950 and equipped
with B-50 and KB-29 aircraft. Aerial refueling
deployments to England and
Morocco began with B-47 and KC-97 air
craft in 1963 - Wing relocated to Barksdale
AFB (Shreveport) Louisiana with the
B-52 and KC-135. It conducted combat
operations in Southeast Asia during 1972.
The KC-10 tanker was added in 1981.
——————
Combat operations conducted during
Operation Desert Storm
16 January - 27 February 1991
[center bottom panel]
2nd Bomb Wing
Air Combat Command
The 2nd Bomb Wing has participated in several combat
actions since Operation Desert Storm. Operation Desert
Strike was carried out in 1996 to counter Iraq's disregard
for United Nations mandates and military build up. This
was the first time the B-52H was used in combat. In
Operation Desert Fox the 2nd was tasked with destroying
Iraq's
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 4, 2009
2. 2nd Bomb Group (H) Memorial
Circle (2nd B.G.), Y (5th Wing) Acft Marking
participated in Operation Alled Force, striking military
targets in Kosovo. Since September 11, 2001, the 2nd Bomb
Wing has played a pivotal role in Global War on Terrorism
in both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
[rear of monument]
World War I • World War II
Vietnam • Southwest Asia
In memory of those who served in the
U.S. Air Force's oldest bombardment unit.
Erected 1990 by 2nd Bombardment Association.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Vietnam • War, World I • War, World II.
Location. 39° 46.755′ N, 84° 6.828′ W. Marker is in Riverside, Ohio, in Montgomery County. Marker (Memorial #262) is in the Memorial Park of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, with museum access off Springfield Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Spaatz Street, Dayton OH 45431, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 27th Fighter Bomber Group (a few steps from this marker); 1st Fighter Group (a few steps from this marker); 4950th Test Wing Crash Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Enlisted Aerial Gunners
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 4, 2009
3. 2nd Bomb Group (H) Memorial
Also see . . .
1. 2nd Bombardment Association. (Submitted on January 7, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. 2nd Bomb Group. (Submitted on January 7, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Additional commentary.
1.
My brother and I met two airmen as children in Lewistown, MT. Their names were Jimmy Costello and M/Sgt S.N Kochis-12063570. They were in Lewistown maybe on temporary assignment from Great Falls. They came to our home frequently for meals and to attend church with us. They were our pen pals throughout the war. I just this moment found a box from my home that had not been opened for at least 70 years. I found these letters and they brought tears to my eyes. Steve wrote me in one letter dated Dec 8 1944 of meeting and speaking
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 4, 2009
4. 2nd Bomb Group (H) Memorial Squadrons
They were very proud of the 17's "they are a good ship and were proud of them"
Do you think there is any chance of finding relatives of these men, so that I may share the love we had for them?
James O. Huber Col. USA rt.
Editor's Note: We regret we are not affiliated with the National Museum of the Air Force, so can't offer much assistance with your request. We recommend you contact the museum. What we can do is post this request here in the hopes that a relative will find it and request contact with you through our editors.
— Submitted June 18, 2011, by james Huber of woodland Hills, California.
2. 2nd Bomb Group website
Please feel free to contact the 2nd Bomb Group via our website at www.2ndbombgroup.org.
Our Board of Directors is always happy to help those with questions about the 2nd, or in finding information about the group or its airmen. We're all volunteers who consider it an honor to help whenever possible. Karen Nelson, President, 2nd Bombardment Association. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
— Submitted February 14, 2023, by Karen W Nelson of Cleveland, Ohio.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 4, 2009
5. 2nd Bomb Group (H) Memorial (back)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 4, 2009
6. 2nd Bomb Group (H) Memorial
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 4, 2009
7. 2nd Bomb Group (H) Memorial
Looking northwest.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.
8. NMUSAF Memorial Park Sign
Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,956 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 7, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 8. submitted on December 28, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
