During World War II the unit entered combat in May 1944, and sustained the heaviest losses of any Consolidated B-24 Liberator group for a three-month period. The group was withdrawn from combat with its personnel and equipment being reassigned to other units. The 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) was replaced by the 492nd Bombardment Group, and the group performed special operations missions throughout the remainder of the war in Europe. It was inactivated on 17 October 1945.
In June 2017 official USAF descriptions said that the wing organized, trained and equipped forces to conduct special operations missions. It led Major Command irregular warfare activities and executes special operations test and evaluation programs. It also developed doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures for United States Air Force special operations forces.[3]
Constituted as the 492nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 September 1943
Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
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
Fish, Col Robert W. (1990). (PDF). 801st/492nd Bombardment Group Association. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
Memories of the 801st/492nd Bombardment Group Carpetbaggers
(1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN978-0-87938-638-2.
Freeman, Roger A.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Air Force Combat Units of World War II
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN70605402. OCLC72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II
Warren, Maj Harris G. (June 1947). (PDF). Air Historical Office, Army Air forces. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
"Special Operations: AAF Aid to European Resistance Movements, USAF Historical Study No. 121"
