The 449th air expeditionary group 449 aeg is a provisional united states air force unit assigned to the seventeenth air force supporting united states africa command. Air force was part of the army during world war ii, and was also called the army air forces or the air corps. As of 7 january 20, the 19th operations group commander was colonel shane haughian. We flew a b24j overseas which was loaned to another crew for its first mission and shot down.
Home 719th bomber squadron, 449th bomber group, heavy. This is remake of an extremely rare chinese jacket patch for the united states 425th bomb squadron, 308th bomb group, 14th air force. The 449th bomb group association bga was formed in 1983 through the efforts of. The air crews targets on that first mission were gutersloh and lippstadt. This base is now being used by the 410th bomb group. The 95th bombardment group consisted of the 334th, 335th, 336th and 412th bombardment squadrons. Research a wwii veterantrace his steps through the war. Most of these were located under the research subject heading for the army air forces aaf, 99th bombardment group 99bg.
Ww2 army air corps air force unit records research ww2. The flying horsemen come to san antonio operation meatball. It flies missions for africa command and combined joint task force horn of africa, supporting varied u. Original crews 358th crews 359th crews 360th crews 427th crews lead crews unknown crews ground crews missing crew photos submit a photo crewman responsibilities the crews listed below are all of the known 303rd bomb group flight crews that trained together in the usa and were assigned to the 427th bomb squadron. Loughran, a lead crew pilot from the 717th became the 719th c. Later flew missions from amendola air base, near foggia italy. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. The 393d bomb squadron 393 bs is part of the 509th bomb wing at whiteman air force base, missouri. Late pass spring 2017 by 449th bomb group wwii issuu. Usaaf nose art research project 12th bomb group, 82nd. I was a nose gunner for the 449th bomb group, 719th sq. The following is a summary listing of film records available at the national archives and records administration nara ii, in college park, md that include some reference or relation to the 99th bomb group. Welcome to the 96th bombardment grouph station 8 snetterton, england.
Combat cargo squadron 489th bomb group 15th fighter group 489th bomb squadron 160th tactical reconnaissance squadron 48th bomb squadron. During world war ii, its aircraft attacked hiroshima on 6 august 1945 and nagasaki, japan 9 august 1945 with atomic bombs. Wwii veterans of the 449th bomb group revisit the wwii. The flying dragon alligator as shown in the link b26 320th bomb group history would be the 320th bg unit crest or dui and would be worn either on the shoulder strap or the lapel. Thar she blows b24l5co liberator sn 4441468 42nd bomb squadron, 11th bomb group, 7th air force. The 460th bomb group, was stationed in spinazzola, italy from january 1944, to june of 45.
Volunteers are transcribing servicemen names and their awards from general orders that we are publishing on this website for enthusiasts, families and researchers of genealogy and world war ii history. Squadron, 717th squadron, 718th squadron, and 719th squadron. The 2nd bomb group h was equipped with b17 aircraft, flew missions in north africa. May 12, 2019 the flight was led by major caleb vance haynes, commanding officer of the 49th bombardment squadron, flying b17 number 80. The 449th bombardment group was a heavy bomber unit that served in italy from the start of 1944 to the end of the second world war, taking part in the strategic bombing offensive. Using daily unit records, rosters, medical records, military service records, and individual flight records among many other resources we can follow individual wwii veterans through the war to show you where they were and what they did during wwii. Hit by flak and crashed 1 mile nw of monchau, pilot killed in. The 449th bomb group association was formed by veterans of the 449th bomb group in 1983. The 449th was activated on 1 may 1943 at davismonthan field near tucson, arizona. The flight was led by major caleb vance haynes, commanding officer of the 49th bombardment squadron, flying b17 number 80. November 1942 the beginning dailies of the 324th squadron. Harton from the 717th squadron was selected to be the acting commander until art swan could reassume the position. The group was constituted as 449th bombardment group heavy on 6 april 1943 and.
Growing up i knew only the basics of my fathers angelo p. The 450th bomb group commenced combat operations on the 8th of january 1941, dispatching 20 liberators to attack the mostar airdrome in yugoslavia. Deployed at manduria, italy dec1943 until the end of the war. Greatgrandson of don lapham 719th makai perez carrying on the legacy in 2nd grade.
The crew originally intended to name her lil lassie. Air force 19th bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran locator. It moved to italy in december 1943january 1944, as part of a largescale buildup. This website was made possible thanks to generous contributions from 100th bomb group veterans g. The 345th bomb group was first activated at columbia army air base, sc, in november 1942. This bomb group was a highly decorated group, and was involved in the many hard targets during the war. Bomb damaged nazi aircraft at a captured airbase in france. The 2nd bomb group commanding officer, lieutenant colonel robert olds, was aboard haynes b17, along with an nbc radio crew to broadcast news of the interception live across the country.
Gary has already been exposed to inventory duties squad pins, patches. Ackerly crew aldrich crew allen crew anderson crew apgar crew armstrong crew bache crew beale crew baer crew blakely crew blomgren crew botto crew bridges crew brooks crew caldwell crew campbell crew charnes crew copping crew councill crew crossley crew davis crew debnam crew eaton crew easters crew fergus crew frones crew garrison crew geary crew geisel crew. However, after noting that flak repairs had made many patches on her wings and fuselage, the name patches was agreed upon. Note the antennas mounted above the nose plexiglass used for radar tracking the b24 liberty belle crew, 42nd bomb squadron, 11th bomb group h, 7th air force 11th bomb group h 42nd bomb squadron, april 1945 jan 1946. The 331st bombardment group vh was activated at dalhart, texas, on 7, july 1944 and for mobilization and specialized training purposes attached to the second air force. A wrecked me110g night fighter lies with its ju88c cousins of iii. During world war ii, its aircraft attacked hiroshima on 6 august 1945 and nagasaki, japan 9 august 1945 with atomic. The group was activated on 1 may 1943 and trained with the b24 liberator. You may disregard the member login box on the px checkout page. History books aircraft time line commanders main bases component units assigned to history.
