He served in the 8th army air force during wwii as a waist gunner on the b17, 384th bomb group and earned recognition for his escape from germany on foot after being shot down in combat. All content on this gallery is visible to all visitors. The groups combat debut came on 22 june 1943 when it took part in a diversionary attack on a ford and general motors factory in antwerp. The flying eightballs over europe in the b24 010748 479th fighter group in wwii. Daybyday history of the 384th with innumerable personal eyewitness accounts. Stories of the men, the missions and the machines including extensive coverage of the ground crews. Extensive personnel list containing 6500 names, with rank, crew position and service dates where known. Posts about 384th bomb group written by thearrowheadclub. The 384th bomb group, in combat from 22 june 1943 to 25 april. His tireless efforts have captured substantial amounts of the legacy of the 384 th and made it available in his memories publications, and a fine history of the group. This website honors and preserves the record of the 384th. The 384th bomb group flew b17s from grafton underwood, northamptonshire, between may 1943 and june 1945. This issue of memories is a segment of a comprehensive story of the rangoon disaster experience of norman larsen. I cannot say that this book adds any general information about the air war over europe that is not found elsewhere, although his personal perspective on the 384th bomb group of the eighth air force provides a unique perspective.
Jackson, the clayton crew, and the 384th bomb group tour this gallery or click on a picture to enlarge it other wwii web sites. The 384th bombardment group was a b17 flying fortress group that fought with the eighth air force from june 1943 until the end of the war in europe. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to ww2 you may have at home. Oct 31, 2015 these are some of the brave young men of the 384th bomb group of the 8th air force in wwii who were stationed at grafton underwood airfield in england from 1943 to 1945. The 384th air expeditionary group 384 aeg is a provisional united states air force unit. Those wishing to enter a comment or contribute images will need to register and log in links at left of home page. Hertsfordshire and local studies archive hals 398th bomb group archive. A new history of the 385th bomb group h varnedoe, w. See more ideas about nose art, wwii and ww2 aircraft.
Jan 06, 2015 the next official 384th bomb group reunion will take place in tuscon, ariz. The 384th bomb group is indebted to the authors, klaus schumann and horst ries, for their research into the loss of our two aircraft and crews on 6 april 1945. Vernon, b17 pilot 384th bomb group h, 8th air force, graftonunderwood, england 19431944 read more. This 384 th bomb group memorial roll of honor was established by longtime friend of the 384 th, ken decker. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over germany as part of the allies efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the luftwaffe by. This is a large book and is in a ring binder as the author continues to add more pages as his research reveals more on the groups history. As commander of the 38 th cavalry reconnaissance squadron, hed been tasked with defending the ancient city of monschau, which served as an important part of the local road network. Details for our 2019 reunion will be announced in the polebrook post group historian.
This selfpublished pamphlet is the barebones war log of lieutenant leo feider, a b17 bombardier with the 384th bomb group. Welcome to the 384th bombardment group heavy photo gallery. He was born in seattle on december 16, 1916, the son of vern and bess mcneel arnold. Today im adding a few more pictures, links to more photos in the 384th bomb groups photo gallery, and more details about the itinerary. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. Details for our 2019 reunion will be announced in the polebrook post. Wwii as as a navigator in the 384th bomb group, 547th bomb squadron. The group was activated in february 1942 and trained with the b24 liberator. You can purchase the book on the 384th bomb group website or i also noticed today that ben is offering one on ebay for a bargain.
While the 40th group flew patrols over a much longer period, these months are selected to give a representative picture of what the tour in panama was like. The 384th air expeditionary group 384 aeg is a provisional united states air force unit assigned to the air combat command. Story of an original 452nd bomb group b17 and its crew. The 384 og was assigned control of the 28th bomb squadron b1b and the 384th air refueling squadron kc5r as its operational units.
Marvin lubinsky and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Sixth bomb group members share ww ii memories youtube. The group s combat debut came on 22 june 1943 when it took part in a diversionary attack on a ford and general motors factory in antwerp. Listing of named aircraft of 384th bomb group, 546th bomb squadron. Arnold, 94, of yakima, wa, died saturday, march 26, 2011 at landmark care center after a brief illness. The 98th bombardment group was a liberator group that served in the mediterranean theatre from august 1942 until the end of the second world war. His tireless efforts have captured substantial amounts of the legacy of the 384 th and made it available in his memories publications, and a fine history of the group the men listed and pictured on these pages will remain forever young. Classified as a heavy bombardment group, the 91st operated b17 flying fortress aircraft and was known unofficially as the ragged irregulars or as wrays ragged irregulars, after the commander who took the group to england. Ball turret gunner aboard the b17 black ghost, 384 th bomb group, 547 th bomb squadron, piloted by 1 st lt. Mathenys book was originally popular in germany in translation, and only recently has it become available to the american reading public. This gallery makes available the photographic and documentary portion of the 384th bg record. The pamphlet details the 35 missions flown by feider and his crew.
If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war, please do not destroy them. Group the 384th bomb group flew b17s from grafton underwood, northamptonshire, between may 1943 and june 1945. The 384th bombardment group heavy flew 316 combat missions over europe in b17 aircraft during world war ii in the 8th air forces strategic bombing campaign against axis powers. During that time we trained for and participated in the softening up and final. United states air force and its antecedents department of defense.
Our photo album shares some memories of the reunions events and participants. Oct 08, 2012 veterans of the 6th bomb group s b29 campaign of world war ii remember their personal experiences from that campaign at their reunion in charleston sc on october 6, 2012. During world war ii, its predecessor unit, the 384th bombardment group was a. Libraries endowment to honor the memory of their fathers, both air force veterans. I posted a little information and a few photos in a teaser post in early october. Smith was certainly a brave and dedicated soldier, he volunteered for dangerous missions when it was not necessary. I only have one memory of meeting my mothers first husband and that. This book is a record of the part the 446th bombardment group played in world war ii it is a record of the period that witnessed the growth of the group from a handful of men who left tucson, arizona in april 1943, to the force of over three thousand men who helped end the war in europe on may 8, 1945. Activities included visits to the national museum of the us air force and the champaign aviation museum, and more. Feb 1, 2017 aircraft and airmen of 8th af 94th bomb group. It first appeared in his second book, variety photoplays, in 1967 and was included in the 2003 library of.
A new history of the 385th bomb group h hardcover january 1, 1995 by w. The eighth air force archive documents both the fighter and bomber groups that served in. The 384th bomb groups junket xi to england came to a close just over a month ago. Help with funding of my book on my uncle, john rossio who was a ball turret gunner during wwii. The 351st bomb group association held its 42nd annual reunion in dayton. The 384th bomb group, in combat from 22 june 1943 to 25 april 1945, did not fly a combat mission on this date. It moved to the mediterranean in julyaugust 1942, and was based in. Veterans of the 6th bomb groups b29 campaign of world war ii remember their personal experiences from that campaign at their reunion in charleston sc on october 6, 2012. Varnedoe author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Ben has a great sense of humor and tells the story of how an iowa farm boy ended up piloting a fourengine bomber over europe. He was born june 6, 1923 in union county, in to iliff and frances graham shook.
They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over germany as part of the allies efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the luftwaffe by bombing aircraft assembly plants, ground strafing aircraft and hitting associated industrial sites. Su 1 blue 544th bomb squadron jd 2 yellow 545th bomb squadron bk 3 red 546th bomb squadron so 4 white 547th bomb squadron. Jul 22, 2007 ben has a great sense of humor and tells the story of how an iowa farm boy ended up piloting a fourengine bomber over europe. The 384 aeg may be activated or inactivated at any time. Aug, 2011 he also had been a knight of columbus, 4th degree. The 91st bomb group heavy was an air combat unit of the united states army air forces during the second world war. One northsouth road passed through town, intersecting with an eastward running route. Many of these missions were flown at 50 to 100 feet above the targets and produced, from a rearward mounted camera below the rear fuselage, some of the. This issue of memories is a segment of a comprehensive story of the. He was awarded the silver star, caterpillar club, winged boot club, gold fish club, purple heart, etc.
His father, paul meehl, was a crew chief in the 384th bomb group with jack, but in a different squadron, the 547th, from 194345. Feb 1, 2017 aircraft and airmen of the 8th af 384th bomb group. As briefed a family history of the 384th bombardment group. The book follows the 345th bomb group, the famous air apaches, on its journey fighting with lowlevel b25 strafers across the southwest pacific from new guinea to the home islands of japan. Air force and trained as a bombardier serving with the 384th bomb group based at grafton underwood, england.
P triangle symbol 384th bg squadrons identification codes, tail numbers and colors. Its last assignment was with to the united states central command air forces, being stationed at shaikh isa air base, bahrain. The 384th bombardment group heavy was activated brought into existence by the assignment of personnel on 1 december 1942 at gowen field, idaho. On 9 th september, the three airmen were joined by another compatriot. B17 bombers of 384th bomb group 5 world war photos. Pulcipher, he baled out, like all his crew, in the region of beauvais on the way back during the same m ission over stuttgart on 6 th. All books are individually cataloged and bibliographies may be found online with the. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history are available to buy.
Kettering us airbases wartime romance secrets revealed by new. Usaaf nose art research project 384th bomb group, 546th. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. These are some of the brave young men of the 384th bomb group of the 8th air force in wwii who were stationed at grafton underwood airfield in england from 1943 to 1945.
Feider, a member of lieutenant robert rices crew, was a midwar replacement assigned to the 384th. See more ideas about aircraft, fighter jets and wwii. The next official 384th bomb group reunion will take place in tuscon, ariz. Petska libraries endowment to honor the memory of their fathers, both air force veterans. Memories of the 384th bombardment group h jack lummus. Gerald received his phd from the university of colorado, and he was on the science team of the intergovernmental panel on climate change that was awarded the nobel peace prize in 2007. Matheny was a top turret gunnerflight engineer aboard the b17 deacons sinners of the eighth air forces 384th bomb group. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. In action over europe with the p38 and p51 010751 memories of the 384th bombardment group h. Home about us prewwii wwii 1960s vietnam era borate bombers war birds art gallery.
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