90 th OPERATIONS GROUP

Transcription

1 90 th OPERATIONS GROUP LINEAGE 90 th Bombardment Group (Heavy) established, 28 Jan 1942 Activated, 15 Apr 1942 Redesignated 90 th Bombardment Group, Heavy, 20 Aug 1943 Inactivated, 27 Jan 1946 Redesignated 90 th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, 11 Jun 1947 Activated, 1 Jul 1947 Inactivated, 6 Sep 1948 Redesignated 90 th Bombardment Group, Medium, 20 Dec 1950 Activated, 2 Jan 1951 Inactivated, 16 Jun 1952 Redesignated 90 th Operations Group, 29 Aug 1991 Activated, 1 Sep 1991 STATIONS Key Field, MS, 15 Apr 1942 Barksdale Field, LA, 17 May 1942 Greenville, AAB, SC, 21 Jun 1942 Ypsilante, MI, 9 Aug 1942 Camp Stoneman, CA, 29 Aug-3 Sep 1942 (ground echelon) Hickam Field, TH, Sep 1942 Iron Range, Queensland, Australia, Nov 1942 Port Moresby, New Guinea, 10 Feb 1943 Dobodura, New Guinea, 22 Dec 1943 Nadzab, New Guinea, 23 Feb 1944 Wakde Island, 22 Jun 1944 Biak Island, 10 Aug 1944 San Jose, Mindoro, 26 Jan 1945 Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands, c. 10 Aug 1945 Ft William McKinley, Luzon, Dec Jan 1946 Andrews Field (later, Andrews AFB), MD, 1 Jul Sep 1948 Fairchild AFB, WA, 2 Jan 1951 Forbes AFB, KS, 14 Mar Jun 1952 F. E. Warren AFB, WY, 1 Sep 1991 ASSIGNMENTS

2 III Bomber Command, 15 Apr 1942 VII Bomber Command, 12 Sep 1942 V Bomber Command, Nov 1942 Far East Air Forces, 23 Nov Jan 1946 Strategic Air Command, 1 Jul Sep th Bombardment Wing, Medium, 2 Jan Jun th Missile (later, 90 th Space) Wing, 1 Sep 1991 WEAPON SYSTEMS B-24, Minuteman III, 1991 Peacekeeper, 1991 COMMANDERS 1LT Norman W. Enloe, 17 Apr 1942 LTC Eugene P. Mussett, 17 May 1942 Col Roger M. Ramey, 14 Sep 1942 LTC Eugene P. Mussett, 16 Oct 1942 Col Arthur Meehan, 21 Oct 1942 LTC Arthur H. Rogers, 16 Nov 1942 Col Ralph E. Koon, 18 Nov 1942 Col Arthur H. Rogers, 11 Jul 1943 LTC Harry J. Bullis, 20 Dec 1943 Col Carl A. Brandt, 15 Mar 1944 Col Edward W. Scott Jr., 10 Jun 1944 LTC Wilson H. Banks, 8 Dec 1944 Col Ellis L. Brown, 24 Feb-Oct 1945 None (not manned), Nov Jan 1946 None (not manned), 1 Jul Sep 1948 LTC William L. Gray, Jan 1951 None (not manned) 16 Feb Jun 1952 Col Michael D. Jackson, 1 Sep 1991 Col Franklin J. Blaisdell, 10 Feb 1992 Col Leslie J. Hamblin, 20 Jul 1993 HONORS Service Streamers None Campaign Streamers World War II Papua Guadalcanal Northern Solomons Bismarck Archipelago New Guinea

3 Leyte Luzon Southern Philippines Western Pacific Air Offensive, Japan China Defensive China Offensive Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers None Decorations Distinguished Unit Citations Papua, 23 Jul Jan 1943 New Guinea, 13 and 15 Sep 1943 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards 1 Aug Jul Oct Sep Sep Aug Oct Sep Jan-31 Dec 2001 Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII) EMBLEM Group will use the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll. EMBLEM SIGNIFICANCE MOTTO NICKNAME OPERATIONS Prepared for combat with B-24s before moving to Southwest Pacific and began flying bombing missions immediately on arrival in Nov Attacked enemy airfields, troop concentrations, ground installations and shipping in New Guinea, the Birsmarck Archipelago, Palau, and the southern Philippines. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for operations in Papua, Jul 1942-Jan 1943, participated in the Battle of Bismarck Sea in Mar 1943, and earned another DUC for strikes through heavy flak and fighter opposition on enemy airfields at Wewak, New Guinea, in Sep During 1944, supported the New Guinea Campaign for first six months, then made long-range raids on oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo, in Sep and Oct. From Jan 1945, supported ground forces on Luzon, attacked industries on Formosa, and bombed railways, airfields, and harbor facilities on the Asiatic mainland. After the war, flew reconnaissance missions over Japan and ferried Allied prisoners of war from Okinawa to Manila. Ceased operations by Nov 1945.

