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Page 161 of the 401st Bomb Group unit history.
Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations).
Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
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The first crew of the 401st Bomb Group to return to the home base in England after a raid on Berlin, Germany, pose beside their plane - the Boeing B-17 'Fool's Luck'. They are, (Left To Right) Back Row: F/Sgt. Jesse H. Lehr, Radio Operator, S/Sgt. Pete D. Henderson waist gunner, 1Lt Donald M Anderson Bombardier, Capt Jere Maupin co-pilot, Capt James J Goodman pilot, 1Lt Robert J Ramsey tail gunner. Front Row: T/Sgt John O Farmer ball turret gunner, S/Sgt Burton A Markle waist gunner, T/Sgt Foster E Dewees top turret gunner and 2Lt Frank P Fraoli navigator. 6th March 1944.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 12, 5 Jan 1944, Tours, France.
All aircraft returned from mission by 1452 hours. Colonel Rogner expressed his pleasure with the way the crews kept close formation to and from the target.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 14, 11 Jan 1944, Oschersleben, Germany.
This was one of the greatest air battles of World War II. The Group put up the most aircraft to date as part of a maximum effort. German resistance was fierce, involving heavy flak, dozens of fighters and balloon mines. The Group shot down a number of Luftwaffe fighters. It was on this mission that Major James Howard, a P-51 pilot, remained after all other U.S. fighters had left and engaged a swarm of Luftwaffe fighters attacking the 401st, for which he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Aircraft piloted by Lt. S.G. Nason ("Pee-Tey-Kuh" #42-31033), Lt. H. J. Chapman ("Carolina Queen #42-37809), Capt. J. H. Foster (#42-39969) and Lt. D.C. Sprecher (#42-39893)were shot down by either fighters or flak. Due to bad weather on return, all aircraft were diverted to a number of other bases
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 16, 21 Jan 1944, Pas De Calais.
23 operational aircraft were off by 1230. All planes returned safely by 1554 hours. This short mission was to the French rocket coast. It was a successful mission, with no enemy opposition.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 17, 29 Jan 1944, Frankfurt, Germany.
35 aircraft were airborne by 0849 but five aborted the mission and returned. Air Raid warning sounded. The Group encountered heavy flak and fighters, resulting in the loss of four aircraft and crews, while three aircraft landed at Deenethorpe with wounded aboard. The crews lost were those of Lt. J. Tannahill (#42-31486),Lt. D. T. Nicklawsky (#42-40057), Capt. R. W. Beers ("Little Boots" #42-31193) and Lt. L. G. Van Syckle (#42-38012).
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 18, 30 Jan 1944, Brunswick, Germany.
All aircraft returned by 1547 except # 856, shot down over the target. Lt. Col. Rogner and the 401st led the Combat Wing on this mission, which culminated 72 hours of the greatest bombing assault ever staged over Europe. Over 800 U. S. heavy bombers were engaged the operation, and 1,800 tons of bombs were dropped. Aircraft "Fancy Nancy III" (42-37856)piloted by Lt. R. R. Rohner,was shot down over the target by an FW-190.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 19, 3 Feb 1944, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
Over 1,100 fighters and bombers participated in the attack on the great port and fighter base at Wilhelmshaven. The 401st emerged unscathed, and the results of bombing were good. This was the first Group lead for "Hi Ho" Silver, who later became Deputy Commanding Officer of the 401st. All aircraft down safely by 1540 hours.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 20, 4 Feb 1944, Frankfurt, Germany.
31 aircraft off on operations by 0901 hours. All but one of the operational aircraft had landed by 1614 hours.
In spite of intense flak, the Group ploughed through a heavy overcast in 45 degree below zero weather to successfully bomb the target. Lt. Frank J. Zitkovic's crew, flying "Nobody's Baby" (#42-31036), was hit by flak and went down. None of the crew survived.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 21, 5 Feb 1944, Chateauroux, France. The results of bombing Chateauroux Airfield were excellent. Pictures of 401st bombs striking the target appeared in Stars and Stripes and in London newspapers. They showed the target completely demolished. One aircraft, "Nasty Habit", was landed safely on three engines by its co-pilot, Lt. George Hellmuth, and engineer, Sgt. James Bailey, both of whom were wounded, after the pilot, Lt. Harry Piper, was severely wounded. Hellmuth and Bailey both passed out after landing the aircraft. Upon return all aircraft were accounted for by 1439 hours--23 at Deenthorpe, one at Gravesend with three wounded, and one at Abingdon with one dead (Sgt. Fatcia) and two seriously wounded (Sgts. Minor and Moneybaker).
