416th BG History - Rhineland Campaign

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Battle Participation Awards

Rhineland Campaign

Rhineland
General Orders 118, War Department, 12 December 1945
Battle Participation Credit for this Campaign was also awarded to the four 416th BG Squadrons.

Combat zone - Those portions of France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, and Germany east of the line:
Franco-Belgian frontier to 4 degrees east longitude, thence south along that meridian to 47 degrees latitude,
thence east along that parallel to 5 degrees east longitude, thence south along that meridian to the Mediterranean coast.
Time limitation - 15 September 1944 to 21 March 1945.

The "Rhineland" Campaign was originally established as the "Germany" Campaign by General Orders 80, War Department, 1944.
(WD Pamplet No. 12-6, 1 March 1945, page 51)
General Orders 40, War Department, 21 May 1945 changed the name of campaign from "Germany" to "Rhineland".

See also:
U.S. Army Center of Military History "The Campaigns of World War II" Series: Rhineland by Ted Ballard, CMH Pub 72-25
Webpage and PDF

AG 200.6 OpGA, 14 Apr 1945, "Germany" Battle Participation Award, 416th BG and Squadrons
(416th History, April 1945, Exhibit 22)

AG 200.6 OpGA, 14 Apr 1945, "Germany" Battle Participation Award, Pages 1, 10, 14
(Fold3.com WWII ETO Army Records, Images 289093280, 289093301, 289093309)

Left: WD GO 40, 21 May 1945, Battle Honors, Page 2 - Name of Campaign changed from "Germany" to "Rhineland"
(U.S. Army MCoE Library General Orders Collection, "General Orders 1945 copy 2")

Right: Daily Bulletin No 99, 28 May 1945, Awards and Decorations
(416th History, May 1945, Exhibit 32)

General Orders 118, War Department, 12 December 1945, Units Entitled to Battle Credits, Pages 1, 36, 52
(U.S. Army MCoE Library General Orders Collection, "General Orders 1945 copy 2")