Detailed accounts of combat missions 412 flown during world war two by the group. Jan 30, 2017 aircraft and airmen of 8th af 97th bomb group. Historic wendover airfield foundation wendover, utah. This is a reprint of the war time operations history book which was originally produced by the men of the 345th bombardment group medium just after the end. In the spring of 1943, the 390th bomb group h was activated in blythe, california with four squadrons. This is the story of the terrifying minutes of the planes descent, the fate of the crew, and of the discovery of the wrecksite and recovery of artifacts. Dec 31, 2014 the 379th bomb group holds the record for the most tonnage dropped of any u.
The story of vans valiants of the 8th army air force books. World war regimental histories world war collections. By member of the 390th bombardment group h 19431945 1983, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Bombardment group, 401st publisher san angelo, texas. The 379th bomb group was activated on november 26, 1942. Print email the bombardier in this lead plane of the sixth and final flight of a 36plane formation centered the crosshairs of his norden bomb sight on the target. Many of these missions were flown at 50 to 100 feet above the targets and produced, from a rearward mounted camera below the rear fuselage, some of the. United states, army air forces bomb group h, 390th. Also includes a biography section with then and now photos. The 39th bombardment group began the second world war as a training unit before becoming a b29 superfortress unit and taking part in the strategic bombing campaign against japan. Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. In june 1945, the 379th transferred from raf kimbolton and the base was closed temporarily. This collection documents the 90th bomb group the jolly rogers during world war two.
The anthology of the 379th bombardment group h is a comprehensive collection of 800 pages of words, numbers and historic photographs that provide significance to the best bomb group in the mighty eighth air force. The real history of the 39th bomb group begins at smoky hill army air field, salina, kansas on 12 april 1944. All of the glorious plane photos and group shots are in excellent condition as shown. Additional detailed information on nineonine can be found on wikipedia. Moved to england in jul 1943 and assigned to eighth af. In july, the groups air and ground troops were assigned to the 8th air force and dispatched to suffolk, england for missions over europe. The 397th bomb group m, a pictorial history book, 1946. A b17 of the 463rd bomb group struck by antiaircraft fire over the target crashed behind enemy lines. It seems like another life dedicated to the crew of b17g 42102624. The 390th bombardment group h flew 301 combat missions out of england. The new 489th bomb group is the first and only b1b lancer air force reserve unit.
For additional history and lineage, see 38th combat support wing. Pictorial record of the 401st bomb group internet archive. The story of the 390th bombardment group h indiana state. Jan 30, 2017 aircraft and airmen of the 8th af 390th bomb group. This book contributes to my project of writing a family history.
Moved to hawaii in sep 1942 and assigned to seventh af. Kids of the 463rd bomb group public group facebook. The group was first activated at salt lake city army air base, utah in september 1942, with the 502d, 503d, 504th and 505th bombardment squadrons assigned the following month, it moved to smoky hill army air field, kansas, where it began operating as an operational training unit otu. A history of the 385th bomb group in world war ii william whitfield varnedoe colonial graphics group, 2008 airplanes, military 146 pages. Buy 460th bomb group history by bohnstedt, duane l isbn.
The true story of the 303rd bomb group in world war ii. It is hoped, as you browse through this book in future years, it will serve to remind you of your many friends and teammates with whom you. As students of the dday invasion know, the weather was very poor that day. This was the secondworst military crash in maine history, occurring the same day. In addition to its outstanding bombing record, the 390th was credited with shooting down in one day oct. Sometimes the reports are sparse, despite the tremendous loss of life and damage to property. Constituted as the 38th bombardment group medium on 20 nov. The 38th bomb group was one of the most heroic air groups in the pacific war, but probably the least well known. Follow the exploits of the men of the 397th bomb group, who flew the martin b26 marauder in missions throughout world war ii. Many rare photographs and stories of enemy flak, bailouts, prisonerofwarexperiences and other dramatic first person accounts are included.
