Between 2-15 Aug 1942, the Group moved to Fort Dix, New Jersey to prepare for deployment overseas. Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially. The parents of the crew had a wooden church built on the crash site. any help appreciated. It looks as though we have come to the end of the road regarding our research although I will continue to check the internet from time to time just in case any further info. What people are saying - Write a review. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24J's of 93rd BG/330 BS flying through flak on the way to Misturg. The British people were now resigned to the fact that Hitler had to be stopped by force. On April 25, 1945, the Traveling Circus flew its last mission of the war, the 391st time that 93rd crews had faced the enemy. Link to full-size photo: B-24 Liberator 93rd Bomb Group in flight Site statistics: Photos of World War II: over 26800 aircraft: 63 models tanks: 59 models vehicles: 59 models guns: 3 models units: 2 ships: 47 WW2 battlefields - 12 93rd. Free federal warrant list. He and Jerstad jettisoned their bombs so that the mortally wounded B-24 would stay airborne just a few moments longer. I know, isnt it strange how one link leads to another! In late October, the 330th Squadron was temporarily detached from the group for anti-submarine patrol duties over the Bay of Biscay with the Royal Air Force Coastal Command. Im eager to keep going. Sgt Morris R. Walker, left waist gunner, survived The 93rd Bombardment Group continued performing its primary mission of bombing enemy targets right up to the end of the war. I remember Mr Rushen, who coppiced the wood by Randles Lane. Sometimes the info is out there and it all opens up and its enjoyable to pirce the story together when it does (and there is more to be found I am sure, not least ironing out the discrepancies). The Mighty 8th ?) On October 8, 1943, the 93rd went to Vegesack again. 93rd Bombardment Group - HistoryOfWar.org I think it was called Hudds Hill? I did a brief enquiry into the Ancestry Website and I see that Lt Reeds body was repatriated to the USA in 1948 and is buried at Benton Harbor Michigan but you may well know that. Granpa Towler sometimes officiated at Evensong at the Otford Lane Mission., after 1954. 93rd bomb group 409th bomb squadron. Prohibited Items: 93rd bomb group, 409th squadron. As they approached the refineries, the 93rd lead section encountered heavy flak. Staff Sergeant Leo L. Henry Nose Gunner. Can I help? Hardwick, England. Ammunition was flying everywhere. On the 15th, they were sent to Chartres, where the 93rd was the only group to bomb the primary target. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. My research re 2nd Lt Reed is complete re the crash except for a pic of the crash scene, I have a ongoing enq in the States re a possible nephew which I am waiting on. Insignia - Bill Kelso Mfg. Seven from this crew were killed on this mission and 3 returned. News of ground successes in Italy made the B-24 crews think that perhaps the low-level mission they had trained for would not come off, but they were wrong. American plane coming into mendlesham airfield was shot down by following German plane. A B-24 Liberator (YM-M, serial number 42-50781) of Sign up now to receive news and communications from American Air Museum in Britain charity. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' I thought you might enjoy a different take on a crashlanding site and how its flying along now. His aircraft took off from Glatton at 14:19 hrs on an operational mission. 44-40757 "Big Time Operator" of the 864th Bomb Squadron, 494th BG 8th AF B-24 Bombers during Raid over France Brand New B-24E Liberator Ford Motor Company Willow Run Plant B-24J 42-72998 "Bugs Bomby" of the 30th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Squadron 7th AF 460th Bomb Group 760th BS B-24 Liberators Take Off Spinazzola, Italy YM - 409th Bomb Squadron. - Camera bags https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/May1945O.htm Lieutenant John Stewarts Boomerang came home with more than 200 holes, prompting the ground crew chief, Master Sgt. Consequently, the B-24 was underutilized in the strategic bombing role in Europe. 93rd Training Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga. 3. Sept 1942. I have been to the Aviation Archaeology web site mentioned and will probably order the crash report. I do have seven pictures of the crash site which were obtained from the website called To Honor Our Fallen. In fact my grandad had a wood yard at the bottom of the hill and dad had another yard behind Lamberhurst House at the top of the hill. Even though there is a wealth of information online, its always good, like you have mentioned, to note that there are mistakes to wade through as well. WikipediA. Belgium. April 1998-December 2000, Airborne Weapons Officer, 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga . and comments may have been added. Restoration Australia. My Uncle Jack Anderson, who was a TEC 5 appears to have died in that same crash. Just came across your website.Park Farm, Hoxne. Assigned to RAF Matching, England on 26 January 1944. The 10-day mission turned out to be a 90-day deployment, with the group operating first from Tafaroui, then moving to Gambut. 