 Under USAAF control, RAF Wendling was designated as Station 118.The airfield was opened in 1943 and was used by the 392d Bombardment Group (Heavy), arriving from Alamogordo Army Airfield, New Mexico in the south west of the US, on 18 July 1943.The 453rd was assigned to the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-D".