323rd Bomb Group

Group
Private First Class Barbara O'Brien of the Womens Army Corps, paints the nose of a B-26 Marauder (YU-Y. serial number 41-34982) nicknamed "Jolly Roger" of the 323rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publcation 4 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295589.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'W.A.C.S. on duty at a Bomber Station. Associated Press Photo shows:- Pfc: Barbara O'Brien painting the Jolly Roger on the nose of a Marauder with the crew looking on.' media-380000.jpg FRE 1204 Private First Class Barbara O'Brien of the Womens Army Corps, paints the nose of a B-26 Marauder (YU-Y. serial number 41-34942) nicknamed "Jolly Roger" of the 323rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publcation 4 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295589.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'W.A.C.S. on duty at a Bomber Station. Associated Press Photo shows:- Pfc: Barbara O'Brien painting the Jolly Roger on the nose of a Marauder with the crew looking on.' Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1204 - Private First Class Barbara O'Brien of the Womens Army Corps, paints the nose of a B-26 Marauder (YU-Y. serial number 41-34942) nicknamed "Jolly...

The 323rd Bombardment Group operated with B-26 Marauders, American medium bombers. They were the first Eighth Air Force Group to fly a medium level bombing mission with this aircraft on 16 July 1943. After flying a total of 33 missions with the Eighth, the Group were assigned to the Ninth Air Force, and they continued to fly strategic bombing missions over Europe throughout the war, staying at Earls Colne, Essex until 21 July 1944, at which point they moved to Beaulieu, England.



The 323rd moved to an airfield adjacent to the village of Lessay, France on 26 August 1944 and then moved to an airfield near Chartres, France on 21 September 1944. On 13 October 1944, the 323rd moved to Laon/Athies Airfield from which the group flew missions in the Battle of the Bulge from December 23 -27, 1944 for which the Distinguished Unit Citation was conferred upon the group. On 9 February 1945, the gorup moved to Denain/Pouvy Airdrome where is was stationed until 15 May 1945.



Selected Bibliography of Publications, Media and Websites:



Moench, John O. Marauder Men: An Account of the Martin B-26 Marauder: An Examination and History of the Martin B-26 Marauder and Those Who Built, Supported, and Flew It in World War II: USAF-USN-RAF-SAAF-FFAF: Includes an in Depth Account of the 323rd Bombardment Group (M) of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in Europe. Longwood, FL: Malia Enterprises, 1999.



Harlan, Ross E. Strikes: 323rd Bomb Group in World War II. Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma Cavanal Publishers, 2005.



Pyle, Ernie. Brave Men. New York: H. Holt and, 1944.



Rehr, Louis S., and Carleton R. Rehr. Marauder: Memoir of a B-26 Pilot in Europe in World War II. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2004.



70th Anniversary Tribute D-Day: 24 Hours That Saved the World. TIME, 2014.



Scutts, Jerry. B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. London: Osprey Aerospace, 1997.



Freeman, Roger Anthony., Trevor J. Allen, and Bernard Mallon. B-26 Marauder at War. New York: Scribner, 1978.



Moore, Carl H. Flying the B-26 Marauder over Europe: Memoir of a World War II Navigator. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2013.



Butcher, Harry C. My Three Years with Eisenhower: The Personal Diary of Captain Harry C. Butcher, USNR, Naval Aide to General Eisenhower, 1942 to 1945. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1946.



Ambrose, Stephen E. D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994.



B-26 Marauder Historical Society Return of the Marauder Men. Turner Publishing Company.

Commanding Officers

General Dwight D Eisenhower inspects photographs from a raid by the 386th Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photo, Keystone Press.' [stamp], 21 Apr 1944.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse :'US Official Photograph No. Distributes through OWI. Gen Eisenhower inspects raid photos. Nine Air Force Headquarters: During an inspection of a Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauder Medium Bombers station in England, General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in the European Theatre of
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Squadron 454th Bomb Squadron 455th Bomb Squadron 456th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

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Earls Colne 21 May 1943 - 14 June 1943

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Dover Army Air Base 27 July 1944

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Lessay 26 August 1944

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Chartres 21 September 1944

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Laon/Athies 13 October 1944

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Gablingen 15 May 1945

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16 July 1945

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Clastres

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 455th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-663007
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6979275
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 455th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 454th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6667781
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 455th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant

Aircraft

An airman of the 323rd Bomb Group with a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31643) nicknamed "Bat-Outa-Hell II". Image via John Moench. Written on slide casing: '323 BG, Earls Colne.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Bat-Outa-Hell II
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 455th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Red Dog II
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Lois Rose
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 455th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Howard Hurricane II
  • Unit: 323rd Bomb Group

Revisions

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323rd BG Archives - Roy R. Bozych 323rd BG Historian

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323rd Bomb Group Association Website, "323rd BG History": http://www.323bg454bs.org/history.html

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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)

323rd Bomb Group: Gallery (250 items)