'Miss Lucky', Commanding Officer 93rd , Air Executive, Deputy Wing Commander. Ted's Traveling Circus - The Traveling Circus. It flew in every combat theater during World War George William Sadler Collection | Library of Congress On September 6, the group flew a diversion for B-17s en route to Stuttgart. Even though the slim wings made the airplane less stable than the B-17, the B-24 was a good 20 knots faster and could carry a larger bombload over a greater distance. When my grandfather, Rev. Combined two entries for the 93rd Bomb Group into a single entry. Please does anyone have information concerning the aircraft crash in wetheringsett approx 1944. Ilse and I walked along Beldam Haw on Monday and I looked N. across the crash field which is divided into blocks by barbed wire. Pilot was flying on instruments in clouds when the aircraft hit violent prop wash, throwing the aircraft into a dive. from bases in France beginning in Sep. Fighter Groups My dad cycled from Great Glemham and my mum cycled from Saxmundham and that is how they met. If you find out any more you can add it here and then there will at least be a source of info for anyone else looking for it. Permitted Items: Sub-fonds - 93rd Bomb Group (Hardwick) - Norfolk Baker and Jerstad were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions over Ploesti. Colonel Timberlake and Major Addison Baker led in Teggie Ann, which was also the groups lead ship on subsequent raids. Hi, do you have any information on any B17s from the 95th bomb Group, I am a committee member from this group and would like to research any information you have? Boomerang was the first B-24 to complete 50 missions. Going back to the air crash, dad used to talk about growing up in the war years, I think our children would be taken away from us if we allowed them to do some of the things he and his friends got up to!! Bus ride from baltimore to new york city. Caraccio nadia bolz-weber Ian. Thanks for your comments Richard I have checked out that web site Honor the Fallen no trace of Lt Reed, so Ive messaged them asking why as he was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.Saw your Shazam site, any particular reason you are researching the Costessy crash? He was someone I saw when I was staying in Knockholt. Three other groups also would hit targets. Kind regards. Your father worked in the woods at Randles Lane,and my aunt told me his name. They were both fencing/wood contractors. (U.S. Air Force photo), This bomb-carrying panda squadron insigne decorated Lt. Howard F. Bolton's aviator jacket. 641st: 1943-1945. Hope this answers your immediate questions and provides a basis for further research. Unknowingly, he had taken up a heading that would miss Ploesti altogetherhis group was headed for Bucharest. England. Can you help? / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. The aircraft was a B-17G Flying Fortress serial number 42-97236. Some of the most important trucking missions were flown in support of General George Pattons Third Army during its breakout from Avranches and the subsequent dash across France. U.S. 93rd Bombardment Group Flew Many Missions Throughout - HistoryNet I have looked up the Walcott crash and I should be more than pleased to see if I can find more info. An official website of the United States government, National Museum of the United States Air Force. Donate Colgates is very different to what I remember a farming residence but is now much upgraded. "The Flyin' Moose" was a B-24J assigned to the 409th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, based at Hardwick, England. He was a SSGT in the 748 USAAF Bomb Squadron. Supported ground forces Several of crew were killed. M . If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact theMedia Sales & Licensing Team. Hi John, Im afraid I have nothing more than what is in this thread; http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?73936-P-47-Thunderbolt. The name of your brother is familiar to me but I dont think I knew him. The 93rds 391 missions were the most flown by any Eighth Air Force heavy-bomber group, making the Traveling Circus the Eighths most productive bomber group. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. The plane was returning from a raid on the Karlsruhe railway marshalling yards. Active: 1942-1946; 1947-1948; 1951-1952; 1991-present: Country United States Branch United States Air Force Role: Intercontinental ballistic missile operations: Nickname(s) Jolly Rogers (World War II) Hi Roger They claimed 3 U-Boats destroyed. Have been to 306th Museum but no details held. Commanding Officers Connections See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below. Thanks for your replyI obtained all my pics and info from web site B24.net a very good site. Harold E. Roehrs Collection | Library of Congress Weight: 56,000 lbs (25 UK tons, 25.4 tonnes). I used to have to walk to the pharmacy at Halstead to get Granmas prescriptions. ? Open9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. On August 1, 1943, a total of 177 Liberators took off from Libya for Ploesti39 of them from the Traveling Circus. 'Naughty Nan', already, no pictures. Aviation Archeological Research and Investigation On this page search by pressing (as you can on any page or document) Ctrl + F and in the search bar type 42-97236; it will take you to the entry for this aircraft. 