Second World War formation badge for the United States 9th Air Force (United States Army Air Force). The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved by the US Quartermaster General on 16 September 1943. Formation note: the 9th Air Force (US Army Air Force, Ninth Air Force) was formed on 8 April 1942 at the New Orleans Army Air Base in Louisiana. The Force served as the US Army Middle East Air Force. Medium bombers and fighters of 9th Air Force supported the British 8th Army (Eighth Army) across North Africa. It served in the Italian campaign and was transferred to England in October 1943 where it provided tactical support for the campaigns in North West Europe. It was disbanded 2 December 1945. © IWM (INS 7305)
"Leaving a trail of dust behind, a Republic P-47 takes off from the newly constructed airfield at St. Pierre Du Mont, Normandy, France."
"Anti aircraft position at Le Molay, France."
"Anti-aircraft gun emplacement at a 410th Bomb Group Base in France. 22 January 1945." - In the background are A-20's of 646BS, 410BG, 9AF. Visible are 8U-M and 8U-H. 646BS were based at Coulommiers A/D (A-58) in Jan-45.
"Anti-aircraft gun emplacement at a 410th Bomb Group Base in France. 22 January 1945." - 40mm Bofors gun 'SNAFU', 410th BG were based at Coulommiers A/D (A-58) in Jan-45. In the foreground is the improvised "alarm bell" - the tail of a 500lb bomb suspended from a bracket - the 1 Stripe Private just behind the bomb tail bell greatly resembles several other service portraits of Ray Jelle of the 410 BG's 647th BS
"At an advanced landing strip somewhere in France members of a Republic P-47 crew charge the wing machine guns." - unidentified armourers of the 366FG service the four 50 cals on a P-47 at St Pierre du Mont airfield (A-1), France, June 1944.
"At an Air Base somewhere in France, anti-aircraft crew members make their temporary living quarters under wing of C4G Haig Glider. 1 April 1945." - C-4G Haig glider '3B' nick named most appropriately 'Going Down', likely from 53rd Troop Carrier Wing. In the foreground a trailer mounted M45 Quadmount AA gun, informally known as a "Krautmower".
"Capt. Lowell B. Smith, 1554 Scenic Ave., Berkley Calif., a 9th AF pilot who spends most of his time co-operating with ground troops, was a recent recipient of timely co-operation originating with a ground unit. Returning to his base after running out of ammunition, Capt Smith was attacked by a Me109 when an anti aircraft unit spotted the Luftwaffe plane and downed it with a few quick bursts. L-R: Cpl Miles E hoyle Jr [Fallston NC], Cpl Hubert C Wright [Linton IN], PFC Alexander Alex [South St. Paul MN], PFC Edward J Merbar [Cleveland OH], members of gun crew and Capt Smith. FRANCE." - New years day 1945, Luftwaffes last throw of the dice - Op Bodenplatte. Capt LB Smith was taking off 15 mins early for a close support mission, just as Fw190's and Me109's streaked in to strafe Asch A/D. Smith's section salvoed their bombs and got stuck in. Capt Smith downed 2 x Fw190's and forced a bouncing Fw190 to overshoot him. It subsequently crashed.
"Final check and inspection of rocket launcher are made by a ground crewman. The rocket has three sections: fuse, war-head and motor. The acceleration of projectile opens six fins that are folded into body of rocket before projectile. France." - 9th AF P-47 with mixed load of bombs and RP's.
"FRAMED IN ARMOR-Surrounded by .50 caliber bullets, a Martin B-26 Marauder gunner of the First TAC AF mans his gun. This is the guardian who is forever on the alert, forever keen, who constantly scans the skies for any Luftwaffe interceptors. S/Sgt Richard J Hightower [Macon, MO] has flown 40 missions against the Nazis best and not once has his plane been hit by the enemy. Judging by the lines on his face, a record like this is not mere luck. FRANCE.."
Constituted as V Air Support Command on 21 Aug 1941. Activated on 1 Sep 1941. Redesignated Ninth AF in Apr 1942. Moved to Egypt and began operations on 12 Nov 1942, participating in the Allied drive across Egypt and Libya, the campaign in Tunisia, and the invasions of Sicily and Italy. Moved to England in Oct 1943 to become the tactical air force for the invasion of the Continent. Helped prepare for the assault on Normandy, supported operations on the beach in Jun 1944, and took part in the drive that carried the Allies across France and culminated in victory over Germany in May 1945. Inactivated in Germany on 2 Dec 1945.
Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding General, 8th Air Force Fighter Command
From 1909 to 1913, Kepner served in the US Marine Corps. By 1916 he was a second lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard. After a short spell in the US cavalry, in 1917 he transferred to the infantry as a captain and commanded a company at the Battle...
Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding General
Lewis Hyde Brereton (June 21, 1890 – July 20, 1967) was a military aviation pioneer and lieutenant general in the United States Air Force. A 1911 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he began his military career as a United States Army officer...
Military | General | Commanding General 9th Air Force
Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg (January 24, 1899 – April 2, 1954) was a U.S. Air Force general, its second Chief of Staff, and second Director of Central Intelligence.
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Command
IX Air Defense Command was established in the ETO to carry out Air Defence, it over saw fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft artillery and signal warning units.
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Command
Command
Command
Command
Command
Division
Battalion
Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsaces, and Central Europe; Distinguished Unit Citation: 3-8 August 1944 (Company "A" only); Meritorious Unit Commendation: 13 January - 25 March 1945; Occupation Service: 20 May - 5 July 1945 ...
Platoon
Unit was originally designated as te 2012th Engr Avn F/F Plat and on 30 March 1944 was redesignated as the 2014th Engr Avn F/F Plat. in accordance with letter, headquarters IX Air Force Service Command, subject, "Movement of Troops", dated 30 March 1944.
US Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF) was activated on 28 June 1942 in Cairo, Egypt. It brought together several units which had been operating the area including the HALPRO Detachment, and Lewis Brereton's 9th Bomb Squadron.
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Military | Captain | Pilot | 366th Fighter Group
Killed in Action on 21 January 1945 in P-47 Thunderbolt 44-20424.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail gunner | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Nantes in B-26 41-31974. Hit by flak in target area, smoke seen trailing from starboard engine, control lost, A/C turned on its back, crashed Trois Moulins, 12km Sth of Nantes,...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bomber pilot | 391st Bomb Group
Assigned to 573BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. Shot down by Fw190's 3 miles East of Ahrweiler. Last seen dropping behind formation with both engines smoking, gear down, going into spin, crashed....
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Aerial Gunner | 416th Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant | Radio / Gunner | 394th Bomb Group
Assigned to 586BS, 394BG, 9AF USAAF. Lt Myron E Brown Crew [#5].
Military | Major | Fighter Pilot
Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier/Navigator | 416th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Aerial Gunner | 416th Bomb Group
Military | Major | Bomb / Nav | 391st Bomb Group
Assigned to 575BS, 391BG, 8AF USAAF. Bomb/Nav of “Silver Dollar,” B-26C 42-107671, shot down about 30 miles south of their target, the railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler, Germany. 23-Dec-44. A/C last seen with starboard engine feathered and port engine...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 416th Bomb Group
B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 451BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Missions flown 24. Failed to Return (FTR) Nimoyceques, FR with Herb Price crew. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1216
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator, 41-23771, named, Jerks Natural, was in the 8th Air Force, the the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron, based in Britain. It was detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force in North Africa to assist the 9th Air Force on Operation...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator bomber, 41-23778, renamed, Lady Luck, from, Jenny, - Survived Operation Tidal Wave over Ploesti Romania, August 1, 1943.
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B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, 41-23810, named, Tarfu, flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The aircraft returned safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43.
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B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, named, The Duchess, was in the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 330th Bombing Squadron in Britain. - Transferred temporarily (TDY) to the 9th Air Force in North Africa and flew on Operation Tidal Wave to bomb the oil refineries...
B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 555BS, 381BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) St Omer, France 8-Sep-43 last seen with engine feathered dropping out of formation escorted by several Spitfires.
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B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 559BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF. 149 x combat mission. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Bastogne. Shot down by Me109's, pilot 2Lt Vernon O Staub hit in face by 20mm cannon shell and killed instantly, went down with A/C. Crew baled out. 6 x...
B-26 Marauder
B-26 41-31698 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 2 March 1944. Pilot Oliver Jopling and tail gunner Richard Byrem survived. The four other crew members died: Arnold Warmuth, Irving Lerman, John Gober and James White; MACR 2525.
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B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 557BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Engers, Germany with Pete Gregorchuk crew; hit by flak, crew baled out, pilot force landed A/C. 5 x POW, 1 x KIA. MACR 12341
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B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 322BG, 449BS, 9AF USAAF. Missions flown 96, 17 Jul 43 to 4 Jun 44; recoded PN-N, Missions flown 16; 17 Jun 44 to 12 Aug 44.
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None
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 06 August 2021 19:33:55 | Kickapoo | Changes to type, nicknames and aircraft types |
| Sources | ||
98th Bombardment Group - Wikipedia |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 November 2019 22:22:05 | ihanson7 | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
My Grandfather |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2019 14:25:52 | Emily | Changes to type, category, insignia, us air force combat units of world war ii description, unit part of associations and commanding officers associations |
| Sources | ||
Air Force Combat Units of World War II |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 June 2019 19:54:59 | Claiborne Stokes | Changes to type and air forces |
| Sources | ||
CMS |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 September 2016 15:02:15 | Al_Skiff | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
Added Gordon E Batdorf. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:42:43 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia |
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