In february 1944, he became ill and was in the hospital and recuperating in brisbane for a long time in 1944. A story of the 345th bombardment group m in world war ii. In this 50th anniversary commemorative history of the 390th bombardment group, you will read the most personal history of this group, yet. Constituted as 320th bombardment group medium on 19 jun 1942 and activated on 23 jun. When i signed on to write the unit history of the 95th bombardment group heavy, one of the premier b17 flying fortress groups of world war two, i knew that in order to get a rough draft done by the end of 2008 i would have to work pretty much nonstop all summer. One version is that kens men were named for the tremendous pilot, capt. Media related to 489th bombardment group united states army air forces at wikimedia commons. Weve opted for the latter, in order to present a comprehensive and truly definitive history of the 43rd during wwii. The 90th bombardment group was a liberator group that took part in the campaigns in the southwest pacific and the philippines. In addition to the moleing missions, the 329th flew missions with the 44th bomb group, which had arrived in england shortly after their parent group. As part of the 15th air force in wwii, the 450th bomb group, dubbed cottontails by the enemy, flew b24s out of southern italy on bombing runs. The 38th bombardment group is an inactive unit of the united states air force. The group is made up of air reserve technicians art s and traditional reservists whose mission is to support the 7th bomb wing. And this is my small homage to the 306th bg that used this base during ww2.
Blue yonder and beyond is the first book to cover a world war ii bomb group. The 390th bomb group flew b17 flying fortresses from framlingham, suffolk, between july 1943 and the end of the war in europe. The 90th bomb group the jolly rogers special collection. The 390th bombardment group was a b17 flying fortress group that entered service just in time to take part in the raid on regensburg on 17 august 1943 and that served with the eighth air force for the rest of the second world war. Starkey, was a copilot in the 320th bomb squadron and later in the 400th bs of the 90th bomb group, beginning in september of 1943.
Please join us in welcoming our new executive director, alex wright, pictured on the right introducing a fellow former fighter pilot into the museum. In all, the group was credited with destroying 377 enemy aircraft during the war. Slater and a great selection of related books, art. A history of the 94th bomb group h 19421945 by harry e.
Accidents and incidents involving the boeing b17 flying fortress. This is a summary of the history of the 379th that can be found, in its entirety, at the 379th bomb group associations website. Historic wendover airfield is dedicated to preserving world war ii army air force history, educating present and future generations about this period and having visitors experience the feelings and understand the circumstances of the ww ii era participants. The tear is in the natives section and only effects one page. Bob is the author of under the southern cross and strike back. Museum dedicated to the members of the 390th bombardment group h of wwii. Youll feel the danger as you strike at the factories at schweinfurt. Org wwii bombs away 90th bomb group jolly rogers book. No book this size could ever hope to record completely, day by day, mission by mission, the history of the 445th bombardment group. Nineonine was a boeing b17g30bo flying fortress heavy bomber, of the 323rd bomb squadron, 91st bomb group, that completed 140 combat missions during world war ii, believed to be the eighth air force record for most missions, without loss to the crews that flew it.
Completed training, moved to the southwest pacific in nov 1942, and assigned to fifth af. The story of the 390th bombardment group h albert e milliken. Most of the material was gathered in the while john alcorn was writing the book the jolly rogers. The story of the 390th bombardment group h title the story of the 390th bombardment group h creator. The story of the 390th bombardment group h indiana.
Several stories and firstperson accounts of combat experiences are included. On that date, the group was activated as a very heavy bombardment unit to participate in the then new b29 superfortress program. The svr le nez emblem represents the 390th bombardment group. For example, among many other interesting items, the book has a description of every mission flown by the 390th during the war. This tactical role was more attuned to the needs of ground forces. Six officers and men of the armys 93rd bombardment pursuit squadron sic. Marvin lubinsky and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This 265 page, 9 x 12 hardcover book focuses on the 385ths combat missions, targets and losses incurred.
Youll feel like youre in a 92nd bomb group b17 as they bomb the shipyards at kiel. The 397th bombardment group was a medium bomber unit that served with the ninth air force and supported the dday invasion and the campaign that followed. The research database contains information for over 7,000 crew, 400 b17 aircraft, and 70,000 crew detail records, including mission dates, crew. Jay stouts book covers the groups history from formation through to the wars end.
