The 493d Bombardment Group is a former United States Army Air Forces unit that was assigned to the 92d Bombardment Wing during World War II. It the last bombardment group to be assigned to Eighth Air Force. It flew combat missions in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany until shortly before V-E Day, then returned to the United States for inactivation. In 2002, the group was converted to provisional status as the 493d Air Expeditionary Group and assigned to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate as needed.
493d Bombardment Group Boeing B-17G
Image: 493dbombgroup emblem
B-24s of the 493d Bomb Group at Debach
McCook Army Airfield was activated on 1 April 1943. It is located nine miles (14 km) northwest of McCook, a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States and is southwest of North Platte, Nebraska. It was constructed in 1943. The 2,100-acre (8.5 km2) site is bordered on all sides by level farm ground.
2006 USGS Orthophoto
McCook Army Airfield, 1944, looking northeast
McCook Army Airfield, 1944, looking northwest
Hangar at McCook AAF, now used for farm storage