4 From Sep 1991, responsible for maintaining and operating on alert the wing's assigned missiles, including training missile crew members. 90TH BOMB GROUP "THE JOLLY ROGERS" IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2-319th Bomb Squadron "Asterperious" - 320th Bomb Squadron "Moby Dick" - 321st Bomb Squadron "Bombs Away" - 400th Bomb Squadron "Black Pirate" The 319th Bomb Squadron was the first to arrive in Australia. They arrived at Amberley Airfield west of Brisbane on 23 October 1942 after a long 11 hour trip from Nandi on the island of Viti Levi in the Fiji Islands. They flew to Mareeba Airfield in north Queensland on 24 October 1942 after short stopover at Garbutt Airfield in Townsville. The B-24 of 1st Lt. Paul E. Johnson broke a rocker arm and had one of its engines fail as it approached Mareeba. It landed safely. The 321st Bomb Squadron arrived at Amberley Airfield on 31 October They had flown from Plaines desgaiacs airfield which is located 116 miles north west of Noumea, New Caledonia. The 321st Bomb Squadron flew to Mareeba Airfield on 1 November One group of the 320th Bomb Squadron left Hawaii on 29 October 1942 with another group leaving on 1 November They followed the same route as the 321st Bomb Squadron. The 320th had earlier flown from Long Beach Army Air Field, Long Beach California, via Hamilton Field, San Rafael, California to Hickam Field, Oahu, T.H., where they reported to the C G of the Hawaiian Defense Comman Theater. Crew No 68-Y-4 was first aircraft to fly the route. The second aircraft was flown by 2nd Lt John D. Ewing, details as follows:- Crew No. 69-Y-3 B 24 D, # Flight Order No. F-196 Project No MK 11

5 2nd Lt. John D. Ewing ( ) A.C. Combat Pilot 2nd.Lt. Fred Kettner ( )A.C. Combat CoPilot 2nd Lt. Francis C. Sullivan ( ) Combat Navigator 2nd Lt. Donald M. Singer ( ) Combat Bombadier S/Sgt. Roland C. Hickman ( ) Combat Engineer Sg. Ferenc J. Szabo ( ) Combat Gunner S/Sgt. James T. Zook ( ) Combat Gunner Cpl Winfield A. Lewis ( )Combat Radio Operator Sgt. Walter P.Szeliga ( ) Combat Gunner Major John Donald Ewing The 400th Bomb Squadron began leaving Hawaii on 31 October 1942 again following the same route as the 321st Bomb Squadron. The 90th Bomb Group had arrived in Queensland with all of their forty-eight B-24D Liberators. They had not lost one single aircraft during their 5,000 mile journey, just a few minor incidents. The ground echelon of the 90th Bomb Group left Honolulu Harbour at 11:00am on 8 November 1942 on board the SS Republic and SS Torrens. They were escorted by the battleships USS Colorado and USS Maryland and four destroyers. They arrived off Townsville in north Queensland on 24 November SS Torrens docked at the Townsville wharves on 25 November The men disembarked and were taken to Armstrong's Paddock, a US Army Staging area in Townsville. Arlie Porter, was a member of the 320th Bomb Squadron. Arlie was in one of the first crews when the 90th Bomb Group formed in Barksdale Field, Louisana after it was initiated in Mississippi. He recalled arriving on a ship at Townsville and sleeping in a tent in a cow pasture, namely Armstrong's Paddock. Arlie only there for one or two days. He spent some time in Iron Range, then was stationed in Port Moresby as a member of Paul Gotke's crew on "Moby Dick". The 90th Bomb Group was initially based as follows at Iron Range near the top of Cape York Peninsula, 16 kms inland from the port of facility of Portland Roads:- Arrived Iron Range Departed Iron Range 319th Bomb Squadron 13 Nov 42 2 Feb th Bomb Squadron 13 Nov Jan st Bomb Squadron 19 Nov Feb th Bomb Squadron 13 Nov 42 abt 22 Mar 43 When the 90th Bomb Group arrived at Iron Range, the two strips named Claudie and Gordon, were still unfinished and not sealed. Tents were pitched amongst the trees for accommodation. Conditions were primitive. Snakes, insects, scorpions, etc were prevalent. The men of the 90th

