492nd Special Operations Wing, US Air Force
492ND SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING, US AIR FORCE
History: Established as 492 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 September 1943. Activated on 1 October 1943. Redesignated as: 492 Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 August 1943; 492 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 5 August 1945. Inactivated on 17 October 1945. Redesignated 492 Air Expeditionary Group, and converted to provisional status, on 12 June 2002. Activated on 1 March 2003. Inactivated on 27 May 2003. Redesignated as: 492 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 3 May 2017; 492 Special Operations Wing on 4 May 2017. Activated on 10 May 2017. Trained in the U.S. for combat with B-24s. Moved to England in April 1944 for operations with Eighth Air Force. Entered combat on 11 May 1944, and throughout the month operated primarily against industrial targets in Central Germany. Attacked airfields and V-weapon launching sites in France during the first week in June. Bombed coastal defenses in Normandy in support of the allied invasion on 6 June 1944, then attacked bridges, railroads, and other interdiction targets in France until the middle of the month. Resumed bombardment of strategic targets in Germany and, except for support of the infantry during the St Lo breakthrough on 25 July 1944, continued such operations until August 1944. Transferred, less personnel and equipment, to another station in England on 5 August 1944 and assumed personnel, equipment, and mission of a provisional group that was then discontinued. Operated chiefly over southern France, engaging in “Carpetbagger” operations in conjunction with the OSS, transporting agents, supplies, and propaganda leaflets. Ceased these missions on 16 September 1944 to haul gasoline to advancing mechanized forces in France and Belgium. Intermittently attacked airfields, oil refineries, seaports, and other targets in France, the Low Countries, and Germany until February 1945. Meanwhile, in October 1944, began training for night bombardment operations, then concentrated on night bombing of marshalling yards and depots in Germany, February-March 1945. On 18 March 1945 resumed Carpetbagger operations over Germany and German-occupied territory, dropping leaflets, demolition equipment, and agents. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for these operations, performed at night despite adverse weather and vigorous opposition from enemy ground forces, 20 March-25 April 1945. Also cited by the French government for similar operations over France in 1944. Flew its last Carpetbagger mission in April 1945, then ferried personnel and equipment to and from the Continent until Jul. Returned to the U.S., July-August 1945 and inactivated on 17 October 1945.
| English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
The Emblem was approved on 13 July 2017.
Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/
US heraldry portal
This page is part of the  |
 |
 US heraldry:
|
 Ecclesiastical Heraldry of the USA:
 Military Heraldry: |
Contact and Support
Partners:
Your logo here ?
Contact us
© since 1995, Heraldry of the World, Ralf Hartemink 
Index of the site