Memories of the 384th bomb group book

During world war ii, its predecessor unit, the 384th bombardment group was a viii bomber command b17 flying fortress unit in england. Wwii b17 crew member returns to crash site article the. Approximately 7927 personnel served with the 384th during wwii and its. A significant portion of the book is devoted to his vivid recollections and descriptions of combat missions as a radio operatorgunner on b17s in the 384th bg, the men he flew with and his friends and family who went to war, but never returned. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to ww2 you may have at home. The survivors were subsequently folded into the newly arriving 3rd bomb group that landed in australia with no immediately flyable aircraft. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history are available to buy. Jun 03, 2015 345th bomb group front back 351st bombardment group h plaque 351st bombardment group h monument manhattan maiden b24 of the 374th bomb squadron 376th heavy bombardment group 379th bombardment group h 380th bomb group 381st bomb group h 384th bomb group h 385th bomb group h 386th bomb group 387th bomb group m 388th. Responsibilities of these lead crews varied, depending on whether they were leading the entire attack force mission leader a division, wing, group, or squadron. Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. The scouting forces exhibit was donated by vicki and bill getz in memory of. The eighth air force archive documents both the fighter and bomber groups. The 91st bomb group heavy was an air combat unit of the united states army air forces. 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.

The luftwaffe had abeen alerted that there was a bomber formation. The 384th bombardment group s target was halberstadt, germany. Listing of named aircraft of 384th bomb group, 546th bomb squadron. First 9th air force to bomb germany 27jan1943 wilhelmshaven. Feb 1, 2017 aircraft and airmen of the 8th af 384th bomb group. The insignia of the 547th bomb squadron, 384th bomb group. The 388 bomb group association was formed to insure the accomplishments and sacrifices of the men and women of the 388th are remembered. After returning to england in september, the combat crews joined in on the grim duty of hammering nazi germanys industrial resource. The 384th bombardment group destroyed six enemy aircraft with two probables and either destroyed or dealt heavy damage to. The table of allowances toa for personnel, aircraft and equipment grew steadily over the course of the war doubling from 35 aircraft. Ostrom, allen editor 398th bomb group remembrances seattle, wa. Jan 06, 2021 in his book, memories of the 384th bombardment group, ken decker reported two stories of this mission shared with him by mission participants, the first regarding the loss of the plowman crew.

Home 384th after wwii the 384th bomb group veterans signing project jack g. The 384th established its home at grafton underwood airfield, army air forces station 106, northamptonshire, england, joining the 303rd and 379th bomb groups to complete what would become the 41st combat bombardment wing of the 1st air division. The 379th bomb group was one of 12 heavy bombardment groups in the first bombardment division of the united states 8th air force. The 384th bomb group flew b17s from grafton underwood, northamptonshire, between may 1943 and june 1945. A family history of the 384th bombardment group new york. Its last assignment was with to the united states central command air forces, being stationed at shaikh isa air base, bahrain. A chronological list of the 316 combat missions flown by personnel of the 384th bomb group during wwii june 1943 through april 1945.

Home 384th after wwii memorials of the 384th bomb group memorial to the crew of lakanuki 14 b17f, serial number 423235, squadron code jdt, named lakanuki the aircraft crashlanded near poillesurvegre about 40km wsw of le mans, france, 4 july 1943. Memories of a copilot with the 487th bomb group during the last six months of. A b17 flying fortress xkl, serial number 4338085 nicknamed towering titan of the 305th bomb group drops her bombs over the target. Individual 384th bomb group veteran stories 68 384th veteran name title format. In 2004, he wrote b17 bombardier vern arnold, a history of an air crew member of the 384th bomb group. Decker formerly printed a monthly publication titled memories that developed into quite a repository for stories and correspondences for members of the 384th, as well as numerous other units. The home of the 384th bomb group, grafton underwood england, usaaf 8th airforce b17 airbase.

