444th Bomb Group
The Official 444th Bombardment Group Association
NEW UPDATE IN PROGRESS!!!
If you would like to make a donation or join the Association
please click HERE or mail your donation to:
444th BG Assoc.
1908 Charleston Dr.
Bedford, TX 76022
First & Finest: The 444th Bomb Group
This Website, Association, and Museum are dedicated to preserving the history of the 444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy Special). This often forgotten unit of WW-II was the first B-29 Superfortress unit ever established, and was one of the first two operational B-29 Superfortress combat groups of the 58th Bomb Wing, 20th Army Air Force. Entering combat in June of 1944, the 444th BG was truly an elite unit. Only the top 10% of Air Corps recruits, technicians, mechanics, pilots & aircrew were selected to take part in the B-29 program.
Popular history assumes that WW-II was ended by the dropping of the two atomic bombs. Although a pivitol point in human history, these bombs themselves only hastened Japan's surrender, they did not cause it. The B-29 units of the 20th AAF facilitated Japan's defeat through long months of intensive very heavy bombing. As stated in official XXI Bomber Command records for July of 1945:
"...NO STRATEGIC TARGETS LEFT."
From the first strike against mainland Japan since the "Doolittle Raid", to the massive low-level incendiary bombing of Japan's cities - the 444th Bomb Group was there - beginning to end. It is our responsibility to make sure that this very important part of history is never forgotten.
Our Bi-Annual Members Only Email Newsletter is produced on May 17th & Nov. 17th
Email Association Membership Director Katie Kirk to be added to the mailing list: katiekirk@444thbg.org
Or click HERE to become an Official Member.
If you have questions about the 444th, it's personnel, planes, or history please post them HERE. Use the GOOGLE(c) search box below to search this site &/or the internet.
All images, photographs, documents, logos, graphics, and all other parts of this website are the sole property of The Official 444th BG Association (unless otherwise noted or specified) - (c)2008 444thBG, All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication, distribution, transmission, printing, publishing, or recording (in/or on any media known or unknown) of the contents of this site is a violation of applicable laws. Any and all use for non-profit means is hereby fully granted by the site owner. Commercial undertakings of ANY nature using ANY material from this site are expressly forbidden without the advance written permission of the site owner, and/or the owner of said material(s).
