A bombardment group was the key tactical control and administrative organization for bombers in all theaters of operation, and was. Kuhl in his is very outspoken on the leadership of the 305th bomb group on that black thursday. When the men reached east anglia that fall, the army air force assigned them a batch of factoryfresh boeing b17f flying fortresses with which they would soon begin operations against german targets in western europe. B17f flying fortress 4230647 305th bg, 366th bomb squadron over stuttgart 1943 next photo b17 flying fortress part 1 image 157 of 279 previous photo. The eighth air force archive documents both the fighter and bomber groups that. The 305th bombardment group was a b17 flying fortress group of the eighth air force and took part in the daylight strategic bombing campaign over europe. Apr 11, 2020 it was flown across the atlantic ocean to england, arriving at raf chelveston usaaf station 105 on 5 january 1944. The 305th operations group is a united states air force unit assigned to the 305th air mobility wing. The group was activated in july 1942 but did not receive personnel until september 1942 when it began training on. During the winter of 194243, the 305th was commanded by colonel curtis lemay and pioneered many of the techniques of daylight bombing used by the usaaf over nazicontrolled europe. Choose an aircraft group for its markings, airfields, missions and more. Harold tilbury, b17e radio operator, 305th bomb group, 364th bomb squadron, chelveston, england 1943 has born in 1915 and has a chapter about his service in the book the greatest generation of silver wings by don ward.
Marie coar, usaf, has saved and kindly makes available to the public a typed 27 page manuscript which she found among her grandmothers effects. Group established fort dix, nj and inactivated on the 12th of september 1945. This history of the 379th fighter squadron is a very detailed, month by month account and was in the possession of, and perhaps typed by, ganon nelson, perhaps aka within the document as ssgt nelson ganun, who is mentioned in several places as. Constituted as 305th bombardment group heavy on 28 jan 1942. B17 flying fortress of the 305th bomb group over clouds. Information shall not be used for commercial or for profit purposes. In my home office, on my book shelf, i have my grandpas old b17 manual. Welcome to the official web site of the 92nd usaaf usaf memorial association. The 388 bomb group association was formed to insure the accomplishments and sacrifices of the men and women of the 388th are remembered. Air force was part of the army during world war ii, and was also called the army air forces or the air corps. Many great photos and fairly detailed as far as the missions are concerned. Between 15 jun, of 1945 and 9 september 1945 they moved 19,935 troops while 5,672 frenchmen returned to france. The 305th bomb group on black thursday 14101943 while looking for information on donald paul breeden and his crew, i read some books about this back thursday and the way in which the 305th bomb group was hurt on this raid mission 115 into the well defended german heartland.
It was flown across the atlantic ocean to england, arriving at raf chelveston usaaf station 105 on 5 january 1944. Memories of the usaaf 389th bomb group 389th victor darileks log book below is the log book of my dad, 389th bg. The 305th bomb group on black thursday 14101943 while looking for information on donald paul breeden and his crew, i read some books about this back thursday and the way in which the 305th bomb group was hurt on this raid mission 115. Major normand had to little experience on flying b17s, as on leading and was not recommended for more leading by. Alotted to usaf reserve forces, activated in 1952 as a fighterbomber group. These historical pages are dedicated to the 8,960 men who served in the 303rd bombardment group h hells angels during world war ii. Do you have a ww2 flying log book in your possession. Learn about the men who flew and maintained b17 flying fortress aircraft from deenethorpe airfield during world war ii and the organization that perpetuates its history. The book was expanded and reprinted in 2008 as the 351st bomb group the duty to remember. The 305th bombardment group heavy, nicknamed can do was activated. Additionally, the 92nd usaaf usaf memorial association owns the rights to the books the route as briefed by john sloan and fames favored few the history of the 92nd bombardment group, published by turner publishing co.
