-
Page 291 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.
-
Page 328 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.
-
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 230, 17 Mar 1945, Molbis, Germany.
The Group was briefed at 0400 hours, and all aircraft were airborne by 0824. Flying Control noted: "Very good take off." By 1748 hours all but two aircraft had returned from the mission. Those two ships (which must have landed elsewhere to refuel) landed at 2044 and 2049 hours, respectively.
On this mission, with the 401st putting up the three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group, the primary target was flak gun installations in the Leipzig area protecting the oil installations at Molbis. The secondary target was the oil installations themselves.
As 10/10th's cloud cover obscured the gun positions, the Group bombed the oil installations by PFF (radar) techniques. Because of the clouds, the results could not be visually observed or photographed.
No enemy aircraft were encountered, and the meager flak in the target area did not result in damage to any 401st aircraft.
After the war, Lloyd Cullen Harveson became a Sales Office Correspondent selling tin cans for growers in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas - he worked for Continental Can Company.
We did not have much money so fun was to go to Hobby Airport, Houston, TX and sit on the car at the approach end of the active runway and watch planes landing.
Now Dad had all 3 of his boys become military pilots AND Commercial Airline Pilots.
This interest in aviation grew in me - the oldest of Lloyd's 3 boys.
My name is Lloyd Cullen Harveson Jr
I attended the US Air Force Academy, graduating June 3, 1970 and was commissioned
a 2nd Lieutenant. Pilot Training at Webb AFB, Big Spring TX and graduated July 1971.
I flew active duty the C-141A and the C-5A. After separation from active duty I was a
Liaison Officer for the Academy until retirement on October 1,1990. I flew as Captain of
the Boeing 777 and the McDonnell-Douglas MD-80, retiring at age 60 on Nov 30, 2006.
Dad's 2nd son: Walter Preston Harveson also attended the Academy, graduating in 1973.
Walter became a T-38 Instructor Pilot at Williams AFB, Phoenix AZ. After military service
Walter became an airline pilot for American Airlines.
Dad's 3rd son: Lauren Charles Harveson graduated from the University of Houston and
was commissioned in the US Marine Corps. He flew C-130s based in Chicago, IL. Lauren
transferred to the USAF Reserves and then flew the C-5A out of New York. After military
Lauren became a Captain for Northwest Orient Airlines on the Boeing 747.
Service
Units served with
-
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...