Constituted as 39th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 November 1940. 
Activated on 15 January 1941.  Assigned to Second Air Force. 
Equipped with B-17s.  Patrolled the northwest coast of the United States after the nation entered the war. Equipped with  B-24s in 1942. Served as an operational training and later as a replacement training unit. Inactivated on 1 April 1944.

Re-designated the 39th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy).  Activated on 1 April 1944.  Trained with B-29s.  Moved to Guam early in 1945 for duty with 20th Air Force.  Bombed enemy held Maug early in April 1945.  Conducted its first mission against Japanese home islands by hitting the Hodagaya chemical plant at Koriyama on 12 April 1945. Supported the Allied invasion of Okinawa, April-May 1945, by attacking airfields that served as bases for kamikaze pilots.  Bombed military and industrial targets in Japan and participated in incendiary raids on urban areas from mid May until the end of the war.  Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for an attack against the Otake oil refinery and storage area on Honshu in May 1945.  Received second DUC for bombing industrial and dock areas in Yokohama and manufacturing districts in Tokyo 23 -29 May 1945.  Dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners and took part in show-of-force missions over Japan after, VJ Day.  Returned to the U.S., November & December 1945.  Inactivated on 27 December 1945.
 

STATIONS
Ft. Douglas, Utah	15 January 1941
Geiger Field, Washington	2 July 1941
Davis Monthan Field, Az.	5 February 1942-1 April 1944
Smoky Hill Army Air Field Salina, KS.	1 April 1944 - 8 January 1945
North Field, Guam	18 February - 17 November 1945
Camp Anza, Ca.	15 - 27 December 1945

 

COMMANDERS
Maj. Newton Longfellow	15 January 1941
Capt. Maurice A. Preston	1 February 1941
Lt. Col. Elmer E. Adler	17 March 1941
Capt. George W. Hansen	15 May 1941
Maj. Charles B. Overacker, Jr.	12 November 1941
Lt. Col. George W. Hansen	25 January 1942
Col. James H. Wallace	16 February 1942
Col. Fay R. Upthegrove	12 July 1942
Lt. Col. Samuel C. Mitchell	13 September 1942
Maj. Marden M. Munn	17 December 1942
Lt. Col. Horace D. Aynesworth	1 March 1943
Lt. Col. Charles A. Watt	1 July 1943
Lt. Col. Frank R. Pancake	25 November 1943
Col. Clyde K. Rich	1 December 1943 -1 April 1944
Capt. Claude J. Hilton	28 April 1944
Maj. Gordon R. Willis	6 May 1944
Maj. Campbell Weir	11 May 1944
Lt. Col. Robert W. Strong, Jr.	10 June 1944
Col. Potter B. Paige	15 June 1944
Col. John G. Fowler	22 February 1945
Col. George W. Mundy	16 March 1945
Col. James E. Roberts	16 August 1945
Lt. Col. James C. Thompson	9 October 1945
Col. Robert J. Mason	13 October 1945
Maj. Currel S. Williamson III	10 November 1945 (per Roster of Officers)

 

DECORATIONS
	Distinguished Unit Citation
	Otake Oil Refinery and Storage area	10 May 1945
	Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan	23 - 29 May 1945

CAMPAIGNS
	American Theater The American Campaign Medal		Air Offensive Japan Western Pacific The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal