He and his crew participated on bombing missions over southern europe. Official home of the 450th bomb group memorial association. Failed to return ftr blechammer in b24 42522 17dec44. The 301st was one of the eighth air forces first b17 groups. Group, h to bombardment group, heavy, as well as organiza tional changes. It was escorted by 50, p51 mustang fighters that day. Heavy bomber groups of the 15th air force ww2 italy defenders of liberty. Organization of the 456th bomb group h the 456th bomb group heavy was created constituted on 14 may 1943, by special order of the second air force as a bomber unit planned for future deployment to the eighth air force in the united kingdom group commanders of the 456th bomb group col. The 15th air force was flying missions out of foggia, italy. The 465th bombardment wing is an inactive united states air force unit. The h designation stands for heavy bombardment, and that means b17s, the flying fortress. A20 bomb runs on german gun positions, anzio beachhead, italy, 03021944 full duration. The 99th bomb group was the next to arrive, from the united states, and soon after, the 2nd bomb group arrived, also from the united states. This all out effort was in large measure responsible for the special commendation of the wing by gernal spaatz, commanding general of all strategic air forces in europe.
Missing air crew report 10746 carries three accounts of the planes disappearance. Transfer to 301st bg 14 nov 43 after five missions. He enlisted at 17, was in at 18, and was discharged at 19 years of age. The major tenant of the airfield was the 301st bombardment group, which arrived.
The major tenant of the airfield was the 301st bombardment group. The 301st bombardment group was a highly decorated group of b17 flying fortresses that served primarily in africa and italy. See more ideas about aircraft, wwii and world war ii. The group is stationed at carswell field, texas during world war ii, the group s predecessor unit, the 301st bombardment group was a highly decorated group flying b17 flying fortresses that served primarily in north africa and italy. It encompasses the time from his arrival at the 301sts base at lucera, italy, in february of 1944, through june 23, 1944, when his plane. History lucera airfield a temporary wartime facility, built by the us army corps of engineers.
They had been ordered to north africa after the invasion of north africa. Assigned to fifteenth af in nov 1943, moved to italy in dec 1943. The units origins begin with its predecessor, the world war ii 5th bombardment wing 5 bw. The group was 100% operational for the mission of april 15, which called for maximum support of the allied ground forces in opening the final offensive in italy. The book cover by eric joyner is a memoir of muirheads experiences as a flying fortress in the 32nd bomb squadron of the 301st bomb group, a bomb group assigned to the 15th air forces 5th bomb wing. See more ideas about wwii, ww2 aircraft and air force.
Kidd was my bombardier in the 419th sdn, 301st bomb grp, 15th air force flying b17s out of foggia, italy in wwii. Bombardment wing to bomb the pinzano railroad bridge and the vinzone viaduct in northern italy 332d fighter group mission report number 24. Coppedge flew with the 419th bomb squadron, 301st bombardment group, 5th bomb wing, 15th air force out of the lucera air field near foggia, italy. The 301st bombardment group heavy was comprised of 4 bomb squadrons. Frank ambrose, gloversville, ny and 781st bomb sqd.
They participated in the first all american daylight bombing raids on the european continent. It was last assigned to the 57th air division of strategic air command at robins air force base, georgia, where it was inactivated on 21 july 1968. The 301st fighter squadron 301 fs is a united states air force reserve squadron, assigned to the 44th fighter group, stationed at holloman air force base, new mexico. The 15th consisted of several bomb groups and a multitude of squadrons. Harry owen filer, departed for a mission to the oil refinery complex at blechhammer south, germany. This unit was initially part of twelfth air force before being reassigned in november. The group aided the allied offensive in italy in april 1945 by attacking gun emplacements and troop concentrations.
The 329th bomb squadron remained behind and took up residence at hardwick. The 5th air division 5th ad is an inactive united states air force unit. Lucera, italy, 2 feb 1944jul 1945 sioux falls aafld, sd, 28 jul 1945. Army air forces, 15th air force, 301st bomb group, 32nd bomb squadron, foggia, lucera air base italy, 41 missions. Kidd remained in service and was sent to korea with the 773rd bomb sqdn, 463rd bomb grp. It was equipped with boeing b17 flying fortress bombers.
The 301st was one of four africanamerican fighter squadrons to enter combat during world war ii. Ken schuck of riverwood, was a 22yearold flight engineer aboard one of the 140 b17, flying fortresses, based at lucera, italy. The planes were fondly referred to in a feminine manor. The 301st bg flew its first missions as part of the 8th af in england. The 776th, 777th, 778th and 779th bombardment squadrons. He was at tyndall field gunnery school and then in the 301st bomb group 353rd bomb sqdn. The major tenant of the airfield was the 301st bombardment group, which arrived from either torretta, san giovanni, giulia or stornara airfield in the cerignola area of italy on 1 february 1944. The 301st bomb group flew 8 missions of 104 sorties, dropped 186 tons of bombs and had 1 aircraft mia. The second bomb group was a principle player in the fortunes of the 15th air force having already served in algeria, tunisia in northern africa.
Moved to england julaug 1942 assigned to eighth af. The 301st bg flew its first missions as part of the 8th af, bomber command, in england. It is a corollary unit of the active duty 49th fighter wing 49 fw. Whitbeck this is the story of b17 aircraft numbers 446407, 446737 and 446347 lost on the last two missions of the 32nd bomb squadron, 301st bomb group in world war ii on the mission of 14 march 1945, the fifteenth air force dispatched 848 bombers against targets. The 301st bombardment group heavy was comprised of 4 bomb. The story of his group is representative of the experiences of the many bomb groups which provided the air support making possible the invasion of europe on dday and afterwards. The above words are the opening for the 341st bombardment groups 491st bombardment squadrons monthly history report, july 1945. It is an associate unit of the active duty 325th fighter wing. Personnel roster original cadre pows casualty list crew list ground eschelon photos. They were transferred to the newly created 12th af and sent to north africa in november of 1942. A tribute to the brave men of the 464th bombardment group h in pantenella, italy. Its last assignment was with strategic air command, based at sidi slimane air base, morocco. Air force combat units of wwii air force historical research. Grottaglie field had been a major base of the italian air force and had been attacked multiple times by heavy bomb groups from the twelfth air force in 1943.
Class 1944d world war ii flight training museum and the. The 301st operations group 301 og is a flying component of the 301st fighter wing, assigned to the united states air force reserve tenth air force. The group is stationed at carswell field, texas during world war ii, the groups predecessor unit, the 301st bombardment group was a highly decorated group flying b17 flying fortresses that served primarily in north africa and. The airfield was abandoned and dismantled after the end of the war in 1945. Construction was initiated shortly after allied forces seized control of the. Most aircraft of world war ii had pictures of sexy girls, tributes to sweethearts, songs and home. When the first element of the 449 th bomb groups air echelon arrived in late december they found a bombed out base in very poor condition. Moved to north africa nov 1942 assigned to twelfth af. At the time the group, along with its 11th, 22nd and 491st squadrons, was stationed at yangkai in southwestern china while the fourth squadron, the 490th, had transferred from attachment to the tenth air force in burma and was now stationed. Air force combat units of world war ii department of defense. The 301st bombardment group was a b17 group that entered combat with the eighth air force in britain but was soon moved to the mediterreanean, where it operated from north africa and then italy. Combat squadrons of the air force, world war ii pdf reprint ed. The 301st fighter squadron is a united states air force reserve squadron, assigned to the 325th operations group, stationed at tyndall air force base, florida.
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