92nd Bomb Group
GroupIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for Africa.
Circa May, 1943 the Group made preparations for its return to the combat bombardment role and was re-equipped with F series B-17 and modified YB-40 escort Flying Fortress. YB-40s were B-17s modified to fly as a heavily armed escort for other bombers. These conducted escort missions between May and July, 1943. The escort bombers composed the Group's 327th Bomb Squadron. It was the only Eighth Air Force squadron to fly YB-40s in combat.
Between May 1943 and February 1944, the Group, nicknamed 'Fame's Favoured Few', mainly flew missions attacking strategic targets across occupied Europe culminating in the missions of Big Week, 20-25 February 1944.
The Group's missions continued to support POINTBLANK objectives through the invasion and in flew missions in support of gound objectives. The missions transitioned to transportation and oil objectives until April, 1945.
The Group flew 308 missions using 8,633 sorties and dropped 20,829 tons of bombs. The Group lost 154 aircraft MIA.
CLAIMS TO FAME
First 8th AF Bomb Group to make a non-stop Atlantic flight to the United Kingdom
327th Bomb Squadron was the only unit equipped with the YB-40 for combat
Flew the secret Disney rocket-bomb (TV guided) experimental mission early in 1945
Acted as VIII Bomber Command's Combat Crew Replacement Center Aug-42 to May 43
Led the last 8th AF mission of the war.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron 329th Station Complement Squadron
- Highest Rank: Brigadier General
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-18122
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer; Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-22174
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Major General
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based |
Bovingdon | 18 August 1942 - 11 January 1943 |
Based |
Alconbury | 11 January 1943 - 15 September 1943 |
Based |
Podington | 15 September 1943 - 9 July 1945 |
Encompassing
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32554516
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dixie Demo
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Bat out of Hell
- Unit: 419th Bomb Squadron 301st Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 92nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: No 11 Combat Crew Replacement Center 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 340th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 325th Bomb Squadron 92nd Bomb Group
Mission
- Date: 2 March 1944
- Date: 25 February 1944
- Date: 24 February 1944
- Date: 22 February 1944
- Date: 16 December 1943
Revisions
Associated YB-40 B-17 Flying Fortresses as per list in Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual, p 155
Lee Cunningham 15-Nov-2014. Statistics: http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/92bg.HTM
Lee Cunningham 6-Nov-2014. http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/92bg.HTM
Lee Cunningham 4-Nov-2014. Commaders: http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/92bg.HTM
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)