Frank Alton Armstrong Jr

Military
Colonel Frank A. Armstrong of the 97th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photographed by US Army Air Air Forces.' [caption], 'US Official Phot No. USB 230. (WA) Distributed by the Ministry of Information.' [caption] 'USAA(BRI)CCC:TYPE.' [written annotation] Printed caption on reverse: 'LEADER OF THE US BOMBING ATTACK ON WILHELMSHAVEN. Photo shows:- Col. Frank A. Armstrong of Asheville N.C. who led the bombing attack on Wilhelmshaven- the first American air a

Object Number - FRE 890 - Colonel Frank A. Armstrong of the 97th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photographed by US Army Air...

Commanded 97th BG from 31 July 1942 to 27 September 1942.
Commanded 306th BG 4 January 1943 to 17 February 1943.
Commanded 101st (Provisional) Combat Wing 8 February 1943 to 14 June 1943.
Commanded 1st Bomb Division 15 June 1943 to 31 July 1943.

Generally believed to be the primary inspriation for the character of 'Brigadier General Frank Savage' in Beirne Lay's book Twelve O'Clock High.

He commanded the first raid to Germany, bombing Wilhelmshaven 27 Jan 1943. Assigned to to 8th HQ on 17 Feb 1943.

AM w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, DFC, DSC, DSM w/1 OLC, SS, British DFC,

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."

1st Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Peter Beasley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Chief of Supply
A painting of Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Castle.'

Frederick W Castle

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Combat Bomb Wing 487th Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-319375
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer; Air Leader, Pilot

William Cowart

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

William Slater Cowart

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Tactician

Ira Clarence Eaker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters Squadron (VIII Bomber Command) Headquarters (Eighth Air Force) United States Army Forces in the British Isles
  • Service Numbers: O-7478
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General, 8th Air Force

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-2578) nicknamed "Butcher Shop" of the 92nd Bomb Group at Bovingdon. Written on slide casing: 'B-17 E 12578 Oldest fortress in 8AF Bovingdon, 1943.'

41-2578

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Butcher Shop/ Big Tin Bird
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 340th Bomb Squadron 77th Fighter Squadron

Missions

A bomber crew of the 97th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. They are from left to right: Lieutenant Frank R. Beadle, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sergeant Chester Love, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Sergeant Richard Williams, of Utica, New York; Lieutenant Levon Ray, of Poolville Texas; Glen V. Leland, of St. Petersburg, Florida; Sergeant Frank Rebello, Tiverton, Rhode Island; Sergeant Joseph Cummings, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Sergeant Zane Gemmill, of St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Image stamped on reverse: 'Pas

VIII Bomber Command 1

  • Date: 17 August 1942
  • Official Description: 12 B-17’s of 97th Bomb Group, escorted by Spitfires, launch first Army Air Force Heavy Bomber attack from UK against Western Europe. Target is Rouen-Sotteville Marshalling Yard. Sergeant Kent R West shoots down German fighter, thus becoming the first...

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Hamilton, NC, USA 24 May 1902

Other

Commissioned

28 February 1929

Other

Arrived in UK

Hendon 20 February 1942 Arrived in the UK with General Eaker

Died

20 August 1969

Revisions

Date2 Jan 2020 18:25:30
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

Added a connection to the first 8th AF mission.

Date8 Jul 2017 16:29:06
Contributorbombercommand
Sources

BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE 1942-1945, Russell Strong

Date4 Nov 2014 02:20:35
Contributorjmchristel
Sources

http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/107785/…

Date13 Oct 2014 11:21:04
ContributorEmily
Sources

Data Update, National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, 15 September 2014

Date2 Oct 2014 00:32:12
ContributorPaul Bellamy
Sources

1st Air Division records (1AD HQ Historical Society)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_A._Armstrong

Date2 Oct 2014 00:23:22
ContributorPaul Bellamy
Sources

1st Air Division records (1AD HQ Historical Society)

Date27 Sep 2014 18:09:57
ContributorAAM
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / R. Manning Ancell, The Biographical Dictionary Of World War II Generals And Flag OfficersRoger A. Freeman, The Mighty Eighth, First Over Germany pgs. 62,64-66, 71, 80, 83, 112, 139, 280 & 322, / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…

Frank Alton Armstrong: Gallery (5 items)

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."

Object number: FRE 4326 - Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during...

A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Airmen Who Made First Daylight Raid On Germany. Big bombers of the United States Army Air Force made their first daylight raid on Germany recently when they dropped tons of high explosives on the Nazi naval base at Wilhelmshaven. The bombers, unescorted, met considerable fighter opposition and knocked down 22 for the loss of three bombers. Associated Press Photo S

Object number: FRE 4404 - A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B...

Colonel Frank A. Armstrong of the 97th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photographed by US Army Air Air Forces.' [caption], 'US Official Phot No. USB 230. (WA) Distributed by the Ministry of Information.' [caption] 'USAA(BRI)CCC:TYPE.' [written annotation] Printed caption on reverse: 'LEADER OF THE US BOMBING ATTACK ON WILHELMSHAVEN. Photo shows:- Col. Frank A. Armstrong of Asheville N.C. who led the bombing attack on Wilhelmshaven- the first American air a

Object number: FRE 890 - Colonel Frank A. Armstrong of the 97th Bomb Group...

Object number: UPL 30577 - Assumption of Command, 1st Bombardment Wing -...

Object number: UPL 32601 - "Five USAF Generals get together over a cup of...