Wing
Page 302 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.
Video of the memorials to the service and sacrifice of the USAAF 401st BG(H) based at Deenethorpe, station 128. The video covers two locations: the roadside memorial adjacent to the site of the airfield, and the local church in the village of Weldon.
410st Bomb Group - Combat Crew Commendation - Mission 382 31 May 1944
S/Sgt. Carl W. Landwehr - KIA on 7 OCT 1944 mission to Politz.
Constituted as 94th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 2 Nov 1943. Activated in England on 12 Dec 1943. Assigned to Eighth AF. Served in combat in the European theater until Apr 1945. Received a DUC for an attack on German aircraft factories on 11 Jan 1944. Disbanded in England on 18 Jun 1945.
Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 303rd Bomb Group
13 Feb-42 Assigned as Operations Officer of 303 Bomb Group at Pendleton Field, Pendleton, Oregon with the rank of Major. 15-Sep-42 appointed Commanding Office of 303BG/359th Bombardment Squadron. See Biography events. MISSION participation currently...
Military | Major General | Commanding Officer | 303rd Bomb Group
Commanding officer 384th Bomb Group from 6-Sep-43 to 23-Nov-43 then was given command of the 94th Combat Bomb wing.
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Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.
Division
The groups under the command of the 1st Bomb Wing came under the command of the 1st Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
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...
Group
The 457th Bomb Group began combat operations during the Big Week of 20-25 February when American bombers carried out concentrated raids against German aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The air crews' targets on that first mission were...
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Headquarters
Company
10 February 1945
'Disney' bombs are dropped on E-boat pens in Ijmuiden, Holland. The 4,500 lb rocket propelled bombs were designed to penetrated up to 20ft of concrete before exploding.
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Based | Polebrook | 12 December 1943 – June 1945 |
| Based | Alconbury | 12 June 1945 – 18 June 1945 |
Military | Captain | Navigator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He flew on Toy Husband crew. Reported to the ETO on 23 Apr 1943. He was the 45th Officer to complete tour.
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Military | Major General | Commanding Officer | 303rd Bomb Group
Commanding officer 384th Bomb Group from 6-Sep-43 to 23-Nov-43 then was given command of the 94th Combat Bomb wing.
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Military | Major | Bombardier; Navigator | 384th Bomb Group
Original crew of 384th on activation in 1942, Boise, Idaho. Squadron Bombardier & lead crew -- Pilot Phil Algar. Flew the August 17, 1943 and the October 14, 1943 missions. [Schweinfurt] Led Group on Black Thursday (October 14, 1943. ) Awarded DFC...
Military | First Lieutenant | Lead Bombardier | 457th Bomb Group
Shot down near Champdeuil, FR 6/14/44 in B-17 #42-97062. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 303rd Bomb Group
13 Feb-42 Assigned as Operations Officer of 303 Bomb Group at Pendleton Field, Pendleton, Oregon with the rank of Major. 15-Sep-42 appointed Commanding Office of 303BG/359th Bombardment Squadron. See Biography events. MISSION participation currently...
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 457th Bomb Group
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Co-Pilot, Air Executive | 303rd Bomb Group
Completed 5 x combat missions with 303BG. Transferred to 401BG.
Awards: Croix de Guerre (Palmleaf), DFC, AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME(4 battle stars).
B-17 Flying Fortress
Accepted: 3 May 1944
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Accepted: 3 May 1944
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Oxford
Airspeed Oxford DF399, assigned to 92nd BG between June 8th and August 27th 1943, transferred to Headquarters Sqn, 482nd Bomb Group, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to HQ Sqn, 94th Combat Bomb Wing, 8AF USAAF.
DUC for an attack on German aircraft factories on 11 Jan 1944
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 03 September 2019 10:44:05 | Emily | Changes to type, motto, insignia, us air force combat units of world war ii description, citations, commanding officers associations and stations |
| Sources | ||
Air Force Combat Units of World War II |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:42:44 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / 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) |
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