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U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
6TH AIR MOBILITY WING HISTORY

The 6th began its long and illustrious history on 30 September 1919 as the 3d Observation Group at France Field in the Panama Canal Zone. Its mission: providing protection for the Panama Canal area, participating in maneuvers, flying patrol missions, photographing the canal area, staging aerial reviews and making good-flights to Central and South America. In 1921 the group was redesignated the 6th Group (Observation) and in 1922, the 6th Group (Composite). The 6th flew such aircraft at the Curtiss R-4, DeHavilland 4-B, SE-5A, MG-3A, Piper L-4, P-12B and Martin B-10 and B-18 aircraft.

In 1937, as the mission of the 6th moved toward bombardment, the War Department renamed it the 6th Bombardment Group. They continued to operate in the Canal Zone under the VI Bomber Command of the Sixth Air Force until 31 October 1943, when it inactivated.

Five months later, on 19 April 1944, the 6th reactivated at Dalhart Army Airfield, Texas. Equipped first with B-17 aircraft, crews were later trained in B-29 aircraft for deployment to the Pacific Theater. By 28 December 1944 the 6th had deployed to North Field, Tinian, under Twentieth Air Force, from where it entered WWII by flying navigational escort for a major attack force bound for Iwo Jima. The 6th then struck Tokyo and other major Japanese cities and facilities during daylight high-altitude bombing raids, with crippling, non-stop incendiary raids which destroyed lines of communication, supply, and numerous kamikaze bases. On 25 May 1945, the 6th flew a low-altitude night mission through alerted enemy defenses to drop incendiary bombs on Tokyo, for which they received their first Distinguished Unit Citation. In addition to incendiary raids, the 6th also participated in mining operations. By mining harbors in Japan and Korea in July 1945, the group contributed to the blockade of the Japanese Empire earning their second Distinguished Unit Citation. The 6th's final WWII mission came on 14 August 1945, with the dropping of 500-pound general purpose bombs on the Marifu railroad yards at Iwakuni. With the war over, the 6th dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners of war and took part in show-of-force flights over Japan.