All b17s of every group within the 1st bombardment division had a large triangle painted at the top of the vertical stabilizer. By delving into the actions of the 384th bomb group, i have found many interesting stories and fascinating people. Mar 06, 2021 decker formerly printed a monthly publication titled memories that developed into quite a repository for stories and correspondences for members of the 384th, as well as numerous other units. National archives can be examined in the 384th photo gallery at mission records. Extensive personnel list containing 6500 names, with rank, crew position and service dates where known. The 398th was part of the 8th air force 1st air division during wwii and was one of many b17 bomb groups stationed in england. The group arrived at kimbolton, england, aaf 117 in may 1943 and its first mission was to attack german uboat pens in france. The 2021 reunion is october 2731 in savannah our 2021 reunion is october 2731. The table of allowances toa for personnel, aircraft and equipment grew steadily over the course of the war doubling from 35 aircraft in 1941 to 72 in february, 1945. When the enemy coast was crossed at 1123 hours on this fateful april the 384th bomb group had assembled 23 aircraft for a raid on the heavily defended target, a ball bearing factory in schweinfurt. Free delivery and returns possible on eligible purchases. All content on this gallery is visible to all visitors.

B17 bombers of 384th bomb group readying for take off on airfield 384th bomb group 546th bomb squadron b17g bombers in flight heading towards target 384th bomb group 8th af b17 bombers in the combat box b17f flying fortress 4230005 salvage queen 384th bomb group 546th bomb squadron 27 november, 1943. First airman in viii bomber command to complete a tour. The 379th bomb group wwii association is organized to perpetuate the history the 379th bomb group h ww ii, to remember and honor the memory of lost comrades, and to educate present and future generations. Libraries endowment to honor the memory of their fathers, both air force veterans. Narratives from 384th bomb group crew members who participated in mission 194 describe events of the mission better than official group reports. Assigned to raf grafton underwood in early 1943, the group dropped the last eighth air force bombs of the war on 25 april 1945. We welcome members of the 388 fbw korea the 388 tfw vietnam and the 388 fw today. My only complaint is the use of the word infamous to describe the heroic mission of august 1, 1943. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. The original edition was published in 1946 drafts appear in the microfilms. Endowment to honor the memory of their fathers, both air force veterans. Dave lustig has published initial point reminiscences of a world war ii b17 bomber crewman, a memoir primarily recounting his wartime service in the 384th bomb group flying out of grafton underwood in england. I saw a small print of this photograph in the 1992 edition of the can do notes of the 305th bomb group h memorial association.

Please note that the monthly publication entitled memories has been out of print for over 2 years, in favor of the book entitled memories of the 384th. Later editions, with some additional material, were published in 1980 and 1990. I only have one memory of meeting my mothers first husba. First 8th air force bomb group to complete 300 missions. The 384th bombardment wing of the united states air force strategic air command was established at little rock air force base, arkansas 1 august 1955. This is a large book covering the first b24 unit in the 8th af. Official homepage of the 385th bomb group association. 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. B17g bomber 384th bg 546th bs 42107083 world war photos. Dec 29, 2020 a contemporary, anecdotal history of 384th bombardment group operations, thru postwar european duties. P triangle symbol 384th bg squadrons identification codes, tail numbers and colors.

Feider, a member of lieutenant robert rices crew, was a midwar replacement assigned to the 384th. Welcome to the 384th bombardment group heavy photo gallery. Bomb groups national museum of the united states air. This memorial above is dedicated to the memory of the 456 airmen killed in action and to those serving at flixton from 1943. Apr 16, 2014 april was just like any other mission day for a member of the 384th bomb group, he said. A contemporary, anecdotal history of 384 th bombardment group operations, thru postwar european duties. He collated and augmented all of his 384th stories from the memories publication and created a volume titled memories of the 384th bombardment group h.

For a list of all the reunions held by the 384th bomb group since the first one in 1967 with links to photo albums where they exist visit 384th bg inc reunions eighth air force historical society 2021 reunion. Books available relating the history of the 446th bombardment group in. It was part of the 8th air force, 1st division, 41st wing and it consisted of 4 squadrons. Oldest operational bomb group in the eighth air force. The 384th air expeditionary group 384 aeg is a provisional united states air force unit assigned to the air combat command. Our photo album shares some memories of the reunions events and participants. I started this blog when i started researching my dads wwii history, including his training, but mainly focused on his service with the 384th bomb group and his midair collision on september 28, 1944. B17f25dl flying fortress code jdb 423074 loma lee of the 384th bomb group 545th bomb squadron. He was held as a pow until june 1945 when he was liberated by the russians. National pearl harbor remembrance day, december 7, 2020.

