Training in the United States The 749th Bombardment Squadron was activated at
Geiger Field, Washington on 1 July 1943 as one of the four
squadrons of the
457th Bombardment Group. It moved a week later to
Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, where it began training with the
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber and completed the first two phases of training there. It completed its training at
Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, then moved to
Wendover Field, Utah for final preparation for overseas movement. It departed for the
European Theater of Operations on New Years Day, 1944. In June 1944, the squadron was diverted from its strategic mission to prepare for
Operation Overlord, the invasion of France. On
D Day, it attacked
coastal defenses on the
Cherbourg Peninsula. For the remainder of the month it was engaged in
air interdiction, striking
airfields, rail systems and roads and depots behind enemy lines. The squadron was also diverted to tactical targets for shorter periods. In July 1944, it supported
Operation Cobra the breakout of ground forces at
Saint Lo. During
Operation Market Garden, the attempt to secure bridgeheads across the
Rhine River in the Netherlands, it supported the
British 1st Airborne Division. It provided similar support during the
Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, and
Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the
Rhine in March 1945. The squadron flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945. Following
V-E Day, it transported
prisoners of war from Austria to France. The air echelon departed Glatton between 19 and 23 May, while the ground echelon sailed on the on 24 June, arriving at the New York Port of Emarkation five days later. It assembled at
Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in late July. It was inactivated there the following month. ==Lineage==