page_title: 42nd Air Base Wing
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: 42nd Air Base Wing / World War II
caption_attribution_description: English: Douglas B-18 Bolo JBLM
context_page_description: The 42nd Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air University of Air Education and Training Command. It is stationed at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama and is the host unit for Maxwell-Gunter. The wing's primary mission is to support all activities of Air University, the 908th Airlift Wing and other tenant units stationed at Maxwell-Gunter.
  The wing was first activated shortly before the beginning of World War II as the 42nd Bombardment Group, a medium bomber unit. It conducted antisubmarine patrols off the Pacific coast following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The group provided units to reinforce the defenses of Alaska and to conduct patrols against German U-boats in the Caribbean Sea. It was brought up to strength by the transfer of veteran squadrons in 1943 when it moved to the Southwest Pacific Theater as part of Thirteenth Air Force. The 42nd saw combat in the Solomon Islands, Russell Islands, New Guinea and the Philippines. The group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its pre-invasion bombing of Balikpapan from 23 to 30 June 1945.
context_section_description: The 42nd Bombardment Group was first activated at Fort Douglas, Utah on 15 January 1941, drawing its cadre from the 7th Bombardment Group.  Its original squadrons were the 75th, 76th and 77th Bombardment Squadrons and the 16th Reconnaissance Squadron, which was attached to the group.  During its time at Fort Douglas, the group was without aircraft and spent its time in ground training and adding personnel to bring it up to strength.  Shortages of equipment in the pre-war Army meant that even drill was performed with broomsticks taking the place of rifles.
  In May the group began its move to Army Air Base, Boise (later named Gowen Field).  Gowen was not ready for occupancy when the advance echelon arrived, so they were initially quartered at a National Guard armory near Boise, Idaho, named Camp Bonneville. By 4 June the group was assembled at Gowen Field.  By August the group received its first six Douglas B-18 Bolos and was able to begin flying training.  The group was notified in October that it would be equipped with the Martin B-26 Marauder.  Several crews were sent to Patterson Field, Ohio, where they participated in the service testing of the Marauder.  Once the testing was complete, the group began to pick up brand-new B-26s at the Martin plant.
  Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the group initially moved most of its available B-26s to Muroc Army Air Base, California. However, soon priority was given to bringing the 77th squadron up to full strength when it was alerted for immediate movement to Alaska.  On 19 December the squadron departed for Elmendorf Field and by February it had been reassigned out of the group.  At the beginning of the new year the remainder of the group dispersed to the Pacific Northwest, with group headquarters and the 76th Bombardment Squadron at McChord Field, Washington, the 75th at Portland Army Air Base, Oregon and the 16th Reconnaissance Squadron at Paine Field, Washington.  To provide greater coverage for antisubmarine patrols, detachments were organized to fly out of smaller fields.  The group primarily used Lockheed A-29 Hudsons for its antisubmarine work, but also flew several other types.
  Meanwhile, a number of the senior officers of the group headquarters moved to Seattle, where they formed an advanced echelon for IV Bomber Command, which was taking over all Pacific coast antisubmarine operations, including those along the northern coast, which had been controlled by Second Air Force.  In March, the place of the departed 77th was taken by the newly activated 390th Bombardment Squadron.  Most of the initial personnel of the 390th were drawn from the group's headquarters squadron.  At the same time, the 16th Reconnaissance Squadron was formally assigned to the group, changing its name to the 406th Bombardment Squadron.  However, in May group strength was again reduced to three squadrons, when the air echelon of the 76th squadron departed for Miami, Florida and was attached to the 45th Bombardment Group as antisubmarine efforts focused on the German U-boat threat in the Caribbean Sea.  The group shrank again the following month as the 406th's air echelon was dispatched to join the 77th in Alaska, where it was attached to the 28th Composite Group.
  While antisubmarine patrols continued, the group trained North American B-25 Mitchell combat crews for the Alaskan Defense Command.  The group's 390th squadron also tested incendiary bombs and bombing techniques at the ranges of Las Vegas Army Air Field.  In February 1943 the group was alerted for overseas movement.  Reorganizing for shipment overseas, the 76th and 406th squadrons, which had been on detached service since the previous spring were formally reassigned, while the 69th and 70th Bombardment Squadrons, which were already in the Southwest Pacific Theater with the 38th Bombardment Group, were transferred to the group.  Crews from the group's 75th and 390th squadrons trained with B-25s at Hammer Field and McClellan Field in California before the air echelon departed for its new assignment on 6 March. One aircraft was lost e
caption: B-18 as assigned to the group for training
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