45th Combat Bomb Wing
Wing
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Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for particularly testing missions. The first was awarded for the bombing of an aircraft factory at Regensburg on 17 August 1943 under intense pressure from enemy fighters. The second was for leading the 45th Bomb Wing through difficult weather conditions and anti-aircraft fire to drop their payload on aircraft components factories at Poznan on 9 April 1944.
Wing
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Headquarters
13 May 1943
The large fighter sweeps of the last several weeks have not been successful in drawing any significant numbers of German fighters in opposition. So, if the German will not send his fighters up for a one-on-one confrontation with the American P-47s,...
14 May 1943
Today's operations will be the most extensive yet mounted by VIII Bomber Command. The operations call for a "maximum effort". Whereas in the past a single target or those close together have been chosen, today's effort is against widley separated...
15 May 1943
The missions of VIII Bomber Command are becoming more sophisticated. The primary stratgic target for today is the U-Boat pens, marshalling yards and Luftwaffe airfield at Emden, Germany. The resistance of Luftwaffe fighters is a primary concern for the...
17 May 1943
VIII Bomber Command launches another operation against German U-Boat facilities with three elements. The first element is a formation of 100 B-17s despatched from: 91BG (24); 92BG (10); 303BG (21); 305BG (21) and 306BG (24) to attack the German U-Boat...
19 May 1943
The German naval bases at Kiel and Flensburg, Germany are the two primary targets for this mission. A force of 123 B-17s is despatched from: 91BG (19); 92BG (10); 303BG (27); 305BG (22); 306BG (24) and 351BG (21) to bomb the naval facilities at Kiel,...
21 May 1943
The German naval and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven and Emden, Germany are the two primary targets for this mission. Once again, there is a two-fold strategic objective: entice the Luftwaffe to commit its fighter forces; and further degrade the naval...
11 June 1943
The harbour facilities, port areas and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven and Cuxhaven, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. This is the largest number of heavy bombers yet despatched on a single mission - 252. This is the first mission flown...
13 June 1943
German naval facilities and port areas at Bremen, Germany and Kiel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. A formation of 151 B-17s despatched from: 91BG (21); 92BG (17); 303BG (27); 305BG (24); 306BG (28); 351BG (21); and 379BG (13) are to...
22 June 1943
The German rubber industry (Chemische Werke Hüls AG) at Marl (district Hüls-Nord), Germany, is the primary objective of this mission and is assigned to the Bomb Groups with the most expericence. Also the industrial area of Antwerp, Belgium is assigned...
25 June 1943
This mission was intended to be the first major attack on the industrial area of Hamburg, Germany but weather and contrails made fromation flying too difficult and dangerous. As a result, the main formation 197 B-17s from: 91BG (18); 92BG (23); 303BG ...
Station | Location | Date |
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Based | Grafton Underwood | 16 April 1943 – 27 May 1943 |
Based | Andrews Field | 13 May 1943 – 11 June 1943 |
Based | Snetterton Heath | 12 June 1943 – 11 December 1945 |
Military | Corporal | 96th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Flight Engineer | 96th Bomb Group
Completed combat tour. Flew on the Relucant Dragon
Military | Corporal | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned Sep 1944
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak and fighters on a mission to Erkner, Berlin on 8 March 1944, B-17G #42-31403 crashed W of Berlin. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned Sept 1944. Shot down 30 November 1944 in B-17 #44-8109, Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Captain | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned Aug 1944
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
An ME109 collided with B-17G #42-38001 on mission to Frankfurt on 29 Jan 1944. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | 96th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 28 July 1943 in B-17 #42-30401. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | First Lieutenant | Assistant Group Statistical Officer | 96th Bomb Group
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 3/3/44; Gr Island 30/3/44; Dow Fd 6/4/44; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-S] Snetterton 7/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Leo Green, Co-pilot: Simon Nesbitt, Navigator: Jim Hesketh, Bombardier: Dan Benia, Flight engineer/top...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 4/3/44; Kearney 22/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 96BG Snetterton 7/4/44; transferred 336BS/95BG Horham 8/4/44; with W. G. Helm force landed A-71 Clastres, France 29/12/44; 85m, Missing in Action Chemnitz 3/3/45 with Bob Duncan, Co...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 4/3/44; Gr Island 22/3/44; Grenier 6/4/44; Slated 385BG, Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-T] Snetterton 7/4/44. Missing in Action Berlin 8 May 1944 with Pilot George T. Sterler, Tail gunner: Edward A. Muszynski (2 Prisoners of War). Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 4/3/44; Kearney 22/3/44; Grenier 5/4/44; Assigned 337BS/96BG [AW-R] Snetterton 7/4/44; Missing in Action Brux 12/5/44 with Herb Moore, Co-pilot: Bill Giesse, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Stan Draginis, Radio Operator: Don...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 4/3/44; Gr Island 24/3/44; Dow Fd 5/4/44; Assigned 413BS/96BG [MZ-T] Snetterton 6/4/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 7/10/44 with George Anglen, Co-pilot: Pat Calvarese, Navigator: Carl Friedman, Bombardier: Lou Cerkas, Flight...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Hunter 9/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX- ] Snetterton 1/5/44; Missing in Action Karlsruhe 27/5/44 with Wilbur Brean, Navigator: Bob Egan, Bombardier: Bob Kleinder, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albt Fancea...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Kearney 22/3/44; Dow Fd 1/5/44; Assigned 337BS/96BG [AW-N] Snetterton 2/4/44; on training mission 23/4/44, with John Brotbeck, Co-pilot: Chas Irving, Navigator: Ed Montgomery, Bombardier: Owen Womak, Flight engineer/top...
B-17 Flying Fortress
The B-17G, 42-102482, was delivered to : Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Field 7/4/44; Assigned to the 330th Bomb Squadron, the 96th Bomb Group [QJ-A] Snetterton 8/4/44; Missing in Action, Berlin 8/5/44 with Harry Eye, Copilot: Leland Baker,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 9/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 100BG Thorpe Abbotts 7/4/44; transferred 339BS/96BG [QJ-G] Snetterton 8/4/44; Missing in Action Politz 25/8/44 with Chas Jennings, Co-pilot: Styrlin Scogin, Navigator: Delmar...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 10/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Grenier 7/4/44; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-J] Snetterton 8/4/44; Missing in Action Magdeburg 27/5/44 with Joe Borkowski, Co-pilot: Walt Hester, Navigator: Bill Ahearn, Bombardier: Theo Ream, Flight engineer...
Distinguished Unit Citations:
Regensburg, Germany, 17 August 1943- For withstanding significant assault from enemy fighters while bombing aircraft factories in Regensburg.
Poznan, Poland, 9 April 1944- For leading the 45th Combat Bomb wing through thick cloud and intense enemy fire to bomb aircraft factories in Poland.
Date | Contributor | Update |
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23 July 2020 13:25:03 | Emily | Changes to citations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
15 April 2015 10:23:22 | Lucy May | Changes to description, mission associations and stations |
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Added dates the Group were at different bases in England from Roger Freeman's book 'The Mighty Eighth'. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
13 March 2015 15:31:33 | rossingtonj | Changes to type and mission associations |
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Type added. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
12 October 2014 20:57:13 | Rebecca Barton Lutz | Changes to motto, insignia and mission associations |
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Daughter |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
12 October 2014 20:51:47 | Rebecca Barton Lutz | Changes to mission associations |
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Mr. Councell |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
12 October 2014 20:51:43 | Rebecca Barton Lutz | Changes to insignia and mission associations |
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Mr. Councell |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
12 October 2014 20:49:48 | Rebecca Barton Lutz | Changes to motto, aircraft types and mission associations |
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Mr. Councell |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 September 2014 18:42:46 | AAM | AAM ingest |
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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) |