In July 1943, the group stopped training other crews and began training to enter combat. It completed its training at Hunter Field, Georgia, and departed for the European Theater of Operations on 26 January 1944.[2]
Combat in Europe
Group B-26 Marauder AAF preparing to take off at Stansted in 1944[e]
The group arrived at its first combat station, RAF Stansted Mountfitchet, on 8 February 1944. It began operations with IX Bomber Command in March. It attacked targets in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, including airfields, marshalling yards, submarine pens and coastal defenses. After a poor bombing performance by the 344th on 10 April, the group was taken off operations for a week for additional training.[6] It returned to operations, participating in Operation Crossbow, the attacks on V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket launch sites. Starting in May, it concentrated on attacks on bridges in France, preparing for Operation Overlord, the forthcoming invasion in Normandy.[2]
On D Day, 6 June 1944, it attacked coastal batteries at Cherbourg. During the remainder of the month it supported the drive to seize the Cotentin Peninsula and bombed German defensive positions to support British forces near Caen. On 24 July, the group attacked a bridge across the Loire near Tours. An intense flak barrage dispersed the lead flight of the 344th Group, but the remainder of the formation held and destroyed the bridge. It attacked troop concentrations the next day and supply dumps on 26 July to assist advancing ground forces in Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo.[7] For these actions, it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation.[2]
It knocked out bridges to hinder German forces' withdrawal through the Falaise Gap and bombed strong points and vessels in the harbor of Brest in July and August. For the next two months, it concentrated on attacking rail lines, bridges, supply dumps and ordnance depots in Germany, moving to the European Continent and Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airfield, France in September. From December through January 1945, it supported ground forces in the Battle of the Bulge. Until April 1945, it continued combat operations against supply points, communications centers, marshalling yards, roads, and oil storage centers.[2] The squadron flew its last mission on 25 April, an attack on Erding Airfield. During this raid, one of its Marauders was shot down by a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.[8]
Occupation duty and return to the United States
Following V-E Day, the group flew training flights and participated in air demonstrations. It moved to Schleissheim Airfield, near Munich, Germany in September as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe's occupation forces. There, the group began training on the Douglas A-26 Invader, but continued to fly Marauders as well. On 15 February 1946, the squadron's personnel and aircraft were withdrawn and it moved on paper to Bolling Field, District of Columbia, where it inactivated at the end of March.[2]
Initial National Guard service
B-26 Invaders of the group's 115th Bombardment Squadron
The group was redesignated the 126th Bombardment Group and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946. It was activated at Chicago Midway Airport, Illinois on 11 February 1947 and federally recognized on 19 June.[2] It was assigned the 107th Bombardment Squadron of the Michigan National Guard and the 168th and 108th Bombardment Squadrons at Midway. The squadron was once again equipped with Invaders, now called B-26s.
In November 1950, the National Guard reorganized under the Wing Base Organization used by the regular Air Force and the group became the operational element of the new 126th Composite Wing as the 126th Composite Group, adding a fighter squadron, but losing its Michigan squadron. In February, the group became a bombardment unit again. It was mobilized for the Korean War in April, adding the 115th Bombardment Squadron when it moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It moved to France at the end of the year to reinforce NATO. On 1 January 1953, it was inactivated and returned to the National Guard. Its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 38th Bombardment Group, which was simultaneously activated.[2][9]
The group was activated the same day in the Guard at Midway Airport as the 126th Fighter-Bomber Group.[2] The group moved to O'Hare International Airport, Illinois in 1954 It continued to fly fighters until 1961 as the 126th Fighter-Interceptor Group and 126th Fighter Group (Air Defense) until 1961, when it became the 126th Air Refueling Group. In 1974, the Air Force inactivated Air National Guard groups located on the same base as their parent wing, and the group inactivated on 9 December, transferring its units to the 126th Air Refueling Wing.
Post Cold War
In 1992, the Air Force began to implement its Objective Wing organization with National Guard units, and the group was activated at O'Hare International Airport, Illinois as the 126th Operations Group with the 108th Air Refueling Squadron and 126th Operations Support Squadron. In 1999, following the recommendations of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission it moved to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
Lineage
Constituted as the 344th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 31 August 1942
Activated on 8 September 1942
Redesignated 344th Bombardment Group, Medium by 1944
Redesignated 344th Bombardment Group, Light on 3 December 1945
Inactivated on 31 March 1946
Redesignated 126th Bombardment Squadron, Light and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946
Activated on 11 February 1947
Federally recognized on 19 June 1947
Redesignated 126th Composite Group on 1 November 1950
Redesignated 126th Bombardment Group, Light on 1 February 1951
Ordered into active service on 1 April 1951
Inactivated and released from active service on 1 January 1953
Redesignated 126th Fighter-Bomber Group and activated in the Air National Guard on 1 January 1953[10]
Redesignated 126th Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 July 1955
Redesignated 126th Fighter Group (Air Defense, c. 10 March 1958
Redesignated 126th Air Refueling Group, Tactical on 1 July 1961
^Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, serial 59–1500. It was constructed as a KC-135A-BN.
^While assigned to the 126th Wing, the group uses the wing emblem with the group designation on the scroll. AF Instruction 84-105, Organizational Lineage, Honors and History, 27 April 2017, paragraph 3.3.3.
^Approved 9 January 1943. Description: Azure, a bendnebul[y]or, between four spears, points to base, two and two of the last [color], inflamed proper.
Rust, Kenn C. (1967). The 9th Air Force in World War II. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, Inc. LCCN67-16454.
Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force In World War II. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-2938-8.
