Skip to main content
Edit entry 

566th Bomb Squadron

Squadron

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Constituted 566th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 Dec. 1942. Activated on 24 Dec. 1942. Inactivated on 13 Sept. 1945. Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Stations: Davis-Monthan Field, Ariz., 24 Dec 1942; Biggs Field, Tex., 1 Feb 1943; Lowry Field, Colo., 19 Apr.-1 June 1943; Hethel, England, 16 June 1943-ca. 28 May 1945 (operated from Benghazi, Libya, 3 July-25 Aug. 1943; Massicault, Tunisia, 19 Sept.-3 Oct. 1943).

Structure

Part of
  • 389th Bomb Group

    389th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...

Encompassing
Not yet known
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Hethel 16 June 1943

Connections

People

  • Bruce Adams

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
    35 missions July 2, 1944 accident on runway in B24 #42-50378. 10 RTD. Rowbottom crew. DFC/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster

  • Paul Adams

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    After bombs away on a mission to Friedrichshafen, GR on 16 Mar 1944, B-24J #42-100332 'Galloping Katie' was forced to feather and engine and losing altitude and landed in Switzerland. Interned.

  • Harry Alexander

    Military | Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
    Shot down 26 November 1944 in B-24 #44-10579 'Pugnacious Princess Pat', Killed in Action (KIA).

  • John Allen

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    Shot down by flak on the return from a mission to Erkner, Berlin on 8 Mar 1944 in B-24J #42-100375. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Wilbur Alsop

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
    Shot down by fighters and crashed at Uklei on 6/21/44 in B-24 #42-95145, Killed in Action (KIA). ...

  • Rudolph Anchondo

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    Rudolph Anchondo took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing mission to Ploesti, Romania, flying the B-24D Liberator, 42-40738 ,named, Fightin' Sam He was shot down in the B-24D, 42-40738, named, Fightin' Sam, killed in Action (KIA). 5 Dec, 43.

  • Carol Anderson

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 389th Bomb Group

  • Paul Anderson

    Military | Captain | Observer | 389th Bomb Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Surburg in B-24 #4250511

  • Wallace Anderson

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group

  • John Antl

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    After bombs away on a mission to Friedrichshafen, GR on 16 Mar 1944, B-24J #42-100332 'Galloping Katie' was forced to feather and engine and losing altitude and landed in Switzerland. Interned.

Show more

Aircraft

  • 41-28589

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 566BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Bremen, A/C severely hit by flak crew baled out 20-Dec-43. 10 x POW. MACR 1972.

  • 41-28824 Sackwarmer

    B-24 Liberator
    On 7 July 1944, B-24 #4128824 'Sackwarmer' was involved in a mid air collision and crashed near Brumby, Germany.

  • 42-100281 Naughty Norma

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-100332 Gallloping Katie

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-100375

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-109817

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-109828

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-110018

    B-24 Liberator
    Correct MACR is 14638

  • 42-40619 - 619

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D-80-CO Liberator Bomber, 42-40619, named 619, was in the 566th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, the "Sky Scorpions", and the 8th Air Force, flown by Capt. Emery Ward and Maj. John Brooks, and participated in the low level Ploesti, Romania...

  • 42-40706 - Tondelao

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D Liberator, 42-40706, Tondelao, was in the 566th Bomb Squadron, in the 389th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, in North Africa, to fly on the Ploesti oil refinery mission, piloted by Cecil J. Whitener, and returned...

Show more

Citations

Distinguished Unit Citation: Ploesti, Romania, 1 Aug 1943.

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
23 January 2019 21:51:49 Dieterle Changes to description and stations
Sources

Richard Dieterle (trying to put both Hethel and Berca as Stations, but not succeeding). Summary is from Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, ed. Maurer Maurer (Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center and Office of Air Force History, Headquarters, USAF, 1982) 664.
Date Contributor Update
23 January 2019 21:34:13 Dieterle Changes to citations and stations
Sources

Richard Dieterle.
Date Contributor Update
23 January 2019 21:30:30 Dieterle Changes to citations and stations
Sources

Richard Dieterle. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, ed. Maurer Maurer (Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center and Office of Air Force History, Headquarters, USAF, 1982) 664.
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 16:29:46 rossingtonj Changes to type
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:50 AAM AAM ingest
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 / 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)

Share