93rd Bombardment Group 330th Bomb Squadron, 12. HQs Note that source, the 457th Bomb Group Association, mentions there being 4 survivors not 3. - Backpacks Location of Service: Peterson Field; Colorado; Hardwick; England. if so I would like to know your source as I do not have a pic of my site despite many enqs,thanks. World War II soldier's remains to be buried in Grafton B-24 Liberator. The 'Market Garden' plan employed all three divisions of First Allied Airborne Army. Before that they were at oakdene on Rushmore Hill,Knockholt. The 93rd was to be part of the mission code-named Tidal Wave, the disastrous attack on the oil fields in Ploesti, Rumania. 8, 1944 at Bracon Ash. Also here (http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/B-24/B-24_Flight_Manual.pdf). Believe there may be a memorial there now. Can anyone help? 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) Squadrons: 328th, 329th, 330th, 409th Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2013 1. Richard. "United States Eighth Army Air Force B-24 Liberators flying in formatio Kind regards Im afraid I dont know Stonehouse Road very well. Sgt Leroy L. Logan, engineer / upper turret gunner, killed More Range: 2,850 miles (4587km). Lee Cunningham 25-Nov-2015. it here too They were then moved to Gambut Main, Libya, a field assigned to 9th Air Force. In late June 1943 the Group was once again sent TDY to the 9th Air Force at Bengazi, Libya, for Operation Tidal Wave. On June 25, 1943, after two weeks of low-level training over England, the 93rd departed for Benghazi, Libya, along with the 44th and 389th. - The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group. Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified. If you found us by Has crew list and an account of the crash. The B-24 Liberator 93rd Bomb Group in flight | World War Photos First B-24 to complete 50 missions, Boomerang Shows Army Air Corps Library and Museum. I had starred it so I would be certain to get back to it, but you see how effective that was. 'Lucky Until December, the group operated primarily against submarine pens along the French coast along the Bay of Biscay . Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training. Hi Sandy, On October 1, the Traveling Circus went back to Weiner-Neustadt on a mission again led by Timberlake. Hello Richard, Help us to tell the stories that deserve to be told, by contributing information to the archive. I visited Halstead on Thursday by bus. The plane was returning from a raid on the Karlsruhe railway marshalling yards. PDF THE HISTORY OF THE 409TH BOMB GROUP (L) - 416th.com Bombardier, Co-Pilot, Engineer, Navigator, Pilot, Radio Operator. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. Just starting quest to contact any living relatives and invite to memorial plaque unveiling in our village. During Jul 1944, aided the The 93rd Bomb Group was activated on March 1, 1942, under the command of Colonel Edward J. Timberlake at Barksdale Army Air Field in Louisiana. Cruising speed: 175 mph (282 km/hr). targets in Germany until May 1945. Very sorry to hear of your loss, Hazel. I have very few books detailing losses in that area, particularly US losses, but I knew of a few places to look online! 1043/RF: 93BG - encounters heavy flak on way to Misturg.' Object Details Category Photographs Related period In this short video the pilot refers to it at about one and a half minutes in and we do a fly past. Lt Joseph J. Peacock, navigator, killed B-24 Liberator After a few days of rest for the pilots and repair for the planes, the Traveling Circus resumed operations on September 1. I have not contacted the museum at Neatshead although I have visited the Hethel air museum where Shazam was based. While the 93rd was in Africa, the group public relations officer, Corporal Carroll Stewart, began issuing news releases describing the outfits exploits, dubbing the 93rd the Traveling Circus. A newspaperman in civilian life, Stewart published The Liberator, the first overseas troop newspaper of the war. The recollections of some of the farm workers who worked on the farm at the time of the crash were that the plane crashed on a Saturday lunchtime just as they were finishing work, 29/04/1944 was a Saturday. They damaged two of four assembly buildings so effectively that Me-109 fighter production at the plant was cut by more than one-third. Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee. Unit No: 409th Bombardment Squadron (H), 93rd Bombardment Group (H), 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force Type: B-24D Honky Tonk Gal Serial No: 42-40265 Code: YM:W Location: 16 km (10 mls) from the Ploesti refineries Base: Site #7, Benghazi, Libya Pilot: 1st Lt. Hubert Heslep Womble O-663978 AAF Age 22. As the German pilots regrouped, they caught a couple of B-24s that were flying at about 300 feet instead of hugging the ground, where the fighters could not safely attack. Can you gie me any information on the crash of a USAAF P47 Razor back THunderbolt near the Blackbrook Reservoir (Shepshed Leicestershire)Around the end of the second world war) ? To Sarah Rushen Sgt James C. Hilty, ball turret gunner, survived Seeking any official details of wreckage site, location, photos. It had just taken off from Hethel Airfield on a mission to Germany. Lt Stewart Barnes, co-pilot, killed Does anyone know about a P38 that crashed in Water Lane, Cobham, Surrey on 16th March 1944? Converted to A-26 aircraft in Dec M ore pix and vids to come. My father told me about how he met my mother. Comes to light. 