During World War II, the 444th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces combat organization.

After the planes were returned, the group engaged in training on the new aircraft and its mission of long range precision bombing.

[citation needed] In November 1943 the 444th reorganized as a "Very Heavy" group and added four Bombardment Maintenance Squadrons and a Photographic Laboratory.

The cause was traced to the design of the engine cowl flaps which controlled air flow over the cylinders.

Additional complications leading to overheating were caused by operations in the tropical heat of India and by flying with maximum loads.

The lower air pressures produced by the high ambient heat reduced lift and engine performance.

[citation needed] From India, the 444th Bomb Group planned to fly missions against Japan from advanced airfields in China.

Also, the forward bases were located in Szechaun Province in south central China far from the coast, with no roads or railroads into the area from Allied-controlled territory.

"[12] The Hump route was so dangerous and difficult that each time a B-29 flew from India to China it was counted as a mission.

[citation needed] The group flew its first combat mission on 5 June 1944 against the Makasan railroad yards at Bangkok, Thailand.

[13] It returned to Yawata on 20 August on a daytime raid for which the group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.

It received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for attacking oil storage facilities at Oshima, bombing an aircraft plant near Kobe, and dropping incendiaries on Nagoya in May 1945.

The wing struck light metal industries at Osaka in July 1945, receiving a third Distinguished Unit Citation for this action.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency