Cousland commanded the first 97th bombardment group activated from polebrook, england, leading their first mission on 17 august 1942 during world war ii as the 97th bombardment. I am grateful to the time he spent scanning and sending me the dvds containing each mission. Dad gave the bombardiers briefings as he was the 445th s group bombardier at that time and stewart gave the overall mission brief. An illustration of this honor was displayed when wilbur brown became one of few survivors of the kassel mission in germany. Ordering information for group sales please email keith ellefson with your order, including your postal address for shipping and your preferred payment method paypal, check, etc. On september 27, 1944, the kassel mission, which resulted in the largest loss by a united states army air forces usaaf group on any mission in world war ii, was so successfully covered up that even today few nonwwii experts are even aware it occurred. My father served in the 445th bombardment group h, 2nd bomb wing, 2nd air division, 8th air force, during world war ii. Air force 446th bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran.
It spent most of the rest of the way engaged in strategic bombing. The 97th operations group 97 og is a united states air force unit assigned to the 97th air mobility wing of air education and training command. Air force 43rd bombardment group, medium usaf veteran. You can doubleclick a group, click a group and click submit, or click a group and hit enterreturn key. Photographs crews this section is dedicated to those men who served with the 445th bomb group between april 1, 1943 and september 29, 1945. The 445th bombardment group was a b24 liberator unit serving with the eighth air force from 1943 until the end of the war in europe.
The 445th operations group 445 og is the flying component of the 445th airlift wing, assigned to fourth air force of the united states air force reserve. The bomber was assigned to the 838th bomb squadron and was equipped with pathfinder radar. On 11 february 1963, the unit activated, aligned under the continental air command, and began operations at bakalar afb, in. An original cadre ship acquired 9 november 43 and assigned to gentrys crew who flew her overseas in december 43. How great that it is in your hands and that it is appreciated. Combat mission record with 445th bomb group lt robert e. After seeing all the fascinating items that have been posted on the forum over the last few years, i thought i would share a grouping that has belonged to my family since world war ii. During this 169th mission of the 445th bomb group, a fleet of german planes overtook 35 american planes. During the 17 months this unit was deployed to england, they flew 280 combat missions between dec 43 and 25 apr 45. If you can identify any of the personnel in these pictures, please use this link to contact the webmaster so the names can be recorded. He was living in bad hersfeld and watched bombers of the 445th fall out of the sky.
On 16 january 1945 the 19th bomb group returned to combat, flying b29s against japan until the war ended. Sam mastrogiacomo, a veteran of the 445th bomb group, was a tail gunner who took part in the gotha mission, which at 2 hours and 25 minutes was the longest running battle between american bombers and german fighter planes in world war ii. Historic 8th af 445th bg kassel mission grouping groupings. Flying b24 liberators in the europe air offensive from nov 1943 may 1945 with a unit citation for the mission to the gotha aircraft works on 24th feb 1944. It started out uneventfully enough, with 39 planes scheduled to take off from our group.
Stewart was heartbroken when he learned of the losses including all but 1 plane from the 703rd. Sometimes when you research a book, you create more questions, here is a snippet from the book. B24 liberators of the 445th bomb group on a mission over enemyoccupied territory by far, the 701sts most tragic mission is the attack on kassel of 27 september 1944. These medals and documents were awarded to my uncle, staff sergeant donald w. Without the assistance of jim bowman of the 500th bomb group memorial association this mission list would not have been created. Choose an aircraft group for its markings, airfields, missions and more. Page 1 of 4 historic 8th af 445th bg kassel mission grouping posted in groupings. On 28 december 1942, the 19th bomb group was sent back to the states to help train new replacement aircrews for deployment to european or pacific theaters, based on their combat experience. The crew originally intended to name her lil lassie. Lovely reproduction of the squadron patch for the 703rd bomb squadron who flew from tibenham airfield in norfolk with the 445th bomb group.
