These historical pages are dedicated to the 8,960 men who served in the 303rd bombardment group h hells angels during world war ii. The plane became the first aircraft in the 305th bombardment group to complete 100 missions, and finally performed 3 successful missions in a career spanning 18 months before. Baker, standing left, and crew of the b17 carrie b, 26 feb 1945. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. Ii this site is dedicated to the 351st bombardment group heavy, eighth united. A formation of b17s of 91st bomb group, 324th bomb squadron. Doubledee, and to the brave men of the 511th bomb squadron, 351st bomb group, 1st bomb wing, 8th bomber command, usaaf, who served in the european theater during wwii. Miss traveler b24j165co liberator sn 4440530 98th bomb squadron, 11th bomb group, 7th air force. He and the airmen of the 401st flying fortresses played a pivotal role in diminishing nazi germanys capacity to wage war.
Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Product description beautiful embroidered novelty patch. Raf deenethorpe in the second world war 19391945 the. City of berkeley b2970bw 4469928 330th bomb group, 457th bomb squadron. Fated to survive 401st bombardment group h, eighth air. As a member of the 615th bomb squadron 401st bomb group, 8th air force, curys b17 was shot down on june 19, 1944 on a raid to merignac, france his 30th and final mission. The 410th bombardment group was a light bomber unit that fought with the ninth air force from may 1944 to the end of the war in europe, supporting the dday invasions and the campaign that followed the group was activated on 1 july 1943 and trained with the a20. Activated in mid1942 as a b25 mitchell medium bomber squadron, it was trained by the third air force in the southeastern. Media in category 401st bombardment group united states army air forces the following 17 files are in this category, out of 17 total. He joined the army air corp with hopes of being a pilot but was informed that they had enough. Pin on world war ii bomber life of a flying fortress.
The 381st bombardment squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history and in particular the 91bg and 100bg, are available to buy. His true stories about world war ii are from the heart and quite remarkable. Jun 14, 20 little cheezer b17 flying fortress of the 615th squadron, 401st bomb group out of deenethorpe air base in england wwii stay safe and healthy. B17 bomber flying fortress the queen of the skies home. If you have any further information on its crews, mission details or picturesdocuments relevant to this or any other aircraft we would be pleased to receive copies. This 298 page hardcover book guides the reader through the evolution of the 351st bomb group, their time served at polebrook, england from 1943 to 1945 and the groups return to the.
Constituted as 401st bombardment group heavy on 20 mar 1943. United states army air force, 8th air force, 91st bombardment group, 401st bomb squadron united states army air force, 8th air force, 401st bombardment group, 615th bomb squadron united states army air force, 401st bombardment group. That was not the case with this b17 tail number 4225233. The 401st bomb group flew b17 flying fortresses from deenethorpe, northamptonshire, from november 1943 to june 1945. B17 91st bomb group 401st bomb squadron world war photos. Our blog page 8 of 12 armed forces reunions incorporated. Children and grandchildren of the 401st veterans will be able to pinpoint where their family members were at any given time. History books aircraft time line commanders main bases component units assigned to. Heres a patchedpainted a2 jacket from the 401st bomb group 614th bomb squadron 8th aaf it belonged to ball turret gunner who flew on a well known b17.
Jun 06, 2019 tom campbell discusses dday and fathers book guardian angel by paul campbell. A list of boeing b17 flying fortresses which were assigned to the 401st bomb group. The ball turret is one position on a plane that had to be the most terrifying place to be. For veterans, they can augment memories with hard facts. He was assigned to the 8th air force he flew a few night missions with the 305th bomb group dropping chocolate bars with messages to the french resistance. They are the actual daytoday records of the squadrons missions and movements from the inception of the group through the end of the war. The 401st bombardment group was a b17 flying fortress group that fought with the eighth air force from november 1943 until the end of the war in europe. Learn about the men who flew and maintained b17 flying fortress aircraft from deenethorpe airfield during world war ii and the organization that perpetuates its history.
Many thanks to merle choffel who transcribed this information for the 91st bomb group website. The 401st bomb group had the second best rating in bombing accuracy for eighth air force. One of these was the 11orning star, a 615th squadron ship that recorded a total of 112 missions before return ing to the usa on operation home run in june 1945. Assigned to the 615th bomb squadron401st bomb group in the 8th air force, 1st lieutenant ledray saw action over berlin, hamburg, schweinfurt, and at dday in 194344. The 401st made its combat debut on 26 november 1943, taking part in the largest eighth air force raid yet carried out. Us army air force, corps wwii squadron patch insignia pictures. The 91st bomb group memorial associations bgma purpose is to keep alive the spirit of the 91st bg h and to maintain the fellowship of all those who fought together in wwii from af station 121 in bassingbourn, england from 1942 1945. The patch on the left may represent the 401st bomb group. The best damn outfit in the usaaf turner publishing on.
Campbell, b17 flying fortress bomber pilot with the 8th air force, 401st bomb group, 615th squadron, survived two tours of bombing missions during the war. City of bakersfield b2955bw 4469680 19th bomb group, 28th squadron. Pretty funny girl podcast youtube power hour podcast. For those interested in ufos the control tower log book has an. A formation of b17s of 91st bomb group, 324th bomb squadron site statistics. He got no combat credit for these few missions he then transferred to the 401st bomb group, 615th squadron and started missions octobernovember 1943. Full text of pictorial record of the 401st bomb group see other formats. Most aircraft of world war ii had pictures of sexy girls, tributes to sweethearts, songs and home. Beginning in 1941, the group transitioned into the boeing b17 flying fortress flying patrol and search missions off the hawaiian islands.
