IX Bomber Command
Command
376th Bomb Group
Group
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Personnel of the 376th Bomb Group lift dust sheets to protect their equipment infront of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-40657) nicknamed "GI Ginnie".
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The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51864) nicknamed "Badger Beauty" of the 376th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. Written on slide casing: 'B-24 Sandia Base, NM 1946, Badger Beauty 15 AF? 441602 515 BS, 376 BG.'
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The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-72843) nicknamed "Strawberry Bitch" of the 376th Bomb Group.
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A B-24 Liberator of the 376th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight.
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The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40299) nicknamed "Purty Baby" of the 376th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. Handwritten caption on reverse: '376th BG, 15th Air Force.'
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A B-24 Liberator of the 376th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, with a badly damaged wing flying over Toulon, 1944. Printed caption on reverse: '61990 USAF- Despite a badly damaged right wing, this Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" of the 376th Bomb Group, maintained its place in the formation on the bomb run over Toulon, France. Limping Liberator showing directly over smoking target 6 August 1944 (Mission 305), Altitude 22,700 Ft. US Air Force Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '6/8/44.'
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A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-11616) nicknamed "Arkansas Traveler" of the 376th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force takes off from Fayid, Egypt.
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A restored B-24 Liberator painted to represent (serial number 42-72843) nicknamed "Strawberry Bitch" of the 376th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. First hadwritten caption on reverse: 'Taken Aug 9, 1961 Air Force Museum, WPAFB, Ohio.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '98 or 376 BG?'
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A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-72843) nicknamed "Strawberry Bitch" of the 376th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force.
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Ground personnel work on the engines of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-3279) of the 376th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. Printed caption on reverse: '52490 AC- Nearing Completion. Air Service Command Technicians have but to install the 1 engine and their job is done on this B-24 Liberator that crash-landed recently on the shores of the Adriatic Sea in Italy after being severely damaged by enemy fire whilst on a mission. Note the hastily-constructed runway which is to serve for the take-off of the giant bomber from the sandy wastes. US Air Force Photo.'
Constituted as 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 Oct 1942 and activated in Palestine on 31 Oct. Began combat immediately, using B-24 aircraft. Operated with Ninth AF from bases in the Middle East, Nov 1942-Sep 1943, and with Twelfth AF from Tunisia, Sep-Nov 1943. Attacked shipping in the Mediterranean and harbor installations in Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy to cut enemy supply lines to Africa. Struck airdromes, marshalling yards, and other objectives in Sicily and Italy after the fall of Tunisia in May 1943. Received a DUC for action against the enemy in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sicily, Nov 1942-Aug 1943. Participated in the famed low-level assault on oil refineries at Ploesti and received another DUC: nearing Ploesti on 1 Aug 1943 and realizing that it was off course, the group attempted to reach its assigned objective from another direction; by this time, however, enemy defenses were thoroughly alerted and intense opposition forced the 376th to divert to targets of opportunity in the general target area
Moved to Italy in Nov 1943 and operated with Fifteenth AF until Apr 1945. Engaged primarily in long-range missions to targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans to bomb factories, marshalling yards, oil refineries, oil storage facilities, airdromes, bridges, harbors, and other objectives. Received a DUC for attacking the oil industry at Bratislava on 16 Jun 1944. Also flew support and interdictory missions, assisting Allied forces at Anzio and Cassino during Feb-Mar 1944, supporting the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944, aiding the Russian sweep into the Balkans during the fall of 1944, and assisting Allied troops in northern Italy during Apr 1945.
Moved to the US in Apr. Redesignated 376th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in May 1945. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1945.
Structure
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5th Bomb Wing
Wing
The 5th Air Division (5th AD) originated on 19 October 1940 at McChord Field, Washington. Its initial mission was air defense of the northwest United States with three bombardment groups (12th, 17th and 39th) flying early B-17 Flying Fortresses (B-17C... -
47th Bomb Wing
Wing
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- Encompassing
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513th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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512th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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514th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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515th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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- Previously was
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1st Provisional Group
Group
The 1st Provisional Group was established on 20 July 1942 at Lydda. It brought together the existing 9th Bomb Squadron and the Hal Bomb Squadron, which were operating the Middle East.
