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566th Bomb Squadron

Squadron

  • Insignia for 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group based at Hethel.

    Insignia for 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group based at Hethel.

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  • Alvin Berthelsen crew, 566th Bomb Sqd, 389th Bomb Grp, posing in front of another crew's aircraft the day before being shot down over Germany on 28 Jan 1945 in a borrowed B-24J,

    Alvin Berthelsen crew, 566th Bomb Sqd, 389th Bomb Grp, posing in front of another crew's aircraft the day before being shot down over Germany on 28 Jan 1945 in a borrowed B-24J, "Miss America" (S/N: 42-50558). Their normally assigned aircraft, "Lonie Mac" (S/N: 42-50498), was undergoing maintenance and an eleventh crewmember, SSgt Philip G. DeFalco, Radar Counter Measures (not pictured), was added for this their final mission. Five crewmembers were reported killed in action while the other six, including DeFalco, parachuted out successfully, only to be captured and interned by the Germans. Back row, L to R: TSgt, Keith M. Holdredge - Radio Operator (POW); SSgt, Louis V. Winter - Tail Gunner (POW); SSgt, Donald G. Johnson - Waist Gunner (KIA); SSgt, Willie G. Pounds - Waist Gunner (KIA); TSgt, Charles H. Spivey - Engineer (KIA); SSgt, Willard L. Crum - Nose Gunner (POW). Front row, L to R: 1st Lt, William T. Faircloth - Bombardier (KIA); 1st Lt, Thomas R. Riggles - Co-pilot (POW); 1st Lt, Harvey R. Muskrat - Navigator (KIA); 1st Lt, Alvin L. Berthelsen - Pilot (POW).

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  • 2Lt. Ernest Rowland Brown

    2Lt. Ernest Rowland Brown

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  • Technical Sergeant John R Keller poses for a photo next to B-24J Liberator

    Technical Sergeant John R Keller poses for a photo next to B-24J Liberator "44-40439" "Shady Lady" (389th BG / 566th BS) at BAD-2 Warton.

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  • Donald Ross Brewer

    Donald Ross Brewer

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  • Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Staff Sergeant Arthur M Magellan of the 389th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk

    Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Staff Sergeant Arthur M Magellan of the 389th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk

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  • Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Technical Sergeant Fred W Dierks of the 389th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk

    Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Technical Sergeant Fred W Dierks of the 389th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk

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  • Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Staff Sergeant Cecil Jones of the 389th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk

    Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Staff Sergeant Cecil Jones of the 389th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk

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  • "The Little Gramper" was a B-24D Liberator 42-40722 from the 566th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF and crew. Aircraft was transfered to the 491st BG on May 15,1944 for use as the formation assembly ship.

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  • "The Little Gramper" (RR-B+) was a B-24D Liberator #42-40722 from the 566th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. Aircraft was transferred to the 491st BG on May 15,1944 for use as the formation assembly ship.

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Constituted 566th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 Dec. 1942. Activated on 24 Dec. 1942. Inactivated on 13 Sept. 1945. Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Stations: Davis-Monthan Field, Ariz., 24 Dec 1942; Biggs Field, Tex., 1 Feb 1943; Lowry Field, Colo., 19 Apr.-1 June 1943; Hethel, England, 16 June 1943-ca. 28 May 1945 (operated from Benghazi, Libya, 3 July-25 Aug. 1943; Massicault, Tunisia, 19 Sept.-3 Oct. 1943).

Structure

Part of
  • 389th Bomb Group

    389th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...

Encompassing
Not yet known
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Hethel 16 June 1943

Connections

People

  • Bruce Adams

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
    35 missions July 2, 1944 accident on runway in B24 #42-50378. 10 RTD. Rowbottom crew. DFC/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster

  • Paul Adams

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    After bombs away on a mission to Friedrichshafen, GR on 16 Mar 1944, B-24J #42-100332 'Galloping Katie' was forced to feather and engine and losing altitude and landed in Switzerland. Interned.

  • Harry Alexander

    Military | Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
    Shot down 26 November 1944 in B-24 #44-10579 'Pugnacious Princess Pat', Killed in Action (KIA).

  • John Allen

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    Shot down by flak on the return from a mission to Erkner, Berlin on 8 Mar 1944 in B-24J #42-100375. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Wilbur Alsop

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
    Shot down by fighters and crashed at Uklei on 6/21/44 in B-24 #42-95145, Killed in Action (KIA). ...

  • Rudolph Anchondo

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40738. Shot down 5 December 1943 in B-24 42-40738 'Fightin' Sam. ' Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Carol Anderson

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 389th Bomb Group

  • Paul Anderson

    Military | Captain | Observer | 389th Bomb Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Surburg in B-24 #4250511

  • Wallace Anderson

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group

  • John Antl

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    After bombs away on a mission to Friedrichshafen, GR on 16 Mar 1944, B-24J #42-100332 'Galloping Katie' was forced to feather and engine and losing altitude and landed in Switzerland. Interned.

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Aircraft

  • 41-28589

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 566BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Bremen, A/C severely hit by flak crew baled out 20-Dec-43. 10 x POW. MACR 1972.

  • 41-28824 Sackwarmer

    B-24 Liberator
    On 7 July 1944, B-24 #4128824 'Sackwarmer' was involved in a mid air collision and crashed near Brumby, Germany.

  • 42-100281 Naughty Norma

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-100332 Gallloping Katie

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-100375

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-109817

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-109828

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-40619 '619'

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D-80-CO Liberator Bomber, SN #42-40619 of the 566th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, the "Sky Scorpions", and the 8th AF, flown by Capt. Emery Ward and Maj. John Brooks, participated in the low-level Ploesti, Romania mission, returning...

  • 42-40706 'Tondelao'

    B-24 Liberator
    B-24 Liberator 42-40706 'Tondelao' 566th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Cecil J Whitener, returning safely to Libya. ...

  • 42-40735 'Sand Witch'

    B-24 Liberator
    Pilot 1/Lt Horton, Robert W. KIA, Co-Pilot 2/Lt Hull, Charles T. KIA ...

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Citations

Distinguished Unit Citation: Ploesti, Romania, 1 Aug 1943.

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
23 January 2019 21:51:49 Dieterle Changes to description and stations
Sources

Richard Dieterle (trying to put both Hethel and Berca as Stations, but not succeeding). Summary is from Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, ed. Maurer Maurer (Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center and Office of Air Force History, Headquarters, USAF, 1982) 664.
Date Contributor Update
23 January 2019 21:34:13 Dieterle Changes to citations and stations
Sources

Richard Dieterle.
Date Contributor Update
23 January 2019 21:30:30 Dieterle Changes to citations and stations
Sources

Richard Dieterle. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, ed. Maurer Maurer (Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center and Office of Air Force History, Headquarters, USAF, 1982) 664.
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 16:29:46 rossingtonj Changes to type
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:50 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

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