The 345th bombardment group is an inactive united states air force unit. In 1942, i became operations officer for the 499th bomb squadron in the 345th bomb group. When the 4400th was replaced by the 345th bombardment group, three of the group s four world war ii squadrons were reactivated and the 424th squadron was reassigned to the 345th group. Set of 2 air apaches 345th bomber group indian chief patches.
One squadron, the oldest in the air force, could trace. Lt long and crew of the 360th bomb squadron, 303rd bomb group, beside a boeing b17 flying fortress. Our squadron clerk was an artist and drew my idea of a bat riding a bomb out of flames of hell fire. Memoir of wwii b25 pilot jay moore, member of the 345th bomb group, 501st squadron. The 345th bombardment group, usaaf, was a b25 unit that was heavily engaged in the fighting in new guinea, the southwest pacific and the philippines. It went through several redesignations, finally becoming the 493rd fighter squadron in may 1944. The 344th was assigned to the 444th bomb group at davismonthan field, az and deactivated on 1 october 1946. Ww 2 us army 12th air force 17th bomb group 95th bomb squadron patch inv k177. Bill is an expert in locating records of downed flyers from fighter groups, fighter squadrons, bomb groups, bomb squadrons, reconnaissance units, combat cargo. Later flew missions from amendola air base, near foggia italy. These exercises regularly include combined theater security engagements with allies and partners, demonstrating the u. Pacific wrecks 345th bombardment group 345th bg, air.
It was last assigned to the 345th bombardment wing at langley air force base, virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 june 1959. Information that the 345th bomb group does not have on lt edward earl bailey, pilot of b25 serial number 4080 little stinky. Bomb group for sale military collectibles for sale. The 345th bomb group was first activated at columbia army air base, south carolina, in november of 1942, with flight crew training beginning in december of that same year. Victor tatelmans b25 dirty dora wreaked havoc on the japanese. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. The original owner served as a sgt in the 501st bomber squadron, 345th bomb group. The 501st was in the 5th air force as part of the 345th bombardment group, also known as the famous air apaches. T hese came from a ww2 pilotcrewmans private war chest who served with that squadron he was a lt. The jacket itself is privately made w what i believe are two rare aussie patches. The air apaches were the first full air force combat group sent the pacific in world war ii and flew the b25 mitchell. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history are available to buy. Group, h to bombardment group, heavy, as well as organiza tional changes. The chapters of the text match the 345th s history, begins with the units activation on november 11, 1942 as a medium bomber unit at columbia army air base, south carolina flying the b25 mitchell bomber and the formation of its four squadrons.
E2582 ww2 us army air force 498 bombardment squadron. The 501st bomb squadron successfully attacked and destroyed the targets assigned to it but at a high price. The 345th bomb squadron is a united states air force reserve squadron, assigned to the 489th bomb group. Established as a b17 flying fortress heavy bomber squadron. Capt john a long, 1lt george m carrol, 1lt giuseppe cascio, 1lt amon e. The group became a part of the 315th bomb wing on 17 july 1944.
It was last assigned to the 345th bombardment wing at langley air force base. He was shot down on dec 22th, 1943 on the bombing mission to wewak. The 393d bombardment squadron is the only united states air force squadron to carry out a nuclear attack on an enemy in combat. The 499th bombardment squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. The 393d bomb squadron 393 bs is part of the 509th bomb wing at whiteman air force base, missouri.
The 98th bombardment group was a liberator group that served in the mediterranean theatre from august 1942 until the end of the second world war. The 19th squadron b26 martin marauders taxied down duckworth street from garbutt airfield to their new home at the northern side of the stock route airfield on 28 march 1942 on 5 april 1942 the 22nd bomb group successfully bombed rabaul. Closest to the camera is the b29 named sna pe fort b2915ba z square 19, serial number 4263435, built by bell in atlanta, georgia flown by first lieutenant robert e. The 19th observation group was constituted as part of the united states army air corps on 18 october 1927, without personnel or equipment. The 501st flew b25 aircraft and was in combat in the southwest and western pacific from 21 june, 1943 until 1 september, 1945. T hese came from a ww2 pilots private war chest who served with that squadron and were kept in an enclosed package along with many other flight and war items, both patches are in excellent condition for being over 60 years old. A new outfit with fine young pilots but seemed to need an insignia. Subsequent chapters detail the group s missions to reduce the. Deployed to european theater of operations eto, assigned to viii bomber command in england, flew combat missions over nazi germany and occupied europe until the german capitulation in may 1945. They were probably only on paper because the war had come to an end. Please inquire for shipping cost if you would like items shipped with tracking.
Constituted 501st bombardment squadron medium on 3 september 1942 activated on 8 september 1942 inactivated on 19 december 1945 redesignated 501st bombardment squadron tactical on 22 march 1954 activated on 19 july 1954 inactivated on 25 june 1959. Wwii 5th aaf 501st bomb sq painted named a2 jacket wwii us army 5th air force, 501st bomb squadron, 345th bomb group, named a2 leather flight jacket. History established as a b25 mitchell medium bomber group in late 1942. Ww2 army air corps air force unit records research ww2. Lt bailey was in the 501st bomb squadron, 345th bomb group, 5th aaf. Rarely seen reproduction patch of the 493rd fighter bomber squadron, 48th fighter group, 9th air force. War is a narrative voiced by calm, analytical announcers who examine the past from an.