B26 code appears to be pn which would be a 449bs, 322bg 9af ac. The asiaticpacific campaign medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the asiaticpacific theater of operations between december 7, 1941, and march 2, 1946, under any of the following condi. The 449th equipped with b24 liberator bombers was a typical heavybombardment group of the 15th air force. Jones, 322nd bombardment group, 449th bomb squadron. Air force patches jim buchanan jbmilart military art. Air force 11th bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran locator. Personal comments page 1 30th bomb squadron usaf korean war project almost three thousand units pages are available at the korean war project.
Beginning in 1941, the group transitioned into the boeing b17 flying fortress flying patrol and search missions off the hawaiian islands. Flew the b24 liberator throughout its career in wwii europe. The said group of wwii veterans were part of the second world wars 449th bomb group known as the flying horsemen. Transcribed by andy caswell and scanned by mike banta 121705 1943 dailies of the 324th squadron. Great grandson of don lapham 719th makai perez carrying on the legacy in 2nd grade. Ret richard downey, 719th squadron bombardier, spearheaded the search for former 449th members and more than anyone else deserves credit for the associations beginnings.
This is an especially important source of information and interest for all 99th bomb group historical society bghs members as it covers many of the early 99bg missions flown out of north africa between june 23, 1943 until december 06, 1943 for which the official mission records are lost, and continues out of foggia italy until his final. The 19th bombardment group was a heavy bomber group that was caught up in the japanese invasion of the philippines and java and formed part of the defensive forces in australia during 1942. Njg4 on juvincourt airfield a68, france in the fall of 1944. The patch for the 441st bombardment squadi believe would be a patch worn on the leather flight jacketthis would not be an offical part of the class a uniform.
News recent updates upcoming reunion current newsletter. The air apaches were the first full air force combat group sent the pacific in world war ii and flew the b25 mitchell. Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. The planes of the 449th bomb group in world war ii. The first really successful mission, however, was flown against pisa on the 18th of january, and by the following month the group was in the big leagues. The 11 th bombardment group h was organized and activated at hickam field, territory of hawaii, on february 1, 1940 as part of the 18 th wing of the hawaiian air force. Constituted 82d bombardment squadron light on 20 nov 1940. Official home of the 450th bomb group memorial association. The asiaticpacific campaign medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the asiaticpacific theater of operations between december 7, 1941, and. The 449th bomb group was composed of four squadrons the 716th, 717th, 718th, and 719th.
Equipped with the lockheed c hercules, the group provides part of air mobility commands global reach capability. The 449th bomb group, a component of the 15th air force, operated from its base near grottaglie, italy from january 1944 to may. In memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. Beginning in 1941, the group transitioned into the boeing b17 flying fortress flying patrol and. An original cadre ship acquired 9 november 43 and assigned to gentrys crew who flew her overseas in december 43. The 449th bomb group, a component of the 15th air force, operated from its base near grottaglie, italy from january 1944 to may 1945. On november 24, 1999 i received an email from neuwirth wolfgang who lives with his family in a small city in upper austria near linz. Part of the 15th air force, the 449th flew b24 liberator heavy bombers throughout eastern and central europe.
The 457th bomb group began combat operations during the big week of 2025 february when american bombers carried out concentrated raids against german aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The first morning report was issued on 27 may 1943. It was originally thought that each usaaf bomb group should be assigned three squad rons, which would have had consecutive numbers, but it was later decided that four squad rons were needed to make the groups effective. This feature is for future use and has not yet been implemented. Reunion 19 reno, nv reunion 18 washington, dc reunion 17 rapid city, sd. Aug 15, 2014 the said group of wwii veterans were part of the second world wars 449th bomb group known as the flying horsemen. The 449th bomb group association bga was formed in 1983 through the efforts of dick downey.
When swan was promoted to higher echelon, harton continued as the acting c. Listing of named aircraft of 12th bomb group, 82nd bomb squadron. Mar 24, 2020 welcome to the 345th bomb group s website. Wwii veterans of the 449th bomb group revisit the wwii plane. The 19th operations group 19 og is the operational flying component of the united states air force 19th airlift wing, stationed at little rock air force base, arkansas. Thursday night was squadron night for the flying horsemen and. Official history of the 501st bomb group for may 1945 yet to be transcribed from afhra microfilm b0671 official history of the 501st bomb group for july 1945 yet to be transcribed from afhra microfilm b0671 official history of the 501st bomb group for 1 august 1945 through 30 september 1945, yet to be transcribed from afhra microfilm b0671. My combat experience ran from 4544 to 31544 and our entire crew got in 50 missions without serious wound or death. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history are available to buy. Shop 716th bomb squadron 449th bomb group 15th air force 15th tshirts designed by twix123844 as well as other 15th merchandise at teepublic. It then returned to the us where in the spring of 1944 it was reformed as a b29 group, returning to combat against japan in february 1945.
November 1943 with 6 combat ready heavy bomb groups. Remarks at the bottom of each page are summations of what happened on the mission. The 449th flew 254 combat missions over europe and eastern asia. A history of the 449th bomb group, fortyseventh wing, fifteenth air force.
A little snippet from squadron night at the 449th bomb group reunion. The group, then composed of the 14th, 26th, 42nd bomb squadrons and 50th recon squadron conducted flying operation from hawaii with the douglas b18 twinengine bomber. 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 393d bombardment squadron is the only united states air force squadron to carry out a nuclear attack on an enemy in combat.
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