93rd bomb group, 409th squadron. The 32th Bomb Squadron, and the 330th Bomb Squadron and and the 409th Bomb Squadron flew to the initial station at Tafarouri, Algeria, but the field there was not suited for the heavy bombers, and they only conducted two missions from that field. USAAF 93rd Bomb Group Museum, Station 104, Hardwick, Norfolk, UK Thank you for responding to my enquires. Altogether, some 35,000 parachute and glider troops were involved in the operation. Do you have items such as papers, photos, uniforms, gear and other artifacts? The Group flew 396 missions in 8,169 sorties and dropped 19,004 tons of bombs with 100 aircraft MIA. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. 01.08.1943 409th Bombardment Squadron (H) B-24D 42-40265 'Honky Tonk The squadron is equipped with the Rockwell B-1B Lancer bomber. You state you have a fair amount of material re your crash would that include a pic of the crash site ? My dad has been talking about the crash that occurred at Curry Wood as he lived in Halstead and remembers it occurring. It was with the 457th Bomb Group and was on a bombing raid to Merseberg near Leipzig in Germany on 21 April 1944, probably to attack the oil refinery there. Parts of the plane fell in the vicinity of the field at Glatton. Tags consignment! Dad lived in Beldam Haw in the 1930s and 40s, firstly in no. Colonel Timberlake led 101 B-24s on one of the longest missions of the war. After a day of bad weather, the Traveling Circus went to Gotha again on the 24th, followed by Furth on the 25th. My assumption is that the crash must have occurred the same day, but that may be wrong. Although the 44th was older than the 93rd, the newer group had been first in combat. Returned to the US, Jun-Aug 1945. 93rd Bombardment Group - World War II Thank you for letting us know. Six years of war brought many changes to familiar festive rituals. On November 14, the 93rd was honored by a visit from King George VIhis first visit to an American bomber base. It looks very different nowadays. 328th Bomb Squadron - 329th Bomb Squadron - 330th Bomb Squadron - 409th Bomb Squadron, Search Alphabetically: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |, PLEASE SUPPORT THE 8AF.ORG PROJECT! Accident-Report.com Do the same as above. That part of the country is not the geographical area I usually cover, but I will take a look at the resources and books I have this evening and will get back to you if I find anything. I am sure every USAAF crash site was photographed. Best of luck with your researches, hope to hear more. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24J's of 93rd BG/330 BS flying through flak on the way to Misturg. The details you have provided dont match anything in The Mighty eighth War Diary book. Allied offensive at Caen and the breakthrough at St Lo with attacks on In early December, General Ira Eaker, commander of the Eighth Air Force, ordered Colonel Timberlake to take the group to North Africa for a 10-day mission. I did try to look up the three survivors, and I was very surprised to see that James C. Hilty (listed as a survivor) actually died on that day, too. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. I had a hunch that the plane might have come from Podington in Beds, now the site of the race track Santa Pod.I Corresponded with Dearborn about this,but there was no way of getting to the site. Four of the crew were able to bail out and survived. Museum may be able to help http://www.parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk/, pictures of that crash here Over the target, the German fighters bypassed the accompanying B-17s to concentrate their attacks on the B-24s. 3 of the crew were killed in the crash: Sixty-nine bombers (including 16 B-24s) did not come back from the Eighths most costly mission of the war. My mother used to work there in the 1950s and 60s. Three days later, a 730-plane force of B-17s and B-24s went to Berlin, escorted by 796 fighters. 640th: 1943-1945. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; - Food and Soda Drinks Combat Stories One was called Losses of the US 8th and 9th Airforces Volume 5 April 1944 to June 1944 written by Stan D Bishop.It may be worth checking to see if the crash of Alfred 11 is recorded. Stewart was told by a two-star general, From now on youll work for the whole Eighth Air Force, or else. Stewart, along with another Eighth Air Force public relations man, James Dugan, would later write the definitive account of the most famous B-24 mission of the war, the raid on the Rumanian oil fields at Ploesti. Would you happen to know the name of the landholder where you found the pieces of the plane? And you said there are many local stories about the crash? Footnote 1] Have a brother who lives in Costessey Michael Wright [ I was adopted ] ever come across him ? Re; B-24 crash Swansea, South Wales area. The trip was marred by the