The group continued to hit strategic targets in germany, including the aircraft components factory at gotha on 24 february 1944, during usaafs big week of raids against the german aircraft industry, which earned the group a distinguished unit citation. The squadron patches of each 482nd bomb group are clearly visible on the web pages. Redesignated 446th bombardment group, very heavy on 26 september 1947. Dad gave the bombardiers briefings as he was the 445ths group bombardier at that time and stewart gave the overall mission brief. Suffered the greatest loss by a bomb group for a single mission on 27 sept 44 going to kassel, germany. If you do too, please consider becoming a supporter. An update from the kassel mission historical society as we reflect upon the 71st anniversary of the kassel mission of 27 september 1944, let us all bow our heads and remember the 6 wonderful men on both sides who gave their lives that day. Covering up the largest loss by a usaaf group in world war. By far, the 445ths most tragic mission is the attack on kassel of 27 september 1944. Due to a navigation error, the 445th left the main. This website honors and preserves the record of the 497th. September 27, 1944 by the 445th bomb group of the 8th army air force, 2nd. The group continued to hit strategic targets in germany, including the aircraft components factory.
The united states had good pilots, but the germans, too, had great flyers, as was proved by the following fact. Let us rejoice that five of our mias of the hansen crew are getting the attention they deserve as their. Wwii aac aaf squadron insignia patch page 2 units above 200. We custom paint bomb squadron and group leather patches. Maintained by scholars at the 2nd air division memorial library. Carrows ship, patches, was mortally wounded in the initial fighter attack. Kassel mission historical society serves to perpetuate and promote the memory and history of the kassel mission of 27 september 1944 by the 445th bomb. Sources some of the sources used in compiling the data for this website.
On 15 january 1963, the unit was constituted as the 931st troop carrier group, medium. Page 2 of 4 historic 8th af 445th bg kassel mission grouping posted in groupings. Group the 445th bomb group flew b24 liberators from tibenham, norfolk. Air force patches jim buchanan jbmilart military art. Due to a navigation error, the 445th left the main bomber stream and. Sep 28, 2015 an update from the kassel mission historical society as we reflect upon the 71st anniversary of the kassel mission of 27 september 1944, let us all bow our heads and remember the 6 wonderful men on both sides who gave their lives that day. Dec 27, 2012 page 2 of 4 historic 8th af 445th bg kassel mission grouping posted in groupings. The 460th bombardment group was a b24 unit that served with the fifteenth air force in italy, taking part in the strategic bombing offensive and supporting the ground troops in italy and the south of france.
In the true tradition of the wwii era, we take the designs that were painted on the nose of the airplanes and paint them onto your flight jacket. With one of the most active associations around, the traveling circus seems to have found a permanent home on. Research a wwii veterantrace his steps through the war. Consolidated b24j90co liberator serial number 42100353 703rd bomb squadron, 445th bomb group, 8th air force. Historic 8th af 445th bg kassel mission grouping page 2. Each patch symbolizes the use of a form of light while holding a bomb. Seen here leaving the target, the city of oita on the japanese home island of kyushu, elements of the 64th bomb squadron, 43 bomb group, 10 august, 1945 were part of a twentyplus b24 raid by the 43 bomb group on a mission dubbed a. So our group on its second mission july 26th, 1943, to hannover, germany, was part of the 388th bomber group effort that earned the presidential unit citation. B24 liberators of the 445th bomb group on a mission over enemyoccupied territory.
In the summer of 1992, the group was again activated as the 445th operations group and became an associate unit of the active duty 63d operations group. This spreadsheet is in read only format which means that you will not be able to edit. 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. He served in the unit from 30 september 1944 to 10 june 1945. The list is in order of aircraft group type, then number. The remaining four crewmen were captured and held at stalag luft i at barth, germany and stalag luft iv at gross tychow, poland. This is remake of an extremely rare chinese jacket patch for the united states 425th bomb squadron, 308th bomb group, 14th air force. The kassel mission memorial at friedlos, germany, was made possible in large part by the leadership of walter hassenpflug, who was a 12yearold boy and a member of the hitler youth at the time of the kassel mission. In cloud, the navigator of the lead bomber of the 445th bombardment group miscalculated and the 35 planes of the 701st and the other squadrons of the group left the bomber.