6 Bomb Group described it as the worst airfield they were ever posted at during the war. On 16 November 1942 a Liberator crashed during take-off (see above) killing 11 men and damaging four aircraft. The first B-24 that took off on this raid on Rabaul, # "Punjab", vanished without a trace on this mission. It was piloted by the Commanding Officer of the 320th Squadron, Major Raymond S. Morse. Also on board was the Group Commander, Colonel Arthur W. Meehan, who was co-pilot. This loss in combination with the above crash caused some significant morale problems amongst the men of the 90th Bomb Group. The 319th Squadron moved to Fenton airfield south of Darwin. Fenton was named after Clyde Fenton, the Flying Doctor pioneer. From the middle of 1944, the Liberators of 90th Bomb Group were a natural metal finish. They were adorned with the Skull and Cross Bombs markings of the Jolly Roger. The insignia was designed by Sgt. Leonard Baer. He made a large aluminium stencil. Each of the various Squadrons had a different colour background:- 319th Squadron 320th Squadron 321st Squadron 400th Squadron Blue background Red background Green background Black background The sons of T/Sgt Robert L.Wehrell who is mentioned in the description under photo above, have now advised via Earl Seeber that they have a photo of their father being awarded the DFC and a newspaper article saying the award was made by Brig. General Roger Ramey. Neither the picture or the news article is dated nor is the date of the award ceremony mentioned in the article. One of the brothers told Earl that the background in the photo that they have is identical to the background of the photo above. One of the sons told Earl that he thought that the ceremony had probably taken place after 19 July 1943, the date of the General Order from the 5th Air Force listing the many men who would be awarded the DFC. His father's name was on that list. That order came ten days after he and the rest of the 319th Squadron were transferred back to Port Moresby, New Guinea from Fenton Field south of Darwin, Australia. They arrived in Port Moresby from Fenton on 9th and 10th of July The 319th had been flying out of Fenton since 2 February 1943 when they were split off from the other squadrons of the 90th BG based at Port Moresby and assigned to work with the RAAF command in the area of Darwin. One of the sons said "My father remembers that the ceremony took place in New Guinea but not the date". Can anyone please help sort out who the person is in the above photograph? The following photographs from Bob Tupa are of aircraft that took part in the 16 November 1942 raid according to the list in Wiley Woods' book. As you can see, the Jolly Roger's squadron got all the limelight. Bob Hope was at Biak on 25 August 1944 putting on a special show for the Air Corps. He is seen in the "Jolly Rogers" staff car

7 holding a captured Japanese flag which was presented to him. And it gets even better for the "Jolly Rogers" boys. Hollywood actress Carole Landis must've been a big hit with the boys of the 90th Bomb Group. Carole is standing in front of the tail of B-24J, # , "Buck Benny Rides Again" at Hollandia in August On 29 August 2000 I received an from Paul Holst who told me that he had been looking at this 90th Bomb Group web page with his uncle James Marvin Riggs from Versailles, Missouri, USA, who had served with the 320th Squadron from 1943 to When they got to the above photograph of Carole Landis wearing the flight jacket, Paul's uncle said he remembered her and he said, "that's my jacket." Paul thought that he just meant he had owned a jacket like that while he was with the 90th BG, but he said he was on the flight line the day that Carole Landis came out to the planes, (he refuelled the B-24s), and he had his jacket in his truck and lent it to the star to have her picture taken in. Paul Holst advised me in September 2007 that his uncle Marvin passed away in On 15 October 2000, John Farrell told me that he landed his B-24 at Townsville in March 1944 before heading on to Nadzab, New Guinea to join the 90th Bomb Group. He stayed in Townsville for three days and he remembered it was the first time he had eaten steak and eggs. He also also dimly remembered taking a ferry to Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsville. He remember walking about town and over a bridge near the main street. The people were warm and friendly and he often wished he had gone back there after the war. William R. Roedel was assistant ground crew chief in the 320th "Red Tails" for the aircraft nicknamed "The Dude". He painted the nose art on the plane. The pilot of "The Dude" was William Gentry who apparently looked like Clark Gable and wore buff yellow gauntlets while flying. William R. Roedel painted a top hat and cane along with the gauntlets as the nose art symbol. Gentry was later killed while flying a mercy mission in an SBD. Earl E. Starkey, was a co-pilot in the 320th Bomb Squadron (and later in the 400th BS) of the 90th Bomb Group, beginning in September of He was initially part of the crew of Lt. H. C. Mills. In February 1944, he became ill and was in the hospital and recuperating in Brisbane for a long time in During that time, he met Olive Thomas Bradbury of Brisbane. Earl E. Strakey later returned to duty with the 400th BS of the 90th Bomb Group and was a relief pilot with a number of different crews until the end of the war. He brought his Australian bride back to the United States. Unfortunately and tragically, she contracted polio and died in San Antonio, TX, in Earl remarried and remained in the service and retired from the U.S. Air Force in In August of 1978, he died as a result of a prolonged fight with cancer. On 9 July 2000, I was contacted by Richard G. ("Dick") Mills, brother of 2Lt/1Lt/Capt James E. ("Jimmy") Mills, pilot on a replacement crew that joined the 320th Squadron at Port Moresby in early/mid They flew out all their missions together, and rotated home together in March After his co-pilot Andy Muri got his own crew, 1/Lt Peterson became the crew's co-pilot. Other crew members were: - Andy Muri, co-pilot