loss of one aircraft and crew at sea. - Box cutters Though you cant see the cemetery in this view you will get an idea of the country your uncle flew over during the war. News releases mailed directly to U.S. newspapers made the group famous and caused great consternation among the B-17 groups. Walton rang my aunt in Orpington, one night to say the plane had come down (hinT: Id be interested!). When I was a schoolboy in the 40s (I,m in my eighties now) and attended Margaretting C E school in Essex. Contact Us, If you have any data on servicemen and their units and would like to submit it to our digital library; please Contact Us, Copyright, Army Air Corps Library and Museum, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Newsletter Missions were flown in support of Allied troops in North Africa. Google search for more B-24 Personnel and group records to digital. . Hi Richard, Thanks for your efforts much appreciated, I was a police officer in the Cambridge area which covered Madingly [ retired 1995 ] and I spent many duties on Madingly Day, and used to call in at various times,very impressive place. Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall. Read more about Supporting the AALCM. defenses, V-weapon sites, airdromes, and other targets in France, Apr-Jun Cost: $336,000 is 'bombed up' for its 28th mission from Hardwick, England U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Roy C. Harms was assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. 328th Bomb Squadron - 329th Bomb Squadron - 330th Bomb Squadron - 409th Bomb Squadron PATIENT, give them a little time to download Would the area newspapers have an account of it? It was inactivated in 1944 in a general reorganization of Army Air Forces training units.. History PLEASE SUPPORT THE 8AF.ORG PROJECT! Google search for more B-24 Liberator images. Fourteen B-24s were lost on the mission, although none were from the 93rd. By that time, the group had flown nine missions, including attacks on submarine pens at Saint-Nazaire and two missions to Lorient. Interesting to read that Sandy. It was pointing north. Wisconsin World War II veteran identified, to be buried in Grafton (U.S. Air Force photo). Pages 58-104 Take Off, and more For a time, Baker followed the 376th, but halfway to Bucharest, seeing the smoke of the Ploesti refineries to his left, the 93rd commander made his decision. Several 93rd aircraft were lost over Vegesack. I will check the B24 web site and see what I can find. They were all temporarily buried at the temporary cemetery in Cambridge, and 3 from this crew remain here in the permanent cemetery, 4 including SSgt Logan were repatriated back to the United States. 8th Air Force WWII. Have you ever seen the wreckage or heard stories about this particular crash? 8. Individuals are permitted to take their own photographs or videos while touring the museum. Click here for frequently asked questions regarding items permitted inside the museum. Pages 200-239 Mechanical Failures and Procedures, and more During the groups combat tour, the 93rd earned two Presidential Unit Citations. He had been assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group. Both Halstead pubs shut. Hi Roger Dad used to talk frequently about the Packmans but I cannot recall why, Im assuming some of your family also lived in Halstead? 93rd Bomb Squadron: history of the patch - 307th Bomb Wing My father grew up in Hoxne, Suffolk and I still live in the area. Sitemap I thought perhaps this crash occurred in an area that is far more populated now, and therefore, it may have been moved? They were renamed the 93rd Bombardment Squadron in WWII and later became the . Dedicated to the memory of those who served in the 93rd Bombardment Group (H) of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), known as 'The Travelling Circus', or 'Ted's Travelling Circus'. 1944-1945. Maybe. The 93d was the first Liberator-equipped bomber group to reach the Eighth Air Force. Pages 161-199 The C1 Auto-Pilot, and more I was living in Orpington and in the winter of 1943 / 4 was taken to see a crashed B17 but not near Curry Wood. 409th Bomb Squadron | American Air Museum Its close to a river and is in a small wood. Somewhere we have documentary evidence. of bombs He had so many stories about growing up there. A huge strike launched on March 3 was canceled after the bombers were airborne, but one B-17 group failed to get the word and continued on to become the first American bombers to hit the German capital, doing little damage but creating great material for the press. The newly arrived Liberator group attained a reputation as a hard-luck outfit, and took to calling themselves the Flying Eight Balls.. Unfortunately, my father passed away two years ago so Im unable to check whether this was the crash to which he was referring. History of the 409th Bomb Group (L) - Google Books 1 Aug 43. He was killed testing this aircraft on 18 April 1944 having taken off from an airfield near Salisbury heading for a dive bombing range. parts (PDFs) to make it easier to download. Mary Packman,s daughter was my Grandma,Janet Towler who studied at Homerton College,Cambridge, and died in 1966 in a house in Stonehouse Road, Halstead. If you have not been to Madingly a visit is highly recommended