34th Bomb Group | American Air Museum in Britain

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 "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.

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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 "The Near Sighted Robin" of the 34th Bomb Group.

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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 "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 "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 "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.

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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

93rd Combat Bomb Wing

Wing

Encompassing

18th Bomb Squadron

Squadron
391st Bomb Squadron

Squadron
4th Bomb Squadron

Squadron
7th Bomb Squadron

Squadron
Headquarters (34th Bomb Group)

Headquarters

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

Aircraft

41-28838 Misery Agent / Tommy Thumper

B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator 41-28838 was originally assigned to the 486th Bomb Group and nicknamed "Tommy Thumper". The aircraft flew 7 missions with the 486th Bomb Group from 8 May 1944, before being transferred to the 34th Bomb Group and being renamed "Misery...
41-28840

B-24 Liberator
41-28851 The Near Sighted Robin

B-24 Liberator
41-29542 Rough House Kate

B-24 Liberator
B-24H-15-CF Original overseas complement of 34th BG, Project Number 92537.
41-29557

B-24 Liberator
41-29572

B-24 Liberator
42-51190 Ann

B-24 Liberator
42-8283

P-47 Thunderbolt
42-94757

B-24 Liberator
42-94770

B-24 Liberator

Citations

None

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)