417th Bombardment Group

417th Bombardment Group
Douglas A-20s of the 417th Bombardment Group showing markings adopted in the Southwest Pacific Theater
Active	1943–1945
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Role	Bombardment
Nickname(s)	Sky Lancers
Engagements	South West Pacific Theater of World War II
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
417th Bombardment Group Insigne (unofficial)

The 417th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with V Bomber Command at Itami Airfield, Japan, where it was inactivated on 5 November 1945.

During World War II, the group operated in the Southwest Pacific Theater as a light bombardment unit during the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns. It was awarded both the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat service.

The 417th Bombardment Group was activated in the spring of 1943 at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma with the 672d,673d,674th, and 675th Bombardment Squadrons assigned. The group drew its initial cadre from the 46th and 416th Bombardment Groups. Once assigned, the 417th's key personnel travelled to Orlando Army Air Base in mid-April where they received combat training from the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics.

The first Douglas A-20 Havocs arrived to equip the group in mid-May along with some DB-7 export models of the Havoc. Initial training of the group was conducted by the 46th Bombardment Group, the Operational Training Unit at Will Rogers Field. The group then moved to DeRidder Army Air Base, Louisiana for advanced training. From August to September the 417th operated with the II Tactical Air Division giving low level support to ground units on maneuvers. Once training was completed The 417th departed the San Francisco Port of Embarkation by ship on New Year's Day 1944.