Squadron
Insignia for 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group based at Hethel.
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).
2Lt. Ernest Rowland Brown
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.
Donald Ross Brewer
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 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 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
"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.
"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.
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).
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...
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Based | Hethel | 16 June 1943 |
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
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.
Military | Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
Shot down 26 November 1944 in B-24 #4410579 'Pugnacious Princess Pat. ' Killed in Action (KIA).
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
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
Shot down by fighters and crashed at Uklei on 6/21/44 in B-24 #4295145 Killed in Action (KIA)Brown hair, best looking. Known for his integrity and intellect.
...
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).
Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Military | Captain | Observer | 389th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Surburg in B-24 #4250511
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
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.
B-24 Liberator
On 7 July 1944, B-24 #4128824 'Sackwarmer' was involved in a mid air collision and crashed near Brumby, Germany.
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
Consolidated B-24D-80-CO Liberator Bomber 'N+' 42-40619 of the 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF.
...
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.
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B-24 Liberator
Pilot 1/Lt Horton, Robert W. KIA, Co-Pilot 2/Lt Hull, Charles T. KIA
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Distinguished Unit Citation: Ploesti, Romania, 1 Aug 1943.
| 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. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 January 2019 21:34:13 | Dieterle | Changes to citations and stations |
| Sources | ||
Richard Dieterle. |
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| 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. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 March 2015 16:29:46 | rossingtonj | Changes to type |
| Sources | ||
Type added. |
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| 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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