8 Stuart Hutson, navigator Jim Young, bombardier Frank Hornibrook, 1st engineer Metzler 2nd engineer Bronlett (Brenlett?), 1st radio Streiter, 2nd radio Dunbar, tail gunner Wescott, nose gunner. The following is from the Diary of Warren E. Rollins of "E" Battery of the 197 CAAA New Hampshire National Guard:- Jan The 400th' Bomb Group (sic Squadron) lost another plane at Port Moresby. It crashed on takeoff. There were six survivors. Jan. 3, 1943 Hot and damp. I saw a P-39 a P-40 and a P-38 land today. It is the first time I have seen a P-38 on the ground. Jan 5, We moved the tent closer to the gun pit today. My name was turned in to Battalion Hdqtrs today for promotion to Sgt. Hot and muggy. Had to spread crushed gravel on floor of tent. It was to muddy. Jan. 10, 1943 A B-24 made a crash landing because the brakes didn't work and would have gone off the end of the runway into the trees. It landed on the tail with some damage. Jan. 13, 1943 Test fired the guns in the gun pits. My machine guns fired good and checked out fine. Jan. 16, 1943 The batry officers check the positions often. we know when they are coming Jan. 18, 1943 Test fired the guns and then cleaned them. The guns are manned 24 hours a day I checked the guard lat 12;30 at night. Jan 22, 1943 It is rumoured that the 90th Bomb Group is going to move to New Guinea and Us with them. The Japs bombed Milne Bay and port Moresby today. Jan 2?, They gave us three cans of hot beer today.3.2 The first beer in 6 months for us. Jan I am in charge of the water for the gun crews this month. I picked up the barrels and filled them a the engineers place in the jungle. Jan 26, 43 The roads are almost impassable because of the mud. It rains every day. We have to get the chlorinated water.

9 Jan 27, 43 Feb. 4, 43 Feb 7, 43 NG Feb. 8, 42 Feb. 13, 43 We do have movies shown every night. Test fired the guns/ The 321st and the 318 (319th perhaps) Bomb groups (sic squadrons) moved today to Had an air raid alert It rains hard every day now that the monsoon season has started. Feb. 13, 43 The 3 inch guns test fired today. Feb. 24, 43 WE are able to jerry rig lights from the wire from all the wrecked planes here Feb. 24, 43 We are getting ready for the new colonel to visit Iron Range soon. He will bring our payroll money. (Footnote This is the Colonel that was killed when the new plane crashed on the island.) Feb 26, 43 Talked with Aussie friend today Feb. 26, 43 A P-39 made a crash landing on Gordon strip. The front wheel was stuck. Not much damage. A P-39 while taking off on Claudia strip got a flat tire and skidded around. At this time most of the troops have left Iron Range for Port Darwin and New Guinea March 6, 43 We are now attending classes on the 40 MM Bofor. They will issue them to us soon. March 7, 43 We had an air raid alert this morning but no air raid March 14, 43 It rained so hard today there was a foot of water on the runway. Our gun pits keep filling with water. March 20, 43 Lt Richard Coughlin Inspected our guns. Sgt Clemons is on the other gun in my section. March 10, 43 Cairns raided today 130 miles away. (Note:- I am not aware of any Jap raid on Cairns - Maybe it was a recce aircraft) April 4, 43 April 9, 43 We have a diet of kangaroo meat and wild boar. They are rebuilding the runways for heavy bombers now. April 13, 43 Got a report that Japanese had landed 150 miles away. An un identified plane flew over all guns were alerted. There were two alerts yesterday

10 April 14, 43 April 15, 43 April Unidentified planes flew over the jetty. They expect air raids any time now Two more alerts today Yellow alert today plane 50 miles away April 20, 43 Runways are ready for use. Two Bristol Beauforts and a DC3 landed on the new drome. The weather is fine now with a full moon and cooler. We are now able to listen to the Japanese stations on a radio now Tokyo Rose and she gives the name of our unit. March 21,43 We loaded the btry onto a freighter at the jetty. The name of the boat that will take us to New Guinea is the Dutch Freighter the Duntroon. Air Force Order of Battle Created: 14 Dec 2010 Updated: Sources