Can do squadrons of the 305th bg 364th bombardment squadron heavy 365th bombardment squadron heavy 366th bombardment squadron heavy. Visit our 8th air force honor project with rosters of servicemen who served in the groups of the 8th. Jun 11, 2011 the 305th bomb group was one of the most decorated usaaf bomb groups in the european theater. As a professional researcher and world war ii historian, bill beigel provides research services to genealogists, historians, authors, and civilians who are looking for information found in ww2 military unit records. The 305th bombardment group was a b17 flying fortress group of the. B17 flying fortress 305th bomb group world war photos. After training with b18s and a29s the group began operations in 1942 using the b24 liberator. Two b17 flying fortresses b17g75bo 4338030 my achin b and b17g80bo 43383 of the 305th bomb group collided in midair in heavy fog over thurleigh airbase after returning from a bombing mission of a tank factory in hannover, germany on october 22, 1944. Welcome to the official web site of the 92nd usaafusaf memorial association.
He coauthored the 351st bomb group in world war ii. Thank you for visiting the official web site of the 401st bombardment group association. Apr 20, 2015 in the fall of 1942, the 305th bomb group arrived in england after a six month work up cycle in utah, california and washington. This site and our facebook site are designed to recognize the accomplishments of those who served in the 92nd bombardment group and all of its successor units up to and including those serving today in the 92nd air refueling wing stationed at fairchild air force base near spokane, washington. See more ideas about wwii, ww2 aircraft and air force. If so it would be a huge help if you could add logbook entries to our new database. Group historian for many years, ken harbour was the group historian.
The 327th bomb squadron detached to port lyautey, french morocco. The 423 bomb squadron of the 306th bomb group was attached to the group after this. The brotherhood of courage 305th bomb group wwii original. The 305th was activated in the united states in march 1942 and moved to england in augustoctober. Moved to england, augoct 1942, and assigned to eighth af. Group the 305th bombardment group heavy, nicknamed can do was activated 1march1942 at salt lake city air base, utah which was their primary training base until 11jun1942 when they relocated to geiger field, washington until 29jun1942, then on to. Wwii unit history usaaf 90th bomb group, 5th af, the jolly rogers, b24s. Brief history of each 8th af bomb and fighter group and other operational units pages 237. Also 2000 softbound edition by sterling publishing co, ny. This is the best reference about the bomb group i have found. The situation was aggravated somewhat by the luftwaffe tactic of targeting one particular bomb group for heavy losses or, if possible, extinction, the 100th bomb group bg earned the nickname bloody 100th after it lost 12 out of aircraft following an october 10 munster mission, while the 492nd bg, a b24 outfit, was nearly wiped out. B17f flying fortress 4230647 305th bg, 366th bomb squadron. In september and october 1943 it operated alongside the raf on night. Each groups assigned code letter was painted in the triangle.
The 305th bomb group was one of the most decorated usaaf bomb groups in the european theater. Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. Dedication this website is dedicated to the men and women who went to war with the 486th bombardment group heavy. History books aircraft time line commanders main bases component units assigned to history. Raf wyton of installation of oboe mk i radar equipment.
It is stationed at joint base mcguiredixlakehurst, new jersey during world war ii, the groups predecessor unit, the 305th bombardment group was one of the first viii bomber command boeing b17 flying fortress units in england, and, was one of the mostdecorated usaaf heavybombardment. Its last assignment was with the army air forces antisubmarine command, based at langley field, virginia. You can doubleclick a group, click a group and click submit, or click a group and hit enterreturn key. The bomber was assigned to the 364th bombardment squadron heavy, 305th bombardment group heavy and given the fuselage identification markings wfd. Wraps as new condition, no marks, very clean inside, very clean cover newsletter of the 305th bombardment group h memorial association issues contain numerous personal stories and rare, otherwise unpublished photos of aircraft, crew and camps. Bomb group for sale military collectibles for sale. The airfield was handed over to the usaf in july 1942 and was used by two groups until november 1942 when the 305th bomb group moved in. Feb 08, 2012 harold tilbury, b17e radio operator, 305th bomb group, 364th bomb squadron, chelveston, england 1943 has born in 1915 and has a chapter about his service in the book the greatest generation of silver wings by don ward. Began combat on 17 nov 1942 and operated chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization until apr 1945. We would appreciate it if you would share your affiliation with or reason for joining the 305th bomb group page. This history of the 379th fighter squadron is a very detailed, month by month account and was in the possession of, and perhaps typed by, ganon nelson, perhaps aka within the document as ssgt nelson ganun, who is mentioned in.
Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history are. The 8th af was primarily engaged in the bombardment of strategic targets in europe. Major normand had to little experience on flying b17s, as on leading and was not recommended for more leading by his former co. Began combat on 17 nov 1942 and operated chiefly as. This site and our facebook site are designed to recognize the accomplishments of those who served in the 92nd bombardment group and all of its successor units up to and including those serving today in the 92nd air refueling wing stationed at fairchild air force. Air force 305th bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran. American bomber b17f flying fortress boeing b17f flying fortress, tail number 4230647 366th bombardment squadron 366th bomb squadron in flight at the time of departure 355th bombardment group 305th bomb group on the bombing of stuttgart. It is stationed at joint base mcguiredixlakehurst, new jersey. The 303rd bomb group was an eighth air force, b17 bomber group stationed at molesworth, england from 1942 to 1945. Both ships arrived new york on the 8th of june 1945. Additionally, the 92nd usaafusaf memorial association owns the rights to the books the route as briefed by john sloan and fames favored few the history of the 92nd bombardment group, published by turner publishing co. In the fall of 1942, the 305th bomb group arrived in england after a six month work up cycle in utah, california and washington. The story of the 8th air forces fighter groups in world war ii. The 304th bombardment group is an inactive united states army air forces aaf unit.
Book is in very good shape with solid binding and pages. Converted to c124s and served under the military airlift command. A bombardment group or bomb group was a group of bomber aircraft the united states army air forces usaaf during world war ii. Find people you served with from 305th bombardment group, heavy. Welcome, robert robbie lawing, to the 305th bomb group fb group. The 30th bombardment group was activated in january 1941 at clark field, california. It was the equivalent of an infantry regiment in the army ground forces, or a bomber wing in the british commonwealth air forces. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history and in particular the 91bg and 100bg, are available to buy. Mission this website was created to preserve and perpetuate the history of the 486th bomb group. Ken also created a web site that contains additional information and photographs. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. Visit our 8th air force honor project with rosters of servicemen who served in.
Usaaf nose art research project 305th bomb group, 422nd. For the first two years of the war the group conducted maritime patrols off the west coast of america, as part of the fourth air force. Listing of named aircraft of 305th bomb group, 422nd bomb squadron. This is the official facebook group page for the wwii 305th bombardment group. Official homepage of the 385th bomb group association. It is stationed at joint base mcguiredixlakehurst, new jersey during world war ii, the groups predecessor unit, the 305th bombardment group was one of the first viii bomber command boeing b17 flying fortress units in england, and, was one of the mostdecorated. During world war ii, the groups predecessor unit, the 305th bombardment. All b17s of every group within the 1st bombardment division had a large triangle painted at the top of the vertical stabilizer. B17f flying fortress 4230647 305th bg, 366th bomb squadron over stuttgart 1943 next photo b17 flying fortress part 1 image 157 of 279 previous photo b17f115 of the 305th bomb group, 366th bomb squadron. Air force 305th bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran locator. History of the 449th bomb group, book i and book ii, usaf.
We welcome members of the 388 fbw korea the 388 tfw vietnam and the 388 fw today. Wraps as new condition, no marks, very clean inside, very clean cover newsletter of the 305th bombardment group h memorial association issues contain numerous personal stories and rare, otherwise unpublished photos of aircraft, crew and camps from the 305th bg in wwii during world war ii. B17f115 of the 305th bomb group, 366th bomb squadron. Just a few rules about posting material on this page. Their motto, might in flight, was earned on each of their record 364 combat missions. Bombardment group for sale war collectibles for sale. The group run down during the winter of 1945 and 1946 were absorbed into the 306bg on 28 february 1946.
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