Delivered Denver 16/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Presque Is 9/12/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-D] Deenethorpe 1/1/44; Missing in Action Evere A/fd 10/4/44 with Gaston Fox, Co-pilot: Francis Hoad, Navigator: Darrel Wilson, Bombardier: Leon Mendelson, Ball turret gunner: Don Van Booven, Waist gunner: Chas Sierra (6 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Allen Brown, Radio Operator: Duane Brandt, Waist gunner: Joe Gallas, Tail gunner: Cecil Estess (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, ditched Channel, three miles W of Calais, Fr; Missing Air Crew Report 3939. FOOLS LUCK III.
Service
Units
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Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
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People
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Togglier, Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Don Currie crew. 38 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
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Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator; Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
DFC/ AM w/ 5 Oak Leaf Cluster/ Unit Citation w/ Oak Leaf Cluster
1 Damaged
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Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Left Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Barker, a native of Yorktown, Ind., was a burly 6-foot-2 inch forward on the 1948 Kentucky team that finished the season with a 36-3 record, the national title and the nickname of the Fabulous Five. The other starters were Wallace (Wah Wah) Jones at...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator / Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 56 x combat missions. Gaston Fox crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Evere A/D in B-17 42-31511 'Fool's Luck III'; Shot down, ditched in Channel, 3 miles W of Calais 10-Apr-44. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 3939
...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Gaston Fox crew. Shot down 10-Apr-44 in B-17 42-31511 'Fool's Luck III'. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 3939
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.
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Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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Military | Sergeant | Ball turret gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 32 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30-Jan-44 in B-17 42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 2876
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio operator | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. James Goodman crew. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30 Jan 1944 in B-17G #42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III. ' Killed in Action (KIA).
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Missions
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5 January 1944
This mission consists of five elements: The first element is a combined force of 131 B-17s are despatched by 1st Bomb Division: 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 379BG; 384BG; and 482BG to bomb the shipyards and industrial areas of Kiel, Germany. 119 are...
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11 January 1944
Three aviation industry targets in Germany are bombed. The bomber force consists of 291 B-17s despatched from 1st Bomb Division in two elements, one element of 177 B-17s is despatched to Oschersleben, Germany as the primary target, the other 1BD...
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21 January 1944
This mission is directed at 36 V-Weapon sites (34 in the Pas-de-Calaise area and 2 in the Chrebourg area of France) 24 of these are bombed successfully. All three Bomb Divisions participate in the attacks and the bomber gunners claimed 5-1-2 of...
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29 January 1944
The primary target for this mission was the railroad marshalling yards and industrial areas of Frankfurt, Germany. A combined force of 863 heavy bombers were despatched in three elements to make the attack. The combined bomber gunner claims on enemy...
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30 January 1944
This mission has the aviation industry at Brunswick, Germany as the primary target. The mission is composed of a combined force pf 777 heavy bomber aircraft despatched in three elements: 1st Bomb Division; 2nd Bomb Division and 3rd Bomb Division. The...
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3 February 1944
The port area and Naval facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany was the primary target for this mission. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bomb Divisions all participated.
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4 February 1944
The railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany were focus of this mission, but other railroad marshalling yards in the area were attacked as well. Weather and navigational errors frustrate target acquisition.748 heavy bombers were despatched in a...
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5 February 1944
German airfield in France are the targets for this mission. All three Bomb Divisions despatch aircraft. The combined bomber gunner's claims of all three Bomb Divisions were 5-0-5 (displayed with Chateauroux element of 1BD). Summary as follows:
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6 February 1944
German airfields and V-Weapon sites in France are the primary targets of this mission. A combined force total of 642 heavy bombers are depatched from 8th Air Force 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions. The primary targets of 1st Bomb Division were the...
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22 February 1944
The German aircraft industry is again targeted in Day 3 of BIG WEEK. A combined total od 789 bombers (maximum effort) are dispatched from 1st 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. Fighter opposition is heavy and bomber losses in 1st Air Division are massive - 39...
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Places
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Military site : airfield
Deenethorpe was a base purpose-built for American heavy bombers, with the Class A regulation 2,000 and 1,400-yard runways. All the buildings on site,such as the accommodation and administrative blocks, were temporary. In December 1943, several local...
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Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Delivered |
Denver AAF, CO |
16 November 1943 |
Delivered Denver AAF 16-Nov-43.
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Crashed |
3 miles W of Calais |
10 April 1944 |
Failed to Return (FTR) Evere Airfield 10-Apr-44 with Fox crew; downed by enemy aircraft, ditched, three miles W of Calais, France; 6 x POW, 4 x KIA MACR 3939
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Assigned |
Deenethorpe, UK |
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Assigned 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.
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