Lineage. Established as 331 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 1 Jul 1942. Activated on 6 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated as 331 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, and activated, on 12 Jul 1944. Inactivated on 15 Apr 1946. Redesignated as 331 Air Expeditionary Group, and converted to provisional status, on 21 Oct 2005. Activated on 1 Sep 2008. Inactivated on 17 Sep 2008. Activated on 5 Apr 2010.
Assignments. Second Air Force, 6 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944. Second Air Force, 7 Jul 1944; 315 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, 12 May 1945-15 Apr 1946. 1 Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, 1-17 Sep 2008. 320 Air Expeditionary Wing, 5 Apr 2010-.
Operational Components. Squadrons: 355 Bombardment, 12 Jul 1944-15 Apr 1946. 356 Bombardment, 12 Jul 1944-15 Apr 1946. 357 Bombardment, 12 Jul 1944-15 Apr 1946. 461 Bombardment, 6 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944. 462 Bombardment, 6 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944. 463 Bombardment, 6 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944. 464 Bombardment, 6 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944.
Stations. Salt Lake City AAB, UT, 6 Jul 1942; Casper AAFld, WY, 15 Sep 1942-1 Apr 1944. Dalhart AAFld, TX, 12 Jul 1944; McCook AAFld, NE, 14 Nov 1944-(ground echelon) 7 Apr 1945, (air echelon) May 1945; Northwest Field, Guam, (ground echelon) 12 May 1945, (air echelon) 2 Jun 1945-15 Apr 1946. Jackson, MS, 1 Sep 2008; Randolph AFB, TX, 11-17 Sep 2008. Andrews AFB, MD, 5 Apr 2010-.
Commanders. None (not manned), 6 Jul-16 Sep 1942; 2 Lt William B. Moeser, 17 Sep 1942; Lt Col Frank P. Hunter Jr., 29 Sep 1942; Lt Col William Lewis Jr., 5 Mar 1943; Lt Col Marcus A. Mullen, 1 Feb-1 Apr 1944. None (not manned), 12-25 Jul 1944; Maj Willard W. Wilson, 26 Jul 1944; Lt Col Hadley V. Saehlenou, 30 Jul 1944; Col Hoyt L. Prindle, 19 Aug 1944; Col James N. Peyton, 24 Jan 1945; Lt Col Roland J. Barnick, Oct 1945-16 Feb 1946; none, (not manned), 17 Feb-15 Apr 1946.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942-1943; B-24, 1943-1944. B-29, 1945-1946.
Operations. 331 Bombardment Group served as a replacement training unit, Sep 1942-Mar 1944. The group bombed Japanese-held Truk Island late in Jun 1945 on a practice mission. It flew its first combat mission on 9 Jul 1945 against an oil refinery in Yokkaichi, Japan. In a dozen missions before the war's end, the group operated mostly against the enemy's petroleum industry on Honshu. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the Jul 1945 bombing of the coal liquefaction plant at Ube, the Mitsubishi-Hayama petroleum complex at Kawasaki, and the oil refinery and storage facilities at Shimotsu; all missions were conducted despite bad weather, fighter attacks, and heavy flak. After the war, the group dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners of war in Japan.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; Western Pacific; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation, Japan, 22-29 Jul 1945.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 7 Apr 2010.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Apr 1946.
Supersedes statement prepared on 14 Nov 2005.
Emblem. Approved on 22 Dec 1942.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.