Its last was assigned to the 35th tactical fighter wing, stationed at phan rang air base, south vietnam. Dec 22, 2012 aircraft patches 305th bomb group 365th bomb squadron. He included the names and stories of his crew members, ground. Tom campbell shares his dads dday story am 1100 the flag wzfg. The 401st bomb group flew b17 flying fortresses from deenethorpe, northamptonshire, from november 1943 to june. The initial cadre for the squadron was drawn from the 395th bombardment group at ephrata and the 383d bombardment group at rapid city army air field, south dakota. Roadside memorial to the service of the 401st bombardment group h at deenethorpe airfield, station 128. Only a very small number of 401st bomb group b17s reached the magic figure of 100 missions. One of these was the 11orning star, a 615th squadron ship. Bowman 612th bombardment squadron 6th bombardment squadron 614th bombardment squadron 615th bombardment squadron.
Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. Army air corps 529th bombardment squadron,380th bombardment group. Thank you for visiting the official web site of the 401st bombardment group association. Jun 14, 20 lou cooper crew of 615th squadron 401st bomb group noteb. City of bel air b2925ba 4263539 330th group, 458th squadron. Bombardment h, 401st bombardment group h squadron history promptly taken away, with the crews, and incorporated into the 351st. Classified as a heavy bombardment group, the 91st operated b17 flying fortress aircraft and was known unofficially as the ragged irregulars or as wrays ragged irregulars, after the commander who took the group to england. The legacy of leading lady, b17g5ve serial 4239948, assigned to 365 bomb squadron, 305 bomb group and then reassignate.
Grinham crew 67 of 401st bomb group, 615th bomb squadron. The planes were fondly referred to in a feminine manor. The group received a distinguished unit citation for striking. The 401st was famous for painting the backs of their jackets. The 615th tactical fighter squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. Jan 25, 2020 welcome to my 511th bomb squadron website. The operations room service board, showing the readiness of each squadrons aircraft. The 303rd bomb group was an eighth air force, b17 bomber group stationed at molesworth, england from 1942 to 1945. Their motto, might in flight, was earned on each of their record 364 combat missions. Photo taken on guam,marianas islands on may 4,1945. The offical website of the 401st bombardment group h association.
The 401st bombardment group h was a part of the 94th combat wing in the first. B17 91st bomb group 401st bomb squadron site statistics. The 331st bombardment group vh was activated at dalhart, texas, on 7, july 1944 and for mobilization and specialized training purposes attached to the second air force. The daily reports from the 322nd bomb squadron is part of that vast store of administrative detail. Thar she blows b24l5co liberator sn 4441468 42nd bomb squadron, 11th bomb group, 7th air force. After being shot down, cury managed to elude the germans before being captured. He joined the army air corp with hopes of being a pilot but was informed that they had enough already so he took his second option and ended up as a. Boeing b17 flying fortress parked aircraft from the 401st bomb group at deenethorpe, england. The 401st bombardment group was activated march 1943 at ephrata army air base washington. Formed on 1 april 1943 at ephrata army air base, washington, the 401st bombardment group assigned to 8th air force concisted of four squadrons. The 615th bombardment squadron was activated march 1943 at ephrata army air base washington as one of the original squadrons of the 401st bombardment group. Front cover 4231730, iyb, horning star only a very small number of 401st bomb group b17s reached the magic figure of 100 missions.
Commanding offi cer, 615th bomb squadron, 401st bomb group h, apo. Full text of pictorial record of the 401st bomb group. Sherrill on front row right end stay safe and healthy. Fated to survive 401st bombardment group h, eighth air force. B17s of thw 452nd bomb group 2 b17g 4297636 iyh of 401st bg, 615th bs after crash landing at deenethorpe 20 february 1944 b17g 4338316 hanks bottle of the 493rd bg 860th bs, 22 february 1945 b17g 446153 aws of the 96th bomb group, 337th bs b17g of the 457th bomb group over germany 1945 factory fresh b17f flying fortesses. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of france planned for the following summer. April 1942 the beginning dailies of the 401st squadron. This history is dedicated to brigardier general william t. It was last assigned to the 310th bombardment wing, stationed at shilling air force base in kansas. The 91st bomb group heavy was an air combat unit of the united states army air forces during the second world war. The duty to remember chronicles the formation, training and combat missions flown by this american heavy bomber group during wwii.
To view the photograph close up and to read description where made, click on the thumb nail. The insignia of the 615th bomb squadron, 401st bomb group. Aircraft patches 305th bomb group 365th bomb squadron. History books aircraft time line commanders main bases component units assigned to history. Moved to england, octnov 1943, and served in combat with eighth af, nov 1943apr 1945. Fated to survive 401st bombardment group h, eighth air force memoirs of a b17 flying fortress pilot prisoner of war. Planes aircraft of the 615th bs remember our heroes 401st bomb group. Dukes mixture aka tagalong iyq b17g80bo flying fortress. The 401st bombardment group was a b17 flying fortress group that fought. The group, then composed of the 14th, 26th, 42nd bomb squadrons and 50th recon squadron conducted flying operation from hawaii with the douglas b18 twinengine bomber. Boeing b17 flying fortress parked aircraft from the. The 319th bombardment group entered service as a b26 unit that took part in operation torch and the campaign in of italy, before at the start of 1944 it was withdraw to the us, converted to the a26 and moved to okinawa, where it entered combat against the japanese in july 1945. Air force 11th bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran locator.
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