Home 384th during wwii 384th bomb group lead crews 175 on every mission, one or more crews were designated lead crew for a portion of the combat formation. Mar 26, 2011 vern loved sharing and hearing stories about b17s and the 384. Memories of the 384 th bombardment group by ken decker daybyday history of the 384th with innumerable personal eyewitness accounts. On 4 august 1944, the 544th bomb squadrons john oliver buslee crew, of which my dad george edwin farrar was a waist gunner, participated in their first combat mission with the 384th bomb group. For the 384th, it was a double mission day, as late wwii historian ken decker called the date in his memories of the 384th bombardment group h book 2nd edition. A bombardment group was normally commanded by a colonel.

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 1. The pamphlet details the 35 missions flown by feider and his crew. Stationed in england and at a single base longer than any other group. This firstperson account describes the vivid and compelling world war ii experiences of jack goetz, who flew twentyfive missions with the 544th squadron, 384th bomb group based at grafton underwood, england, in the early stages of the air war over europe from mid1943 to early 1944.

Members of the 384th may wish to attend the 8afhs 2021 reunion in savannah, ga, 2731 october 2021. In action over europe with the p38 and p51 010751 memories of the 384th bombardment group h. Boeing b17 flying fortress heavy bomber world war photos. Mcdonnell prologue room, the holocaust museum and learning center, and more.

The 379th bomb group was activated on november 26, 1942. Those wishing to enter a comment or contribute images will need to register and log in links at left of home page. The luftwaffe had abeen alerted that there was a bomber formation heading across france towards germany. Stories of the men, the missions and the machines including extensive coverage of the ground crews.

Home of the world war ii heltons hellcats 493rd gbh, debach, suffolk, england. Thomas philbin obituary death notice and service information. Markiewicz 547th bomb squad 384th bomb group ssgt john h markiewicz was shot down on 22nd may 1944 over kiel, germany. Hertsfordshire and local studies archive hals 398th bomb group archive. Usaaf nose art research project 384th bomb group, 546th. Bomb groups national museum of the united states air force. Welcome to the official 398th bomb group memorial association web pages, or informally the 398th web pages clearing and colder click for info. Are you looking for someone who is or was in 384th bomb group. The flying eightballs over europe in the b24 010748 479th fighter group in wwii. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war, please do not destroy them. The 389 bomb group was unique among all groups assigned to the 8th usaaf because it actually commenced operations in july 1943 out of north africa that culminated in the infamous ploesti mission on 1 august. In his book, memories of the 384th bombardment group, ken decker reported that before mission takeoff, sgt. Though under 25 minutes of sutained flack fire and an enemy aircraft trailing a bomb on a steel cable through their formation, the group lost no aircraft. This 384 th bomb group memorial roll of honor was established by longtime friend of the 384 th, ken decker.

The 3rd bomb group flew a variety of aircraft during its early operations, including the b25, the a24 and the a20, and was the first american air unit to equip with the latter type and fly it in combat. Stories of the men, the missions and the machines including extensive coverage of the. When group recognition symbols were developed by viii bomber command in mid1943, the 384th was. The grand slam group the 379th bomb group wwii association is organized to perpetuate the history the 379th bomb group h ww ii, to remember and honor the memory of lost comrades, and to educate present and future generations. The 384 aeg may be activated or inactivated at any time.

Garstak 7 jack garstak signed the wing panel on 20 january 2014, at his home in davie, florida. All books are individually cataloged and bibliographies may be found online. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. The following excerpts were taken from personal experience shared with ken decker and published in his book, memories of the 384th bombardment group h, second edition. This selfpublished pamphlet is the barebones war log of lieutenant leo feider, a b17 bombardier with the 384th bomb group. With its establishment, the 384th bomb group was activated as the operational group of the wing, bestowing its world war ii honors, heritage and colors to the new wing.

A bombardment group or bomb group was a unit of organizational command and control group of the united states army air forces usaaf during world war ii. Memories of the 384th bombardment group h, by ken deckera very detailed account of the wwii operations of one of the 8th air forces premier b17. The book covers all of the support requirements behind the aircrews as well as the aircrews and missions. Su 1 blue 544th bomb squadron jd 2 yellow 545th bomb squadron bk 3 red 546th bomb squadron so 4 white 547th bomb squadron. Full mission details can be displayed by clicking on the mission number. Garstak was a radio operator in the 547th bombardment squadron. One frustrated bomb group commander, colonel bud j. This gallery makes available the photographic and documentary portion of the 384th bg record. When group recognition symbols were developed by viii bomber command in mid1943, the 384th was assigned the trianglep, the triangle indicating the 1st bombardment division later 1st air division. Kettering us airbases wartime romance secrets revealed by new. The 351st bomb group association held its 43rd annual reunion in st.