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- Became
- Not yet known
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Operation Tidal Wave
1 August 1943
Operation TIDAL WAVE. B-24D Liberators attack the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B-24s that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57... -
Henry Alexander
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: PH. -
Norman Appold
Military | Colonel | B-24 Command Pilot | 376th Bomb Group
Norman Appold graduated from the Aviation Cadet Training Program in 1942, commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. After completing pilot training, he served as a B-24 pilot in the 376th Bomb Group Association, completing 63 missions. ... -
Angelo Aspesi
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
SSgt. Angelo Aspeci was assigned to the 515th Bomb Squadron, the 376th Bomb Group, and TDY to the 9th Air Force. He was a crew member on the B-24D, 42-40664, Teggie Ann, flown by Col. K.K. Compton on the Ploesti oil refinery bombing mission,... -
Charles Bley
Military | Captain | Pilot | 376th Bomb Group
Pilot B-24 Liberator #42-40203 'Tobias the Terrible' 515th BS, 376th BG, 9th AF, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returned safely to Libya. ... -
Robert Block
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 376th Bomb Group
Missing in Action on B-24 41-11603 'Malicious' on 31 January 1943, on a mission to Messina. His aircraft was hit by flak and forced to ditch in the sea. -
Robert Brown
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: AM, PH. -
Lawrence Burgin
Military | Crew Chief | 376th Bomb Group
He attended Western Carolina University for a year and decided he wanted to serve his country. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps where he served as crew chief mechanic on B24 bomber airplanes in the Libyan desert arena and the boot of Italy with the... -
Irwin Carr
Military | First Lieutenant | Co Pilot | 376th Bomb Group
Co Pilot B-24 Liberator #42-40203 'Tobias the Terrible' 515th BS, 376th BG, 9th AF, shot down on 28th Dec 43 mission to Vicenza marshaling yards, Saletto Italy, pilot John L Sonaglia, 3 KIA / 7 POW. MACR 1617 -
Keith Compton
Military | Lieutenant General | B-24 Command Pilot - Squadron Commander - Commanding Officer | 376th Bomb Group
Keith Karl Compton was an American Air Force Lieutenant General who was Vice Commander in Chief, in the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command. He flew as the Element Lead Aircraft's Command Pilot with Gen. Uzal Ent, the Ploesti Mission... -
Harry Crampton
Military | Technical Sergeant | B-24 Radio Operator | 376th Bomb Group
TSgt. Harry W. Crampton, was assigned as a radio operator on the B-24D, 42-40664, Teggie Ann, in the 515th Bomb Squadron, the 376th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force from Britain, temporarily detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, USAAF, in Benghazi, Libya, for... -
41-11613 Florine JuJu - Liberandos - Teggie Ann - The Blue Streak
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, 41-11613, named, Florine JuJu, The Blue Streak, Liberandos, and Teggie Ann, in the 376th Bomb Group, should not be mistaken for the B-24D Liberator bomber, 42-40664, also named, Teggie Ann, and flown as the Lead Aircraft, piloted by Col. K.K... -
41-28837 Trade Winds
B-24 Liberator
Trade Winds was transferred, on 24 Feb 45 to the MTO, the 376th Bomb Group, and the 513th Bomb Squadron, the 376th Bomb Group, and the 15th Air Force, where it was assigned it's first mission. Later, assigned to the 837th Bomb Squadron, the 487th Bomb... -
42-40563 'Wongo Wongo!'
B-24 Liberator
Lost en route to Ploesti, Romania with the loss of all crew members. ... -
41-24258 Minerva II, Desert Lily
B-24 Liberator
Shot down by a Bf 109G-6 near Wiemath, Austria on Nov 2, 1943. 8 KIA, 2 POW. MACR 1099 ... -
41-24294 Brewery Wagon
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, Brewery Wagon, flew on the famous bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. It was shot down by flak and an ME-109 as it was approaching it's target over Ploesti. Two of the crew were KIA, eight became POW's. MACR... -
41-24297 'Chief Wahoo' 'War Maid'
B-24 Liberator
Crash landed in Turkey after Ploesti oil refinery raid, 1st Aug 1943. Pilot Wilford E Hines. Crew interned in Turkey. -
42-40664 Honey Chile - Liberandos - Teggie Ann
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, 42-40664, Teggie Ann, should not be mistaken for the B-24D, 41-23754, also named, Teggie Ann, in the 8th Air Force. Later it'd name was changed to, Little Lady. ... -
41-11636 Wash's Tub, Liberandos
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, Liberator bomber first named, Wash's Tub - 41-11636 - was first flown by Martin Walsh and was originally Halpro aircraft, #24, first, in the "Halverson Project' in 1942 in the 9th Air Force. It was later transferred to the 8th Air Force, the... -
41-11825 Hail Columbia - Little Chief Big Dog - Grumpy
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, Hail Columbia, 41-11825, was assigned to the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 344th Bombing Squadron. It was first assigned to the 344th Squadron's CO, Col. John R. Kane's, personal aircraft until Kane became the 98th Bomb Group's... -
41-24259 'Warmaid'
B-24 Liberator
On loan to 93rd BG and scheduled to be flown by 1st Lt Howard W Freese on the 1 Aug 43 Ploesti mission. He was obliged to turn back, jettison the bombs in the sea and return to Benghazi, Libya, due to a serious fuel leak discovered immediately after...
Missions
Stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Established | Lydda | 31 October 1942 |
| Based | Abu Sueir | 8 November 1942 – 10 February 1943 |
| Based | Mellaha | 6 April 1943 – 26 September 1943 |
| Based | San Pancrazio | 17 November 1943 – 19 April 1945 |
Connections
People
Aircraft
Citations
Distinguished Unit Citations:
North Africa and Sicily, [Nov] 1942-17 Aug 1943;
Ploesti, Rumania, Aug 1943;
Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, 16 Jun 1944.
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 17 March 2019 06:15:59 | Kickapoo | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
Black Sunday ~ Michael Hill |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 November 2016 23:32:20 | 466thHistorian | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 November 2016 22:52:48 | 466thHistorian | Changes to insignia, citations, description, unit part of associations, unit encompassing associations and stations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/376th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 July 2016 18:56:14 | millebr | Changes to type, nicknames, air forces and aircraft types |
| Sources | ||
historyofwar.org |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:42:45 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia |
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