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34th Bomb Group

Group

  • B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 34th Bomb Group fly in formation over the sea. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: '7 BS No gunn Chum 'C'.'

    B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 34th Bomb Group fly in formation over the sea. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: '7 BS No gunn Chum 'C'.'

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  • Personnel of the 34th Bomb Group queue alongside a B-17 (serial number 43-38216) nicknamed

    Personnel of the 34th Bomb Group queue alongside a B-17 (serial number 43-38216) nicknamed "Tempest Turner" that was named after the Hollywood actress Lana Turner, for the world premiere of her latest film: 'Marriage is a Private Affair', held at Mendelsham. Image stamped with SHAEF press censor and London News Agency copyright. Handwritten caption on reverse: '16/10/44.' '303 EXTRA.' '34 BG.' ' 4596.'

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  • An airman of the 34th Bomb Group, stands with a B-17 Flying Fortress at Mendelsham. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Oct 1944 'R' M[illegible].' Appears to be the name of the aircraft or airman depicted. Stamped on reverse: 'Malcolm Corum'. A Bombardier from the 34th Bomb Group.

    An airman of the 34th Bomb Group, stands with a B-17 Flying Fortress at Mendelsham. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Oct 1944 'R' M[illegible].' Appears to be the name of the aircraft or airman depicted. Stamped on reverse: 'Malcolm Corum'. A Bombardier from the 34th Bomb Group.

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  • Ground personnel work on the battle damaged engines of a B-24H Liberator (serial number 41-29567) nicknamed

    Ground personnel work on the battle damaged engines of a B-24H Liberator (serial number 41-29567) nicknamed "Bambi" of the 34th Bomb Group at Leiston, 19 July 1944. Official caption printed on image: 'I SAD 19 JULY 44 (1958)(WPU, BATTLE DAMAGE, B24 H 4129567, LEISTON) FA.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '93rd Bomb Grp 20th Combat Wing 2nd Div.' Caption refers to the 'B' painted on the aircraft's tail, which is this aircraft's radio call letter. Circle B was the tactical marking of the 93rd Bomb Group.

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  • Nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28851) nicknamed

    Nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28851) nicknamed "The Near Sighted Robin" of the 34th Bomb Group.

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  • A B-24H Liberator (serial number 42-94824) nicknamed

    A B-24H Liberator (serial number 42-94824) nicknamed "Umbriago" of the 34th Bomb Group at Dunsfold following an engine failure, 3 July 1944. Official caption printed on image: 'I SAD 3 JULY 44 (WPU ENGINE FAILURE, B24 H 42-94824 DUNSFOLD) FA.' First handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24H-20-F0, S/N 42-94824, Umbriago.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '34 BG 8th Air Force.'

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  • A battle damaged B-24J Liberator (serial number 44-40468) nicknamed

    A battle damaged B-24J Liberator (serial number 44-40468) nicknamed "Mean Kid" of the 34th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24J-165-CO S/N 44-40468.'

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  • Ground crew of the 7th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group stand beneath the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed

    Ground crew of the 7th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group stand beneath the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Sweet Seventeen" at Mendelsham. Image via Jim Martin 7BS 34th BG. Handwritten on reverse: 'Black - (3rd from left) with Ground Crew'

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  • A Pilot of the 391st Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group looks out the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8327) nicknamed

    A Pilot of the 391st Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group looks out the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8327) nicknamed "Goom-Bah!!" Image via Malcolm Corum Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-176 - B/N 85-BO 'R', S/N 4338327 391st Sq 34th BG, Mendlesham, STA - 156, Lt. Joseph Schaws Crew 101.'

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  • A B-24 Liberator of the 34th Bomb Group is seen flying above the clouds from the tail gun position of another B-24.

    A B-24 Liberator of the 34th Bomb Group is seen flying above the clouds from the tail gun position of another B-24.

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After forming part of the American defence force, first on America's east coast and then on its west, the Group was assigned to the Eighth Air Force in April 1944 and entered combat in May 1944. The Group helped with the preparation for the Normandy invasion by bombing airfields and coastal defenses in France. It continued to support ground forces as they moved eastwards. The Group did not lose a single bomber to enemy fighter action over enemy territory. After V.E. day, they dropped food supplies into Holland and transported Allied prisoners of war out of Germany.

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • 347

    9 May 1944

  • 350

    11 May 1944

  • 412

    14 June 1944
    Mission #10. Bombed an airfield south of Brussels. Bob Martin flew in place of Hussong.

  • 456

    6 July 1944

  • 8th Air Force 554

    15 August 1944
    Airfields in NW Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium are the primary targets for this mission. 8th Air Force despatches a total of 932 aircraft. The raid is coordinated with 1,000 Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers and Mosquitos attacking 9 airfields...

  • 8th Air Force 760

    24 December 1944
    1. Decision. ...

  • 8th Air Force 908

    23 March 1945
    Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description ...

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Mendlesham 2 August 1944 – 18 April 1945

Connections

People

  • William Abraham

    Military | 34th Bomb Group

  • Horton Abrams

    Military | 34th Bomb Group

  • Morton Abrams

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 34th Bomb Group
    35 combat missions over Europe as Pilot of B-17 'Lucky 13. ' Required to make forced landing at an advanced fighter base near Antwerp, Belgium with 2 engines out on January 18, 1945. Three missions to Berlin. DFC/ AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster

  • Harry Ackerman

    Military | Major | Group Navigator | 34th Bomb Group
    Shot down on 8/7/44 in Sunshine Rose Prisoner of War (POW) ...

  • Bailey Adams

    Military | 34th Bomb Group

  • Bluford Adams

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 34th Bomb Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down by flak and crashed near Wesermunde on 8/5/44 in B-24 Shadrach #4129557 POW

  • James Adams

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 34th Bomb Group

  • James Adams

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 34th Bomb Group
    Shot down 29 May 1944 in B-24 #4294796. Landed in Sweden. Interned.

  • Leonard Adringola

    Military | 34th Bomb Group

  • Edward Aikey

    Military | 34th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Valor to Victory
Insignia
Not yet known
Aircraft used
  • B-17 Flying Fortress
  • B-24 Liberator

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
26 March 2017 07:23:24 Scott 34th7th Changes to media associations
Sources

Personal documents of John A Ferard as provided by his son (Scott 34th7th).
Date Contributor Update
02 June 2015 00:47:48 jpstamper Changes to motto and mission associations
Sources

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
Date Contributor Update
02 May 2015 20:32:22 JasonR Changes to aircraft types and mission associations
Sources

34th BG history/records
Date Contributor Update
22 November 2014 15:42:25 baerc234 Changes to type, description, aircraft types, unit encompassing associations and mission associations
Sources

Unit History
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 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 / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / 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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