Herbert Charles Chambers Jr
MilitaryHerbert Chambers enlisted in the US Army on July 23, 1930. He was Flying Cadet stationed in Hawaii. He was honorably discharged on June 30, 1931 and entered the Air Corps Reserves on July 1, 1931, where he remained until being honorably discharged on July 30, 1933 at the rank of Second Lieutenant. He continued flying as a civilian during the mid 1930’s, including as a crop duster in Belzoni, Miss., in 1937. On April 29, 1939, he returned to active duty in the Air Corps. A member of the 97th Bomb Group, Major Herbert Chambers was a passenger on board B-17E-BO AC# 41-9090 transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland. Major Chambers and the rest of the 12-man crew left uninjured and were brought safely to England. The 97th Bomb Group was transferred to North Africa at the end of October 1942, and Major Chambers served there. He served in the following campaigns of Air Offensive Europe - Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, and Rome-Arno. Transferred to the 12th Air Force, he became Commanding Officer of the 322nd Air Service Group. He retired from the USAF with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18051921 at enlistment, then O-436529
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6147552
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34249492
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Tucson, Arizona, United States | 8 July 1908 | the son of Herbert Charles Chambers Sr and Mabel C. Chambers |
Enlisted |
23 June 1930 | Flying Cadet, Regular Army, honorably discharged, 6/30/31 | |
Enlisted |
1 July 1931 | Second Lieutenant, Air Corps Reserve. Honorable release from active duty, 6/30/1933 | |
Enlisted |
29 April 1939 | Entered Active Duty as Executive Officer | |
Died |
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, United States | 21 June 1993 | |
Tucson, Arizona, United States | |||
Enlisted |
Revisions
US Armed Forces Reports of Transfer / Discharge and USA Certifications of Military Service
This photo belongs to me, Chad Fillmore, and I am the grandson of Col. Chambers, to whom the photo originally belonged.
97th BG/ 342nd BS Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hay p.15 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia