For example, among many other interesting items, the book has a description of every mission flown by the 390th during the war. View all hotels near 385th bomb group memorial museum on tripadvisor. We welcome members of the 388 fbw korea the 388 tfw vietnam and the 388 fw today. Membership, reunions, newsletters, history project, website barbara j. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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 385th bomb group, who took the nickname vans valiants after their first commanding officer col. The 344th bombardment group was made up of four bomb squadrons 494th, 495th, 496th, 497th the following is a list of planes thanks to mark styling it was cross checked with a list derived from an original list created by carl m christ for the 344 th bg association, from the university of akron b26 archives courtesy of paul clouting. Welcome to the official 385th bomb group h association. Welcome to the website that honors the men of the ground crews who kept the b17s of the 385th heavy bomb group at great ashfield flying and fighting. Operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended, striking such targets as industrial areas, air bases, oil refineries, and. This book came to our attention because of a posting by kens soninlaw, dave foulk. Since various limitations did exist and handicap the publication of our group history, the only alternative was to select such material as would most emphatically demonstrate how superior our group really was. The group formed there and trained with the new b26 medium bomber produced by the glenn l. Dedication this website is dedicated to the men and women who went to war with the 486th bombardment group heavy. Usaaf nose art research project 385th bomb group, 548th. The illustrated history of the 312th bombardment group during wwii michael j.
Dec 5, 2018 images of people, places and equipment associated with the 447th bomb group and 711th squadron. The svr le nez emblem represents the 390th bombardment group. These unsung heroes worked day and night repairing flak damage received over france and germany. Group the 385th bomb group, who took the nickname vans valiants after their first commanding officer col. A study of the flying fortresses of 385th bomb group their service, their fate. It was last known to be stationed at incirlik ab, turkey.
This group was created to keep the memories of the men of the 385th bomb group alive. Elliot vandevanter, flew b17s from great ashfield, suffolk. Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history and in particular the 91bg. The 389th bombardment group was one of the relatively small number of eighth air force groups to operate the b24 liberator throughout the war in europe. United states army air forces bombardment group h, 385th. Bomb group for sale military collectibles for sale. History of the fifth bomb group world war il jungle th air force guadalcanal. A new history of the 385th bomb group h hardcover 1995. Its initial deployments to the european and african theaters in 1942 involved relatively small numbers of fighter and bomber aircraft and. It is currently a tenant unit of the 379th air expeditionary wing at al udeid air base, qatar. It was originally a royal flying corps grass landing strip on this site in world war i, and before.
Moved to england in jun 1943 and assigned to eighth af. The second was for leading the 4th bombardment wing during a difficult raid on an aircraft repair factory at zwickau on 12 may 1944. The 38th bomb group was one of the most heroic air groups in the pacific war, but probably the least well known. Svr le nez means on the nose in french, referring to the combat mission and precision of the 390th bomb group. Ww2 us military 385th bomb group unit history and crew member dog tag. Mission this website was created to preserve and perpetuate the history of the 486th bomb group. The 385th and 388th bombardment groups joined the 4th bombardment wing in the summer of 1943, bringing it up to six.
A critical component to victory in japan, the 38th bomb group was an integral part of of the fifth air force through major campaigns and conquests in new guinea, through the. After ve day, the 385th bomb group hauled displaced french slave laborers from austria to france. During world war ii, it was active as the 385th bombardment group heavy, an eighth air force b17 flying fortress. 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. Memoir of wwii b25 pilot jay moore, member of the 345th bomb group, 501st squadron. Harold tilbury, radio operator, 8th air force, 305th bomb group, 364th bomb squadron harold tilbury, b17e radio operator, 305th bomb group, 364th bomb squadron, chelveston, england 1943 has born in 1915 and has a chapter about his service in the book the greatest generation of silver wings by don ward. View all attractions near 385th bomb group memorial museum on tripadvisor. The group was constituted and activated almost a year after the japanese attack on pearl harbor forced the united states into the second world war. The group was activated in the united states in december 1942, and moved to england in june 1943. Buy a new history of the 385th bomb group h limited edition by isbn. Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. Air force was part of the army during world war ii, and was also called the army air forces or the air corps.
Ii related equipment, specialized in us army air force and b17 aircraft. Book page ground crews of the 385th heavy bomb group. These unit emblems followed historic heraldry designs and are specific to the unit and their mission. The story of vans valiants of the 8th army air force. As a professional researcher and world war ii historian, bill beigel provides research services to genealogists, historians, authors, and civilians who are looking for information found in ww2 military unit records.
