B-29 Wings of the Marianas

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The Organization of the B-29s in the Marianas Island

In the Marianas, there were five very heavy bombardment wings organized under the XXI Bomber Command of the 20th Air Force.  The XXI Bomber Command was initially led by Brigadier General Haywood Hansell, but later Major General Curtis LeMay took over command of the XXI Bomber Command.  Gen LeMay had commanded the XX Bomber Command in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater.

The five wings and their bases were:

58th Bombardment Wing (VH), Originally part of the XX Bomber Command in the CBI Theater, they later moved to West Field, Tinian

73rd Bombardment Wing (VH), Isely Field, Saipan

313th Bombardment Wing (VH), North Field, Tinian

314th Bombardment Wing (VH), North Field, Guam

315th Bombardment Wing (VH), Northwest Field, Guam

In July of 1945, the XXI Bomber Command was de-activated and the wings fell directly under the command of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific.  General Carl Spaatz was the commander of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific in the Marianas.  Major General LeMay became the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific.

The following table shows the wings, groups and squadrons of the Marianas:

World War II – B-29 Wings, Groups and Squadrons

XXI Bomber Command/20th Air Force XXI Bomber Command/20th Air Force XXI Bomber Command/20th Air Force XXI Bomber Command/20th Air Force XXI Bomber Command/20th Air Force
58th Bomb Wing 73rd Bomb Wing 313th Bomb Wing 314th Bomb Wing 315th Bomb Wing
XX Bomber Command India, then West Field, Tinian Isley Field, Saipan North Field, Tinian North Field, Guam NW Field Guam
40th Bomb Gp 497th Bomb Gp 6th Bomb Gp 19th Bomb Gp 16th Bomb Gp
25thBomb Sq 869th Bomb Sq 24th Bomb Sq 28th Bomb Sq 15th Bomb Sq
44th Bomb Sq 870th Bomb Sq 39th Bomb Sq 30th Bomb Sq 16th Bomb Sq
45th Bomb Sq 871st Bomb Sq 40th Bomb Sq 93rd Bomb Sq 17th Bomb Sq
395th Bomb Sq 872nd Bomb Sq
444th Bomb Gp 498th Bomb Gp 9th Bomb Gp 29th Bomb Gp 331st Bomb Gp
676th Bomb Sq 873rd Bomb Sq 1st Bomb Sq 6th Bomb Sq 355th Bomb Sq
677th Bomb Sq 874th Bomb Sq 5th Bomb Sq 43rd Bomb Sq 356th Bomb Sq
678th Bomb Sq 875th Bomb Sq 99th Bomb Sq 52nd Bomb Sq 357th Bomb Sq
679th Bomb Sq 876th Bomb Sq
462nd Bomb Gp 499th Bomb Gp 504th Bomb Gp 39th Bomb Gp 501st Bomb Gp
768th Bomb Sq 877th Bomb Sq 398th Bomb Sq 60th Bomb Sq 21st Bomb Sq
769th Bomb Sq 878th Bomb Sq 421st Bomb Sq 61st Bomb Sq 41st Bomb Sq
770th Bomb Sq 879th Bomb Sq 680th Bomb Sq 62nd Bomb Sq 485th Bomb Sq
771st Bomb Sq 880th Bomb Sq
468th Bomb Gp 500th Bomb Gp 505th Bomb Gp 330th Bomb Gp 502nd Bomb Gp
792nd Bomb Sq 881st Bomb Sq 482nd Bomb Sq 457th Bomb Sq 402nd Bomb Sq
793rd Bomb Sq 882nd Bomb Sq 483rd Bomb Sq 458th Bomb Sq 411th Bomb Sq
794th Bomb Sq 883rd Bomb Sq 484th Bomb Sq 459th Bomb Sq 430th Bomb Sq
795th Bomb Sq 884th Bomb Sq

509th Composite Group

Based with the 313th Bomb Wing

393rd Bomb Sq

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Photo credit:
"B-29s of the 462d Bomb Group West Field Tinian Mariana Islands 1945" by United States Army Air Force - United States Air Force Historical Research Agency - Maxwell AFB, Alabama from "History and Units of the United States Air Force", G H J Sharrings, European Aviation Historical Society, 2004. Photo credit given as from USAFHRA.. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/