344th Bomb Group

Group
media-24689.jpeg UPL 24689 E.G. Hanes

William A. Hanes, grandson of 2nd Lt. E. G. Hanes

Object Number - UPL 24689

Connections

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

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Stansted Mountfitchet 19 February 1944 - 30 September 1944

Based

Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France 30 September 1944 - 5 April 1945

Based

Florennes / Juzaine 5 April 1945

Encompassing

People

Dominic A Gelormo

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 558th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33581094
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant

Everett G Hanes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2071967
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Harry Harvey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 344th Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron 495th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38050073 / 0-731511
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator; Bombardier

Lester W Hauck

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 495th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-693040
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
Lieutenant Jack Havener of the 344th Bomb Group reads a magazine in his bunk. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Havener in his sack in the hut. Night stand and racks & shelving made from empty ammo boxes, Sept `1944.'

John K Havener

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-95900

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Lafayette/We Are Here! II
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group

42-95901

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group

42-95902

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: The Bad Penny
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group
The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95903) nicknamed "Hard to Get" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Hard to Get"- 497th Sqdn. Commander D D Bentley, actually taken on Stansted in July 1944.'

42-95903

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Hard To Get
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group
Lieutenant Jack Havener of the 344th Bomb Group puts his finger into a flak hole on the nose of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95906) nicknamed "Terre Haute Tornado". Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Havener with finger in flak hole which knocked out instruments on co-pilots side. Mission was to V-1 Flying Bomb launching site at Heuringhem in St Omer, France area. 23 April, 1944.'

42-95906

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Terre Haute Tornado
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group

Revisions

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Stations added with details from:
- "Battle Colors Volume III - Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War Two' by Robert A. Watkins;

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Connection to aircraft serial

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Added Group nickname and aircraft type

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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)

344th Bomb Group: Gallery (140 items)

"Jocko" a Rhesus monkey mascot of the 344th Bomb Group climbing a tree. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated Caption: 'Rhesus monkey "Jocko"- one of the many squadron mascots. This one belonged to co-pilot Joe Lane who bought him from an ATC pilot while waiting at St Nawgan airfield, Newquay, Lands’ End, Cornwall for the weather to clear after the hop up for Marrakech, Morocco late February 1944. The ATC man had bought the monk from a kid in Natal but decided he was too much trouble to

Object number: FRE 7135 - "Jocko" a Rhesus monkey mascot of the 344th Bomb...

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95916) nicknamed "Piccadilly Willy" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Piccadilly Willy"- WR Kolberg.'

Object number: FRE 7136 - The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42...

Items belonging to Curley, an airman of the 344th Bomb Group outside a Nissen Hut at Stansted-Mountfitchet, his fellow airmen had decided to move his belongings out after an argument. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Curley moved out of hut #10 after an argument. We moved him out bag and baggage while he was at mess and he came back to this scene. He never did move back but we still remained friends. Go figure? Sept 1944.'

Object number: FRE 7137 - Items belonging to Curley, an airman of the 344th...

Lieutenant Jack Havener of the 344th Bomb Group pretends to be a snake charmer with the groups Rhesus monkey mascot "Jocko". Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Spoof on a snake charmer. Havener after a shower with Jocko, bucket as a basket and electircal wire as the snake. Flute was bought in Africa. Sept 1944.'

Object number: FRE 7138 - Lieutenant Jack Havener of the 344th Bomb Group...

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95967) nicknamed "Rosie O' Brady" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated Caption: '"Rosie O'Brady"- WD Brady Sept 1944.'

Object number: FRE 7139 - The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42...

A ruined Luftwaffe hangar at Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France, occupied by the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Ruins of a Luftewaffe[sic] hangar on base. A FW-190 fighter unit occupied the base prior to the time we moved onto it. Oct 1944.'

Object number: FRE 7140 - A ruined Luftwaffe hangar at Cormeilles-en-Vexin...

A French farmer at work near Cormeilles-en-Vexin base, used by the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated Caption: 'Young Frenchmen doing fall ploughing inside base area. Sugar beets and potatoes had been harvested just before we arrived. Oct 1944.'

Object number: FRE 7141 - A French farmer at work near Cormeilles-en-Vexin...

B-26 Marauders of the 344th Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission to Aachen. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Group on mission to Aachen, Germany, Nov 1944.' Caption from “The Martin B-26 Marauder” by J.K.Havener, p226 – 'On the way to the target, last element of low flight of first box is lagging behind. In cockpit of author's ship, note radio compass on windshield center post and view plate of electric gunsight at left. Old-style ring gunsight is still in

Object number: FRE 7142 - B-26 Marauders of the 344th Bomb Group fly in...

Personnel of the 344th Bomb Group queue for food from a tented mess hall. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Crews eating after mission. No mess hall built as yet. Tents housed some crews and personnel. GI facing camera is S/Sgt Wojack who painted many of the 479th's nose art gems. Nov 1944.'

Object number: FRE 7143 - Personnel of the 344th Bomb Group queue for food...

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95864) nicknamed "Valkyrie" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Valkyrie"- Witherbee. Actually taken in Stansted summer of 1944.'

Object number: FRE 7144 - The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42...

Al Eberhardt of the 344th Bomb Group with the wreckage of his B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Abandoned". Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Abandoned"- Al Eberhardt went to Paris on a 24 hour pass and someone else flew his nice new C-45 model Marauder and it was so shot up on the mission that it was declared non-salvageable and was promptly scavenged for parts and relegated to the scrap pile. Even though the new name was lettered in fine block letters the salvage crew mispelled it

Object number: FRE 7145 - Al Eberhardt of the 344th Bomb Group with the...

A bridge near Pontoise, bombed by the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Bombed bridge in nearby Pontoise that our group had bombed not too long before moving over to France. Dec 1944.'

Object number: FRE 7146 - A bridge near Pontoise, bombed by the 344th Bomb...