The 381st was officially credited with the destruction of 223 enemy aircraft and they probably destroyed and damaged many more. The 381bg were the only long term heavy bomber base of the. It is believed that 381st bomb group destroyed 223 enemy fighters. Air force reserve on 24 july 1947, the group was reactivated at offutt air force base, nebraska as a reserve unit. This air education and training command aetc organization is a tenant unit located on an 80acre 32 ha site at vandenberg. This is only a list of mission reports and other historical reports that we have scanned as of today.
Manual of bomber command operations, air 22203 and group. It returned to the united states and was inactivated at sioux falls army air field, south dakota after ve day, but was active in the reserve from 1947 to 1949, although it is not clear. Leber, co of the 381st bg and offered a transfer on detached service to the pathfinder force then stationed with the 305th bomb group at chelveston. Moved to raf ridgewell england, mayjune 1943, and assigned to eighth air force. The 381st bomb group was based at ridgewell, about thirty miles southeast of. With its training complete on the 2nd february, 1943 the group moved to pueblo, colorado, where it fine tuned until the 9th may, 1943. The 381st bomb groups final mission was on april 25, 1945. Training and operational histories of the bomber, fighter, recon and transport groups and squadrons. Redesignated 381st bombardment squadron light on 11 mar 1947. Redesignated 381st bombardment squadron medium on 15 mar 1952.
Class 1943e world war ii flight training museum and the. The united states air force 381st training group at vandenberg air force base, california provides training for the united states air forces space forces, intercontinental ballistic missile forces, and missile maintenance forces. The 381st bombardment squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. The 381st training group is the gateway into the u. If you do not see the name of the unit you are searching for, you may click on any unit and type the correct name into the form that follows. The eighth air force archive documents both the fighter and bomber groups that served in europe and africa during. Combat squadrons of the air force, world war ii pdf reprint ed. Ridgewell airfield commemorative association 381st. It was last assigned to the 310th bombardment wing, stationed at shilling air force base in kansas.
The group was awarded two distinguished unit citations, the first for bombing shipyards at bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 october 1943 and. The 324th pathfinder force in the 91st bomb group how it came to be written by john howland the pathfinder force was originated on march 9, 1944. The 381st bomb group flew b17 flying fortresses from ridgewell, essex between june 1943 and april 1945. The 310th bomb group was made up of four squadrons. His story started off with the attack along the germanbelgian border. This site will remain open for general and historical information but a new website rafca museum is now running giving information about the museum itself.
L triangle symbol 381st bg squadrons identification codes. During world war ii, the groups first predecessor, the 381st bombardment. On 1 october 1994, aetc inactivated the temporary organization and activated the 381st training group, with four training squadrons, including the newly redesignated 392d training squadron. Served in combat from jun 1943 to apr 1945, operating chiefly against strategic objectives on the continent. United states 8th air force, wwii welcome to the 96th bombardment grouph station 8 snetterton, england. Massive, out of print limited edition a must for 8 th air force buffs. The 535th bombardment squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. Chaplains inside story on the men of the 381 st bomb group. Additional costs may incur for euro, south america and african countries. The combat wing was completed with the 398th bomb group as group a and the 381st bomb group as group c. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. After ve day, the 381st bomb group returned to sioux falls army air field, south dakota in july 1945 and was inactivated on 28 august. He graduated from freeman field with the class of 44b probably as a flight officer, prior to serving in the 381st bomb group 535th bomb squadron located at ridgewell, england. Jan 10, 2020 after ve day, the 381st bomb group returned to sioux falls army air field, south dakota in july 1945 and was inactivated on 28 august.
It gathered its initial cadre at gowen, but only began training for combat with the boeing b17 flying fortress after moving to pyote army air field, texas at the end of the year. B17 bombers on airfield ridgewell england 1944 381st bomb. Located at vandenberg air force base, california, the 381 trg provides initial operations and maintenance training for the nations space and missile forces. The 381st bombardment group h in world war ii and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Air force reserve edit on 24 july 1947, the group was reactivated at offutt air force base, nebraska as a reserve unit. B17g 42107100 code ved of the 381st bomb group, 532nd squadron 1945. The 381st became operational in june 1943, during a period that saw the total number of american combat aircraft in the european theatre rise from 1,260 in may up to 4,242 at the end of the year. This evening james has selected a few photographs from the 453rd bg archives depicting air and ground crews of the 453rd bomb group, maybe you may recognise a relation, if so, leave a message under that photo with their name. Activated on 28 mar 1952 inactivated on 25 march 1965 assignments. This is the story of the 381 st bombardment group h of the eighth air force written during world war ii and on the scene.
Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. Still in existence but separate from the provisional group were the 392d space and missile training squadron and its detachment at lowry. Hardwick airfield, 93rd and 310th bomb groups uk 3 miles south of hempnall and 12 miles south of norwich 7. This is a complete list of every mission flown by the 381st bomb group. If there were any losses on that mission, the link to the right will provide the names of the crews. This page is dedicated to all the men and women who served with the 381st bomb group based at. The 310th was designated as a medium bomber group consisting of four squadrons. Airfields used by the eighth air force for training and operations in the us and uk. The following is a list of 307th bomb group h mission reports that have been scanned into a pdf file format.
Squadrons of the 381st bg 532nd bombardment squadron heavy 533rd bombardment squadron heavy 534th bombardment squadron heavy 535th bombardment squadron heavy. Framlingham parham airfield, 95th and 390th bomb group uk 3 miles southeast of framingham 6. Activated in the reserve on 9 aug 1947 inactivated on 27 jun 1949. Feb 1, 2017 aircraft and airmen of the 8th af 381st bomb group.
Ve 532nd bomb squadron vp 533rd bomb squadron gd 534th bomb squadron ms 535th bomb squadron. He was a b17 pilot assigned to the 381st bomb group 534th bomb sqdn flying his. Most of these historic photos are from the cdrom photo album featuring the 381st bomb group, produced by frank slomzenski, and from the 381st website. Air force for airmen entering the space, missile, or missile maintenance career fields.
B17s of the 381st bomb group en route to targets over nazioccupied territory. B17 bombers on airfield ridgewell england 1944 381st bomb group. The 381st bombardment group was a b17 group in the eighth air force and took part in the daylight strategic bombing campaign over europe. The 493rd bomb group museum is 3 miles north of woodbridge 5. Nov 17, 2019 i am an inspirational novelist with a threemanuscript series featuring the 381st bomb group. Constituted as the 381st bombardment group heavy on 28 october 1942. The 461st bombardment group association was established to.
The group was awarded two distinguished unit citations, the first for bombing shipyards at bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 october 1943 and the second was awarded to the 1st bomb division as a whole for flying without fighter protection to bomb aircraft factories at oschersleben on. In memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. The united states army air force 381st bomb group, commanded by colonel joseph j nazzaro, was formed and trained at pyote, texas, being equipped with boeing b17e flying fortresses. Moved to england, mayjun 1943, and assigned to eighth af. During world war ii, the squadron engaged in combat in the european theater of operations, earning two distinguished unit citations. The 8th army air force, 96th bomb group h association. The 91st bomb group formed combat group b on this mission with the 401st as lead squadron, 323rd as low squadron, and 322nd as high squadron. Ridgewell airfield commemorative association happy bottom. The 381st was assigned to the 1st combat bombardment wing of the 1st bombardment division. The squadron was first activated on 3 november 1942 at gowen field, idaho as one of the four original squadrons of the 381st bombardment group. Dybicz was a staff sergeant in the 381st bomb group 534th squadron. My research concentrates now on the fate of the whole crew, but i am especially interested if there was a crew member it might have been sgt elmer c. Please select any of the units below to submit a research inquiry to ww2 researcher bill beigel.
Per pale gules and azure, a pale argent surmounted by two olive branches, one in dexter flank and one in sinister flank, conjoined in middle base and extending to chief vert, overall in honor point a. Class 1944a world war ii flight training museum and the. Group the 381st bomb group flew b17 flying fortresses from ridgewell, essex between june 1943 and april 1945. This site was first posted in 1993 when a search for information on the web about the 381st was scarce. The 324th pathfinder force in the 91st bomb group how it came. Robinson, 5 july 1944 constituted as the 381st bombardment group heavy on 28 october 1942. Doug holt was only 19 years old when he went into combat flying b17s with the 534th bomb squadron of the 381st bomb group, 8th air force during world. It is dedicated to the mighty men of the 381st bomb group stationed in ridgewell, england during ww ii.
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