Gotham colony road west lafayette in 479061209 usa email. The 385th bombardment group was a b17 group of the eighth air force and took part in the strategic bombing campaign over europe. Royal air force great ashfield or more simply raf great ashfield is a former royal air force station located 10 miles 16 km east of bury st. Listing of named aircraft of 385th bomb group, 548th bomb squadron. Great ashfield air base 385th bomb group star dust b.
George lentz, 95, of collegeville poses with a book he published for his family on his time as a world war ii top turret gunner on a b17 in the 385th bomb group. The history of the 445th bombardment group h unofficial. A new history of the 385th bomb group h varnedoe, w. The wrong stuff by truman smith the adventures and misadventures of an 8th airforce aviator, 385th bomb group. A study of the flying fortresses of 385th 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. Has some damage to one corner and some tape to back. The book is full of incredibly interesting information and pictures 8th air force history buffs will find fascinating. The 388 bomb group association was formed to insure the accomplishments and sacrifices of the men and women of the 388th are remembered. The aircraft left between 19 june, and 29 june 1945. During world war ii, it was active as the 385th bombardment group heavy, an eighth air force. East anglia books 011028 the 385th bomb group, 8th army. Nov 20, 2016 explore catmums board 8th af 385th bomb group. Help with funding of my book on my uncle, john rossio who was a ball turret gunner during wwii.
The 385th bomb group great ashfield control tower sticks above trees behind while a ground crew sits astride a 2000lb bomb. Weve recently needed to relocate the 388th database maintained by our historian. A critical component to victory in japan, the 38th bomb group was an integral part of of the fifth air force through major campaigns and conquests in new guinea, through the philippines and to victory in japan. Honouring and helping the mighty 8th, 385th bg and all who served. Wwii veteran looks back on time as a top turret gunner news. The 445th operations group is a unit of air force reserve command that in the event of mobilization would be gained by air mobility command. East anglia books 011028 the 385th bomb group, 8th.
It is 292 pages contains more than 600 photographs, and will fit on your bookshelf with the same profile as the earlier book. Please select any of the units below to submit a research inquiry to ww2 researcher bill beigel. The 385th air expeditionary group is a provisional united states air force unit assigned to air. Hotels near 385th bomb group memorial museum, perle on tripadvisor. The 385th air expeditionary group is a provisional united states air force unit assigned to air mobility command to activate or inactivate as needed. The group led the famous attack on the fockewolfe aircraft factory at marienburg on 9 october 1943, during which only two out of one hundred b17s were lost and all of the buildings on the site were damaged or destroyed. Official homepage of the 385th bomb group association.
At the beginning of the war the usaaf was a small service in comparison to the air forces of the combatants fighting since 1939. Do you have a ww2 flying log book in your possession. Sep 03, 20 the 385th bomb group great ashfield control tower sticks above trees behind while a ground crew sits astride a 2000lb bomb. Varnedoe author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. History books aircraft time line commanders main bases component units assigned to history. Its initial deployments to the european and african theaters in 1942 involved relatively small numbers of fighter and bomber aircraft and no system of group identification was used. This 265 page, 9 x 12 hardcover book focuses on the 385ths combat missions, targets and losses incurred. Lieutenant paul shulz, head navigator of the 385th bomb group plots a route with two bombardiers before a mission. Constituted as the 38th bombardment group medium on 20 nov.
I have reproduced the following documents from the mission report of tom applewhite for 11 nov. It redeployed to the united states in june and august 1945. Tucson to grottaglie, history of the 449th bomb group, book i and book ii, usaf. Great ashfield air base 385th bomb group star dust b17.
The group led the famous attack on the fockewolfe aircraft factory at marienburg on 9. If you have not already remitted your 2020 dues payment, please remember to do so. The 387th bombardment group medium was constituted on november 25, 1942, and activated on december 1 at macdill field in tampa bay, florida. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. A photographic odyssey of the 353rd fighter group during the second world war 011030 fortresses over deenethorpe. Wwii veteran looks back on time as a top turret gunner. No book this size could ever hope to record completely, day by day, mission by mission, the history of the 445th bombardment group. During world war ii, it was active as the 385th bombardment group heavy. Nov 09, 2017 george lentz, 95, of collegeville poses with a book he published for his family on his time as a world war ii top turret gunner on a b17 in the 385th bomb group. Constituted as 385th bombardment group heavy on 25 nov 1942. Equipment and uniforms, donated by veterans, give a detailed insight view of a w. The 10 closest hotels to 385th bomb group memorial museum.