The eighth air force archive acquires and preserves original primary source documentation and reference materials devoted to the history of this strategic bombing group and the role its veterans played in defeating the axis powers. Combat mission record with 445th bomb group lt robert. The images on this website are of original records and reflect the period in which they were created as well as the harsh realities of war. In cloud, the navigator of the lead bomber of the 445th bombardment group miscalculated and the 35 planes of. The plane had accumulated a comparatively high frequency of battle damage that was repaired with numerous aluminum patches. They were the first a20 havoc group in the eto, flew the first a20 mission ever to bomb germany, the first group in the world to completely convert to the new a26 invader and the first 9th air force bomb group to fly missions in czechoslovakia as well as austria. Navigator harry crosby records the exact moment of bomb release during historic mission carried out by b17s. This website is dedicated to preserving the history of the 445th bombardment group heavy that was part of the 8th air force during world war ii. In october 2008, a series of interviews were conducted by students from norwich university college of the arts nuca with 2 nd air division, united states army air force veterans who were stationed in norfolk during world war two. Jan 12, 2015 tagged as 445th bomb group, birkenhead, usaaf, wirral. Activated in the reserve on 26 march 1948 redesignated 446th bombardment group, heavy on 27 june 1949 ordered to active duty on 1 may 1951 inactivated on 25 june 1951 redesignated 446th. Photographs document personnel, aircraft, base life and combat missions. The eighth air force archive documents both the fighter and bomber groups. Tea after crash assigned to the bomb squadron, bomb group wap kimbolton on july returning from france in twentieth we think its important to keep war history alive.
Post questions, photos, and requests for information about the 445th bomb group. Covering up the largest loss by a usaaf group in world war ii. Larsen, who flew as a gunner with the 702 nd bomb squadron, 445 th bomb group and was killed in action september 27, 1944 on what has become known as the kassel mission. The group is stationed at wrightpatterson air force base, ohio the group was first activated during world war ii as the 445th bombardment group, a consolidated b24 liberator unit stationed in england with viii bomber command. However, after noting that flak repairs had made many patches on her wings and fuselage, the name patches was agreed upon.
This can also be found at the bottom of the far left column within the spreadsheet. The 445th bomb group was almost wiped out, and i went down on my twentyninth mission, during the infamous kassel raid of september 27, 1944. Destroyed on crash landing, 8644 with mahoney crew aboard, salvaged 8744. The group s first operation was an attack on the uboat base at kiel on december 1943 the eighth air forces 154th heavy bomber mission. The 445th flew b24s and was based at an airbase in tibenham, england. The interviews were filmed in dallas, texas, during the 61 st annual convention of the 2nd air division association. The change in the mission of the 450th to strategic bombardment began on 1 september 1958 when strategic air command. If you intend to pay by check, it must be made out to 384th bomb group, inc. The kassel mission historical society is a duesbased nonprofit organization, also open to all. It trained with the b24 and moved to italy in januaryfebruary 1944. Probably, the 702ds most tragic mission was the attack on kassel12 of 27 september 1944.
The seventh mission of the 388th bg, and the third and last in europe for our group, was july 30th to kassel, germany. Facebook group with posts regarding the 389th bomb group at hethel, norfolk, england during world. Dec 27, 2012 page 1 of 4 historic 8th af 445th bg kassel mission grouping posted in groupings. The 445th bomb group had recently suffered large losses after the kassel mission. In cloud, the navigator of the lead bomber miscalculated and the 35 planes left. The 814th bomb squadron, under the command of capt. Flying the b24 liberator on 282 missions and 7,145 sorties the group lost 108 aircraft in action with the highest usaaf group loss of 30 planes on a single mission on 27th sept 1944. It is stationed at altus air force base, oklahoma col. Kassel mission of 27 september 1944 aircraft of world. Clement bird, was equipped with b24h and j models equipped with h2x. Great looking machine embroidered mm 5 diameter patch of the 703rd bomb squadron from the 445th bomb group based at tibbenham station124 with the 8th usaaf. Thank you for sharing this very complete set to your uncle. This section is dedicated to those men who served with the 445th bomb group between april 1, 1943 and september 29, 1945. The 445th bomb group flew b24 liberators from tibenham, norfolk.
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