B-24J 44-40811 Nose Art “Cabin in the Sky”, 7th BG, 492nd BS 10th Air Force
The Objectives of the 7th Bomb Group (7th BG)
The 7th BG’s objectives evolved over the course of World War II, shifting with changing strategic priorities and the theater’s logistical and tactical landscape.
- Early Objectives (1942):
- The 7th BG’s initial objective was to support General Joseph Stilwell in achieving his objectives in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater.
- Early missions involved disrupting Japanese air and ground forces in Burma through air attacks.
- Interrupting the movement and transshipment of Japanese supplies by sea or land into lower Burma, particularly Rangoon, was a primary objective.
- Evolving Objectives (1943-1945):
- In 1943, rail centers and bridges were added to the list of priority strategic targets.
- The 7th BG was also tasked with mining enemy harbors, particularly the Rangoon harbor area and the estuaries of the Rangoon and Irrawaddy Rivers, to restrict the flow of supplies.
- As part of the Strategic Air Force, the 7th BG focused on breaking Japanese lines of communication in southern Burma, Thailand, and Malaya.
- Destroying bridges became a vital part of this campaign, aiming to disrupt the flow of supplies to the retreating Japanese armies.
- Support Missions:
- In addition to strategic bombing, the 7th BG was often called upon to support Allied ground forces during Japanese and Allied offensives.
- This included bombing supply dumps, Japanese Army barracks, and other military installations.
- Logistical Role:
- Notably, the 7th BG also played a crucial logistical role by hauling gasoline and supplies over the “Hump” to China, supporting the Fourteenth Air Force.
The 7th BG’s missions involved a variety of targets and tactics, ranging from high-altitude bombing to low-level attacks, and from daylight raids to night missions. The group’s objectives constantly evolved to meet the demands of a challenging and ever-changing theater of war.