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SUBJECT: Letter of
Commendation to all Personnel of the 494th
Bombardment Group (H).
TO: Commanding
Officer, 494th Bombardment Group (H), APO 264.
1.
During the time that the 494th
Bombardment Group (H) has been under the operational control
of this headquarters, you have performed and are continuing
to perform in a superlative manner. Your combat crews
reflect the fine training which they have received. Only by
fine organization and extensive, well-controlled training
can a unit such as yours perform in this manner.
3. Please extend to all your combat crews and
ground personnel my personal appreciation of their high combat efficiency and their
obviously high esprit de corps. We all hope that you continue
working with us indefinitely.
| /s/ J.V. Crabb |
| /t/ J.V. CRABB, |
| Brig. General, USA |
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Commanding |
"THIS MESSAGE
RECEIVED AT HEADQUARTERS VII
BOMBER COMMAND QUOTE PASS TO GROUP AND
SERVICE COMMANDERS CONCERNED FOLLOWING RE-
ADDRESSED FROM KENNEY QUOTE PLEASE ACCEPT
FOR YOURSELF AND EXTEND TO ALL OFFICERS AND
MEN INVOLVED MY HEARTIEST COMMENDATION FOR
THEIR BRILLIANT EXECUTION OF THE VISAYAN CAM-
PAIGN PD IT IS ABLE MODEL OF WHAT ABLE LIGHT
BUT AGGRESSIVE COMMAND CAN ACCOMPLISH IN
RAPID EXPLOITATION SIGNED MACARTHUR UNQUOTE
EYE TAKE PLEASURE IN FORWARDING THIS TO UNITS
OF THE SEVENTH AIR FORCE WHO ASSISTED IN THE
SOFTENING OF THE JAPS IN SUPPORT OF THE FAR
EASTERN AIR FORCE FLOOD ADDS UNQUOTE CARR EX-
PRESSES APPRECIATION OF ENTIRE SEVENTH BOMBER
COMMAND FOR ABLE DIFFICULT JOB WELL DONE
UNQUOTE"
FROM: COMBOMCOM SEVEN 280903/1
PRIORITY
TO: COBOMGR FOUR NINE FOUR
YOU CERTAINLY PINNED THE BRITCHES ON THE NIPS
AGAIN YESTERDAY WITH YOUR USUAL PERFECT BOMBING PD YOU CAN'T BE BEATEN.
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FROM: COMBOMCOM
SEVEN
TO: COBOMGR 494TH
FROM: COMGEN TAF RYUKYUS 060153Z
TO; 494TH BOMB GP HEAVY
INFO: COMGENTEN CINCOPA ADV. 7TH BOMCOM
7TH AAF AAFPOA
HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS TO 494TH BOMB
GROUP HEAVY ON MAKING THE FIRST B-24 STRIKE
AGAINST ENEMY MAINLAND FROM YOUR BASE ON
OKINAWA. YOUR PROMPTNESS IN COMMENCING OP-
ERATIONS AND THE SUCCESS OF YOUR INITIAL MIS-
SION MERITS LOUD APPLAUSE HERE. JAPS DOUBTLESS
REGARD YOUR VISIT AS UNWELCOME NOVELTY. BRAVO
AND ENCORE.
FROM: COMBOMCOM
SEVEN
20 JULY 1945
TO: COBOMGR FOUR NINE FOUR
YOU ARE SETTING AN AMAZING RECORD OF OPER-
ATION AND SUPERIOR RESULTS FOR THIS COMMAND
PERIOD IT INDICATES UNEXCELLED LEADERSHIP AND
LOYALTY OF YOURSELF COMMA YOUR OFFICERS AND
MEN COMMA ALSO THE EXCELLENT STATE OF TRAINING
AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR UNITS AND GIVES FUR-
THER CONCRETE PROOF THAT THE SEVENTH AIR FORCE
IS THE BEST DAMN AIR FORCE OF THEM ALL PERIOD |
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HEADQUARTERS
FAR EAST AIR FORCES
APO 925 |
AF 330.13
SUBJECT: Commendation of Unit.
TO: Commanding General. Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean
Areas, APO 958
1. I wish to commend the 494th
Bomb Group (H), commanded by Lawrence B. Kelley,
for the superior manner in which it has conducted heavy
bomber operations while under the
operational control of this Headquarters for the past six
months.
2. Based at Angaur in the
Palau Islands, the 494th Group has conducted strikes
against
enemy air bases and installations throughout the
Philippines and in Formosa and has played
a major role in the defeat of the enemy in this
area. Its bombing of centers of air activity has
been vital to the successful winning of the air battle,
particularly in the Panay-Negros-Cebu,
Davao, Legaspi, and Manilla-Clark Field areas.
3. During the period of
operations, the 494th Group has achieved an impressive
record
of sustained effort. It has dropped over 3,000 tons
of bombs on targets 600 to 900 miles from
its base, with 74% of the bombs within target areas.
Seventy three enemy aircraft have been
destroyed or damaged in the air and on the ground.
4. The officers and men of
the 494th Group are commended for their efforts and for
the
spirit of cooperation which they have displayed while
operating with the Far East Air Forces.
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/s/ George C. Kenney
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/t/ GEORGE C. KENNEY
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General, U.S. Army
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Commanding
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