3rd Air Division

Division

Object Number - UPL 13952 - Stained glass window memorial, commemorating the 3rd Air Division, inside the church of St Andrew and St Patrick, Elveden, Suffolk.

In December 1944, the 3rd Bomb Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.

Commanding Officers

Earle E Partridge

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division
  • Service Numbers: O-15502
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General

Norris B Harbold

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division
  • Service Numbers: O-17159
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Chief of Staff

Connections

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

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Other

Inactivated

21 November 1945

Other

Redesignated

Based

Honington 21 November 1945

Previously was

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

3rd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Encompassing

People

John R Barnes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division 13th Combat Bomb Wing 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Clifton R Benderman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division
  • Service Numbers: 34375530
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ground Crew

John M Bennett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-403621
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer, Director Operational Analysis

Clyde E Bible

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division 93rd Combat Bomb Wing 34th Bomb Group 4th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (93rd Combat Bomb Wing)
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant First Class
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

George L Brady

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division
  • Service Numbers: 38330610
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ground Crew

Aircraft

42-102380

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Renovation
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division 4th Combat Bomb Wing 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron

44-8148

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Seamans Demons
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division 3rd Bomb Division 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron

DM127

  • Aircraft Type: Master
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division Headquarters Squadron (3rd Air Division)

Mission

896

  • Date: 19 March 1945
  • Official Description: 1,273 bombers and 675 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and industrial targets in Germany visually and with H2X radar; clouds force 2 of the 3 forces to hit secondaries; 100+ Luftwaffe fighters including 36 Me 262s in formation (largest number...

Revisions

Date4 Sep 2019 14:20:20
ContributorEmily
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Date10 Mar 2016 00:18:49
ContributorJameswbrice
Sources

James W Brice, son of
MAJ William R Brice, Bombadier
418th Bombardment Squadron
100th Bomb Group
13th Combat Bombardment Wing
3rd Air Division

Date10 Mar 2016 00:17:56
ContributorJameswbrice
Sources

James W Brice, son of
MAJ William R Brice, Bombadier
418th Bombardment Squadron
100th Bomb Group
13th Combat Bombardment Wing
3rd Air Division

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:44
ContributorAAM
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

3rd Air Division: Gallery (18 items)

Ground personnel of the 486th Bomb Group attend to a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-29461) that had belly landed. Official caption printed on image: 'GAD-15-10-486)(16...5-44)(42-92461) Crash Landing.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '46th Bombardment Group, 92d combat wing, 3rd Air Division, Sudbury.'

Object number: FRE 2021 - Ground personnel of the 486th Bomb Group attend to...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (QJ-R, serial number 42-32045) of the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group. Official caption on image: "ISAD. 14 May 1944. 1101 (WPU, Battle Damage, B-17G, 42-32045, Manston), FA." Handwritten caption on reverse: '96th Bomb Group, 45th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division' On reverse: USAAF Photographic Section Station 595 [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 3955 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (QJ-R, serial number 42...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (MZ-E, serial number 42-97554) of the 413th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group after ground collision at Rattlesden. Official caption on image: "594 (44) 4-6-44. W.R.U. Rattlesden. Collision. B-17G. 42-97554. F.A. F.S.A.D." Handwritten caption on reverse: '96th Bomb Group, 45th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division.'

Object number: FRE 3956 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (MZ-E, serial number 42...

A B-17G Flying Fortress (EP-E, serial number 42-39867) of the 351st Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group. Official caption on image: "265-(44). WPU - 2.29.44. Eastchurch. B-17G - 42-39867. FA-FSAD." Handwritten caption on reverse: '100th Bomb Group, 13th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division, E?-E.[EP-E]' On reverse: USAAF Photographic Section Station 595 [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 4104 - A B-17G Flying Fortress (EP-E, serial number 42...

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 3rd Air Division parked along the runway at Honington. The aircraft, left to right are: (LN-J, serial number 42-30215) of the 388th Bomb Group, (serial number 42-30818) of the 100th Bomb Group, (serial number 42-3544) of the 385th Bomb Group, (serial number 42-3555) of the 388th Bomb Group, (LN-Z, serial number 42-30725) of the 100th Bomb Group and an unidentified B-17 of the 385th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Honington'.

Object number: FRE 4123 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 3rd Air Division...

Elveden Hall, headquarters of the 3rd Air Division. Image via Mark Brown, AFA.

Object number: FRE 6307 - Elveden Hall, headquarters of the 3rd Air Division...

A battle-damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (FC-L, serial number 42-102673) of the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group at Manston, 14 July 1944. Official caption on image: "ISAD - 14 July 44 - (1874) - W.P.U. Battle Damage B-17G - 42-102673 - Manston, R.Z." Handwritten caption on reverse: '390th Bomb Group, 13th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division, FS.'

Object number: FRE 8229 - A battle-damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (FC-L...

A battle-damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (CC-A, serial number 42-31466) of the 569th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group at Manston, 17 April 1944. Official caption on image: "754(44) - W.P.U. - 4-17-44 - Manston - Battle Damage - B-17G 42-31455 - R.Z. FSAD." Handwritten caption on reverse: '390th Bomb Group, 13th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division.' On reverse: Photographic Section USAAF Station 595 [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 8230 - A battle-damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (CC-A...

A B-24 Liberator (R5-R, serial number 42-50373) nicknamed "Hard T' Find" of the 839th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group after landing at Woodbridge airfield, 22 June 1944 with battle damage. Official caption on image: "ISAD - 22 June 44 - (1587) - W.P.U. Battle Damage - B-24 42-50373 - Woodbridge R.H." Handwritten caption on reverse: '3rd Air Division. 22-6-44, 243.'

Object number: FRE 8524 - A B-24 Liberator (R5-R, serial number 42-50373)...

Object number: UPL 13952 - Stained glass window memorial, commemorating the...

Object number: UPL 14907 - In the memorial chapel, St Nicholas, Rattlesden

Object number: UPL 20340 - "Bobby Sox" nose art by Master Sergeant Jay D...