Created in november 1940 as the 56th light bombardment squadron, it became active in early 1941, taking part in dive bombing missions. Its last assignment was with the tactical air command at langley air force base, virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 june 1959 during world war ii the 345th bombardment group operated in the southwest pacific theater as a north american b25 mitchell medium bomber unit assigned to fifth air force. Ww2 345th bomb group air apaches indian chief patches. Original ww2 us army 501st geronimo airborne squadron patch. Bomb groups national museum of the united states air. The 500th was commanded by brigadier general john eugene dougherty. See more ideas about nose art, ww2 aircraft and military aircraft. Two of its four squadrons, the 23rd and 72nd bomb squadrons, were permanently detached for. Listing is for 1, stock photos show front and back. Ssgt anthony t orlando, ssgt albert j ledley, ssgt mace henson, tsgt ralph t jennings, tsgt clarence g wilson, ssgt frank c logan. History books aircraft time line commanders main bases component units assigned to history. The 501st bomb group was constituted on 25 may 1944 at dalhart, texas, and activated on 1 june 1944.
However, the 343rd, 344th, and 345th squadrons were reassigned to b29 groups and redesignated as very heavy bomb squadrons. Mission 345th bomb squadron operates in a classic association with the 9th bomb. Hand signed inside ssgt jos liparela 333 49 778 wilkesbarre pa, 52 combat missions. Later on they were going to beef up each bomb group to 100 b29s by adding 20 crews per squadron and five squadrons per group. The same month, the first martin b57 canberras accepted by the air force were assigned to the group. The 315th bomb wing was under the command of brigadier general frank armstrong. Altogether, the 345th bomb groups pacific trip took two weeks. Lastly the group reformed with the ground echelon which traveled by ship around the cape of good hope, joining with air echelon in british. Daily reports from the 324th bomb squadron from our viewpoint today, the second world war was a blackandwhite pageant of men and machines battling across or above a grainy, forgotten landscape. Wwii usaaf 501st bomb squadron, 345th bombardment group. The 343re squadron was assigned to the 40th bomb group at march afb, ca. The group was formed in september 1942 and equipped with the b25 mitchell. With the new mission for attack bombers, the idea of bats out of hell came to me.
Finally the group reformed with its ground echelon which traveled by ship around the cape of. During world war ii, its aircraft attacked hiroshima on 6 august 1945 and nagasaki, japan 9 august 1945 with atomic bombs. The 345th bombardment squadron was reactivated on 17 october 2015 as an air force reserve command b1b lancer bomb squadron and redesignated as the 345th bomb squadron at dyess afb, texas. The 381st bomb group flew b17 flying fortresses from ridgewell, essex between june 1943 and april 1945. It was last assigned to the 345th bombardment wing, based at langley air force base, virginia. They trained there for five months before moving to walterboro, s. If you need item shipped by ems, the cost is additional, but i do offer this service. Wwii squadron patch insignia pictures collection of. The patch shows a muscular black panther and a crescent moon. The jacket has two rare australian made patches, one is an oversized, embroidered 5th air force patch and the other a circular leather based 501st insignia.
Buzz ricksons jacket l2 custom 345th bomb group color sage green size 38. The book chronicles the first 24 years of his life 192145 from growing up on a farm in biggsville, il, through the 1930s depression, to combat duty in the south pacific. Shortly after arriving in theater their b25s were converted to strafers, making them a low level ground and shipping attack plane. B29s of 881st squadron, 500th bomb group, 73rd bomb wing, 20th air force. E2604 ww2 us army air force 501st bombardment squadron 345th bomb group r25b. Port moresby, new guinea, where their ground crews found lots of aaa holes to patch.
At the 345th group, assigning pilots to squadrons was a simple matter. 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. Ww2 345th bomb group air apaches officer hat and patch. Named 501st345th air apache flight jacket uniforms u. Wwii 5th aaf 501st bomb sq painted named a2 jacket. Gisavage, marauder man, 344th bomb group 345th bomb group the 448th bomb group. Records indicate this particular bomber was assigned to the 315th bomb wing, 501st bomb group. Quick, ac as adjutant, were the first men to join at the east field, a satellite of the main dalhart base. The 2nd bomb group h was equipped with b17 aircraft, flew missions in north africa.
Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. Specializing in rare squadron patches from wwii for the navy g1 and u. Matched set of an air apaches 345th bomber group indian chief patch and flight officers hat. The 345th bomb group was first activated at columbia army air base, sc, in november 1942. Usaaf nose art research project 345th bomb group, 501st. Air force 98th bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran locator. In 1929 its paper designation was changed to the 19th bombardment group, and it came into being with its activation at rockwell field, california, in june 1932. Wwii aac aaf squadron insignia patch page 2 units above 200. This storied unit flew specially modified b25s in high risk low level bombing and strafing missions. Members from the 7th bomb wing and 345th bomb squadron deployed together as the 345th expeditionary bomb squadron in support of nato crossservicing exercises. The 501st bombardment squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. Shipping worldwide shipping by 1st class letter mail.
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