Most of the group moved to north africa via england, augdec 1942. Ken mccullar of the 63rd bomb squadron, who, along with then 1st lt. Originally published in 1947, this book is a reprint using better technology. Since various limitations did exist and handicap the publication of our group history, the only alternative was to select such material as would most emphatically demonstrate how superior our group really was. Folmer the swede sogaard, glenn lewis and others, helped perfect the technique of skip bombing. These unit emblems followed historic heraldry designs and are specific to the unit and their mission. Slater and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The 449th bomb group association bga was formed in 1983 through the efforts of dick downey. Book is a 510 spine is fairly solid and there is only one tear in the whole book. Dayton, ohio 397th bomb group monument in memorial park at the national museum of the united states air force. Learn what it felt like to fight in world war ii and in korea.
Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history are available to buy. Constituted as 390th bombardment group heavy on 15 jan 1943 and activated on 26 jan. It includes stories of their experiences during wwii and of their lives afterwards. Constituted as 90th bombardment group heavy on 28 jan 1942. This book has been prepared and published in the belief that every member of the 497th bomb group will want to have its glorious combat history preserved and that every member will desire to have a copy. This is a partial list of accidents and incidents involving the boeingdesigned b 17 flying. This page contains links to websites we believe are compatible with the purposes of the 379th bomb group ww ii association. Researched and written by members of the 397th bomb group association, this book is a collection of numerous documents and stories written by men who served with the 397th from the time of its inception in 1943 through the end of the war. After the return of the man body of the 93rd to england, the group resumed bombing missions with the eighth air force and the 44th group, which at the time was the only other b24 group in england. On 1 august 1944, his b26 4334126 by golly was shot down. We wish to preserve the history of the 390th heavy bombardment group and its role in wwll i created this site to help others research the history of the 390th bomb group, its missions, and aircraft.
As a complement to the original history book, published in 1947, this book is written by the members of the 390th. Fames favored few are the groups history, war stories, biographies of veterans, and photographs. The 489th bomb group was reactivated in october 2015 at dyess afb, texas, 70 years to the day after the original 489th was deactivated. Operated chiefly against strategic objectives, flying many missions with the aid of pathfinders. The 379th holds the record for most missions flown. See more ideas about aircraft, wwii and world war ii. The 489th bombardment group, heavy was activated as a consolidated b24 liberator heavy bomber group on 1 october 1943 at wendover field, utah. Unit history there is still some debate as to the origins of the moniker. Second bombardment association books page 1 2nd bomb group. The group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of europe when its role became more of a tactical one.
The 449th bga was initially composed of the veterans of the 449th bg. Svr le nez means on the nose in french, referring to the combat mission and precision of the 390th bomb group. Memories of the 801st492nd bombardment group carpetbaggers. A critical component to victory in japan, the 38th bomb group was an integral part of of the fifth air force through major campaigns and conquests in new guinea, through the philippines and to victory in japan. History books aircraft time line commanders main bases component units assigned to history.
In reality this activation was a reactivation, for there had been an old b17 training group called the 39th. The 397th bomb group m, a pictorial history by beck, jr. On june 6, 1944, b26 marauders of the 394th bomb group medium were among those attacking coastal batteries at st. Bombardment group trained with b25s for duty overseas. The book follows the 345th bomb group, the famous air apaches, on its journey fighting with lowlevel b25 strafers across the southwest pacific from new guinea to the home islands of japan. The group was activated in april 1943 and was equipped with the b26 marauder.
East anglia books 011028 the 385th bomb group, 8th army. Army air forces bombardment group, 401st, world war ii, united states. The group was constituted on 28 january 1942 as part of the postpearl harbor increase in the size of the us. Like the 3rd and 38th bomb group projects, our research on the 43rd bomb group developed so much material that we either had to edit out hundreds of pages of text and photos from the book, or split it into two volumes. The book is full of incredibly interesting information and pictures 8th air force history buffs will find fascinating. Abebooks, an amazon company, offers millions of new, used, and outofprint books. Recently the organization has been expanded to the 2nd generation to include family members and others interested in the preserving the history and the heritage of the 449th. See more ideas about air force, ww2 and the mighty eighth. Group the 390th bomb group flew b17 flying fortresses from framlingham, suffolk, between july 1943 and the end of the war in europe. History of aircraft assigned unknown binding january 1, 1993 by richard e drain author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Ian hawkins first became interested in the history of the eighth air force as a. This was the highest kill rate in a single day for any bomber or fighter group in the european theater of operations.
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