| 330th Bombardment Group (VH) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1946 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Corps |
| Type | Bomber Group (Very Heavy) |
| Nickname(s) | "Empire Busters" |
| Motto(s) | Por La Libertad |
| Colors | Blue, Gold |
| Engagements | Strategic bombing of Japan |
| Decorations | &sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg){kind=small} &sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg){kind=small} |
| Battle honours | &sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg){kind=small} &sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg){kind=small}
(1942–1945) |
| Commanders | |
| June 1944 – August 1944 | Col Elbert D. Reynolds |
| August 1944-Unknown | Col Douglas C. Polhamus |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | Square ' K ' |
| Identification symbol | &sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:K-tail.jpg) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Boeing B-29 Superfortress |
| Electronic warfare | Boeing B-29 'Porcupine' Superfortress |
The 330th Bombardment Group ("Empire Busters") was a bomber group of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was formed on 1 July 1942 at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah. Initially, the group was equipped with the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, and served as a training unit within the United States until April 1944. On 1 April 1944, the group re-formed as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress-equipped unit as part of the 314th Bombardment Wing and trained for deployment to the Pacific Theater against Japan.
The group moved to North Field, Guam in 1945 as part of the Twentieth Air Force, flying its first combat mission on 12 April 1945. The Group received two Distinguished Unit Citations for incendiary raids on the homeland islands of Japan. The Group returned to the United States in late 1945, and was inactivated on 3 January 1946. Its lineage and honors were carried by the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing until it was permanently inactivated on 1 July 2010.