Military general commanding officer 95th bomb group. Courage honor victory a first person history of the 95th bomb group h. Most were from station 119, near the village of horham, england. Were looking for copies of military orders that pertain to the 39th bomb group. Courage, honor, victory a first person history of the 95th. It saw combat in the european theater of world war ii, where it was assigned to the 95th bombardment group, the only group in. The 8th army air force, 96th bomb group h association. Starting in may of 1943, the 95th bomb group flying the b17 aircraft, completed over 300 missions. It is made up of short accounts by many of the men who were in the outfit, and of persons who had dealings with the men of the group, and is surprisingly.
Courage, honor, victory, by ian hawkins and operational record of the 95th bomb grooup h, by paul m. The 95th bgs slogan justice with victory was represented on their official patch and its tail insignia was a capital b in a square. Air force combat units of world war ii department of defense. The group was activated in march 1943 and trained with the a20 havoc. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history and in particular the 91bg and 100bg, are available to buy. B17 of the 95th bomb group raid in 1944 site statistics. As the 95th bomb group heads toward europe, it merges with the 100th and 390th bomb groups to form the th combat wing.
President roosevelt was interested in a production plan to defeat our enemies and he had his eye set upon the men who governed the air, and maj hansell would be required to meet that vision along with others. The 95th air base wing is an inactive united states air force unit that was last assigned to the air force flight test center of air force materiel command at edwards air force base, california, where it was inactivated on july 2012 during world war ii its predecessor, the 95th bombardment group, was a boeing b17 flying fortress unit in england, stationed at raf. If you have information or photos that can be included in this database, please send us an email. The 417th bombardment group light was a a20 unit that operated against the japanese, fighting on new guinea and in the philippines. This collection represents 553 veterans of the 95th bomb group, 8th air force who flew b17s out of horham, england. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the war in american culture. A tribute and permanent record of the men and aircraft of the 450th bg h. Above, the 390th museum at parhamframlingham, suffolk.
Courage, honor, victory a first person history of the. Thus, 77% of the original 100th bomb group became casualties ofwar. The 95th bomb group based in horham in suffolk from june 1943 until the end of the war was famously the first us group to bomb berlin in daylight during ww2 the last b. Courage, honor, victory a first person history of the 95th bomb group hardcover 1987 by ian l. It was his 60th air victory but he was shot down forced to bail out by fire from walts ship. This book has been reproduced from the original typescript by the bodleian library. Above, the 100th bomb group tower at thorpeabbotts, suffolk. United states 8th air force, wwii welcome to the 96th bombardment grouph station 8 snetterton, england. The 95th bomb group was the only eighth air force group to be awarded three distinguished unit citations. A study of the flying fortresses of 94th bomb group their service, their fate, their nose art and its origin and artists list of combat missions with aircraft losses full crew listing for all named aircraft missing in action approx 288 pages, 12x 8, hardback.
During world war ii its predecessor, the 95th bombardment group, was a boeing b17 flying fortress unit in england, stationed. Official home of the 450th bomb group memorial association. The official facebook group of the 95th bomb group u. We are still looking for the names of the two other crews that flew with lt. This book has been prepared and published in the belief that every member of the 497th bomb group will want to have its glorious combat history preserved and that every member will desire to have a copy. During world war ii its predecessor, the 95th bombardment group, was a boeing b17 flying fortress unit in england, stationed at raf horham. Original world war i honor roll victory liberty loan poster 22. The group insignia, approved by col kessler and subsequently the war department, was chosen from a selection submitted by the men of the 95th. The complete history of historys longest serving and best known bomber. In 1996 our veterans built a memorial room in the 390th bg museum at the pema air museum in tucson.
Zachary townsend was found deceased at his offbase residence near columbia, south carolina on january 15, 2018. The 95th was one of five new b17 groups to become operational in may 1943, greatly increasing the power of the eighth air force the number of. The first, shared by all four bomb wing groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at regensburg on 17 august 1943. As the planes approach germany, bertram is alerted that german fighters are in the area. The 95th bomb group hospital museum the original 95th museum as seen on quest tv new addition b17 parts come home.
Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. In memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. Society and consciousness during world war ii ebook written by lewis a. Bomb wing reads in the order of the mediterranean campaigns. Welcome to the 95th bomb group archives, an online collection of documents and databases telling the story of the 8th air forces 95th bomb group. S memorials foundation dedicated to preserving the legacy of the 95th bomb group h, 19421945, and. Grottaglie, and home book iii a history of the 449th bomb group volume 3 by members of the 449th bomb group association. Jim stratton, pilot, 17th bomb group, 95th bomb squadron. In the lower portion of the photo is the tiny village, and in the upper is the main runway and taxiways. The 95th was part of the mighty 8th air force and was split into four bomb. During world war ii its predecessor, the 95th bombardment group, was a. The 334th bombardment squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. The officers picked the design of a private robert n robertson and wrote about it the group s wingspread newsletter in february 1943.
Our past the 95th flew 334 missions between may 14th 1943 and may 25th 1945 and was the first bomb group to perform a daylight raid on berlin. The wild blue yonder and beyond is the first book to cover a world war ii bomb group from its inception through the present day. Townsend enlisted in the active duty military on july 15, 2008 and was a crew chief assigned to. The 95th bomb group memorials foundation is an irs approved 501c3 organization whose purpose is to educate the public regarding. The official uk home of the 95th is a living museum and monument to the only eighth air force bomb group to receive the distinguished unit citation three times. On the navigation menu to the left, click the triangle to see the subpages currently published. This may be one reason why someone once said, if the guy tells you he flew with the 100th, be nice to him. Group the 95th bomb group was the only eighth air force group to be awarded three distinguished unit citations. The first, shared by all four bomb wing groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at regensburg on 17 august. S memorials foundation dedicated to preserving the legacy of the 95th bomb group h, 19421945, and the men who so valiantly served. The 95th bomb group was the only eighth air force group to be awarded. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. John was born february 2, 1921 in waukegan, illinois to john henry melcher and clara gladys dring melcher. The 95th bombardment group was a b17 group that took part in the eighth air forces strategic bombing campaign over europe as well as supporting the allied armies fighting in europe after dday.
Feb 1, 2017 aircraft and airmen of the 8th af 95th bomb group. Most of these were located under the research subject heading for the army air forces aaf, 99th bombardment group 99bg. For most of the war, the 95th bg flew out of a base in horham, england. It was the only eighth air force group awarded three distinguished unit citations, with the highest total claims of enemy. Here is a list of books that reference some aspect of the 95th bg.
This section contains lists of links to mission files of the 95th bomb group for 1944, organized into subpages by month. The following is a list of combat missions flown by the 450th during wwii check the s2 reports and the target pictures for additional information 1. Oct 11, 2012 john william melcher, age 91, passed away peacefully at st marys care center on october 11, 2012 in the presence of family. Jul 01, 2012 the wild blue yonder and beyond is the first book to cover a world war ii bomb group from its inception through the present day. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in maxs name to the 95th bomb group memorials foundation, co russ mcknight, treasurer 95th bg memorials foundation, 1231 brockie dr. A pictorial history of the 95th bomb group h, 8th united states army air force, horham, england, 19431945 hardcover reprint. John william melcher, age 91, passed away peacefully at st marys care center on october 11, 2012 in the presence of family. He grew up in west allis and graduated from the milwaukee state teachers college in 1943 with a b. This book is a compilation of first person accounts of the 95th bomb group of the u. Carl spicer was helped by dutch underground and later joined jack justice. The two b29s involved in the midair collision were 39th bomb group vhs crew 42 and the 29th bomb group vhs everdon crew.
He served with the 95th bomb group 335th bomb squadron and was shot down over keil germany during the submarine pen attackjune 1943 this was only his second mission the plane he was shot down in did not have a. The 95th flew 320 missions between 051943 and 04201945 and was the first army air force group to bomb berlin, germany during the day. The 95th bg adopted the slogan justice with victory which was represented on their. This book came to our attention because of a posting by kens soninlaw, dave foulk. Official home of the 39th bomb group vh association. The wild blue yonder and beyond is the first book to cover a world war ii bomb group from its inception. World war regimental histories world war collections. It is hoped, as you browse through this book in future years, it will serve to remind you of your many friends and teammates with whom you. In this iconic world war ii photograph, a douglasbuilt b17f50dl flying fortress, 423352, virgins delight, of the 410th bomb squadron, 94th bombardment group heavy, 8th air force, is over the fockewulf fw 190 fighter factory, marienburg, east prussia, 9 october 1943. Books on 95th bg the 95th bomb group memorials foundation. If you have information or photos that can be included in this database. B17 of the 95th bomb group raid in 1944 world war photos. See more ideas about nose art, aircraft and ww2 planes. The new unit was originally slated for b50s, but was redesigned as a heavy bw on november 8, 1952 and received b36d in august of the following year.
The 95th bomb group justice with victory it was a hot, miserably humid august in 1941 at maxwell field when maj haywood hansell was requested to come washington d. Open may october on the last sunday in the month 10. Mixed audio and manuscript 95th bomb group memorials. It was last assigned to the 95th bombardment wing at biggs air force base, texas, where it was inactivated on 25 june 1966 the squadron was first activated in june 1942. I have posted twelve photos of the book, showing the good and the notasgood. Welcome to the 95th bomb group archives, an online collection of documents and databases. The 95th air base wing is an inactive united states air force unit that was last assigned to the air force flight test center of air force materiel command at edwards air force base, california, where it was inactivated on july 2012.
Townsend enlisted in the active duty military on july 15, 2008 and was a crew chief assigned to the 95th fighter group fg. The 95th led the first 8th air force daylight raid on berlin, and was the only eighth air force bomb group to receive three presidential unit citations. In this memorial we have designed and given access for thousands of visitors to research the records of the 95th the only ww ii b17 group to be awarded 3 presidential citations and the first army air corp b17s to his berlin, a feat hitler claimed would never happen. Wwii aac aaf squadron insignia patch page units below 200. 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. After the north african landings came the battle of kasserine pass, a german counter offensive, the failure of which became the turning point of the war. The 95th was part of the mighty 8th air force and was split into four bomb squadrons their patches, pictured at the bottom of the page, are from left, the 334th, 335th, 336th and the 412th. All but a very few of these occurred in less than four months of combat time. Oct 09, 2019 in this iconic world war ii photograph, a douglasbuilt b17f50dl flying fortress, 423352, virgins delight, of the 410th bomb squadron, 94th bombardment group heavy, 8th air force, is over the fockewulf fw 190 fighter factory, marienburg, east prussia, 9 october 1943.
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