416th Bombardment Group (L) Group and Squadron Awards, Honors and Commendations

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416th BG Air Force Award summary card
"WDGO" = War Department, General Orders
"AG 200.6 OpGA" = Adjutant General, Section 200.6 (AG Records Decimal File System Index for
AWARDS & MEDALS, Operations, General Administration)
(NARA - Air Force Award Cards [unit awards]: 350th Airdrome Squadron - 575th Bomb Squadron, Page 395)

                 
668th, 669th, 670th and 671st Squadron Air Force Award summary cards
(NARA - Air Force Award Cards [unit awards]: 576th Air Material Squadron - 1781st Ordnance S&M Company (AVN), Pages 116, 118, 119, 121)

The 416th Bomb Group was awarded Battle Participation Credit in the the following WWII Campaigns:
Air Offensive, Europe; 4 Jul 1942 to 5 Jun 1944 (WD GO 85, 1945)
Normandy; 6 Jun to 24 Jul 1944 (WD GO 102, 1945)
Northern France; 25 Jul to 14 Sep 1944 (WD GO 103, 1945)
Ardennes; 16 Dec 1944 to 25 Jan 1945 (WD GO 114, 1945)
Central Europe; 22 Mar to 11 May 1945 (WD GO 116, 1945)
Rhineland; 15 Sep 1944 to 21 Mar 1945 (WD GO 118, 1945)
("Rhineland" Campaign was originally established as the "Germany" Campaign)

See also:
General Orders 33, War Department, 1 May 1945, Campaigns added to US Army List.
Amended by General Orders 40, War Department, 21 May 1945.

On July 25, 1945, the Group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for Extraordinary Heroism
for their critical part in trapping German forces in the Falaise Gap between August 6-9, 1944.
This Award is also known as the Presidential Citation.

Recipients were only authorized to wear the DUC ribbon on their uniform while stationed in the 416th Bomb Group.

On August 17, 1945, General Rene Bouscat, Inspector General of the French Air Force, issued General Order No 40
awarding the Croix de Guerre with "Star of Vermeil" to the US 9th Tactical Air Force and all its units.

The 416th also received numerous Commendations during their Combat Operations.

     
Individuals assigned to the 416th BG were authorized to wear a
"Battle Star on the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon" (AG 200.6 Op, 19 July 1944)
and "Overseas Service Bars" (AG 421 MPGA, 6 July 1944) for each period of 6 month's overseas service.
(416th History, July 1944, Exhibits 2 and 3)