The pictorial history of the 444th Bombardment Group, very heavy special

Dedication War brings glory and war brings death. Let no man think the former compensates the latter. This book is not dedicated to the glories of a great combat record. It is a memorial to those who gave their lives to make that record. They are the only heroes. No rank, medals, or words of praise can do justice to their sacrifices. Author unknownhttps://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1134/thumbnail.jp

316th Troop Carrier Group

From page 72 of document: The 316th had the hazardous and vital job of flying supplies and equipment into the battle zone for Montgomery\u27s forces. Killing Germans was the one aim of all the coordinated operations. As the fighting progressed, battle casualties began to show up at the 316th\u27s field at Agedabia, So for the return trip to their base at Tobruk, as many litters as could be laid on the floor of the planes were taken aboard and flown back for hospitalization in the rear areas. Major Francis Z. Reinus, of New York City, group surgeon, had charge of this operation. Colonel Washburn said only two men died en route, and they had been wounded critically in a land mine explosion as they were coming to the base on a truck. Later, after results of this spur-of-the-moment evacuation had been studied, it became a planned and large-scale operation, resulting in the saving of many lives and in higher morale. It was for maintaining supply and evacuation lines in that area that the group was awarded its first Presidential Citation.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1117/thumbnail.jp

History of the 410th Bombardment Group

Foreword This is the first page in the unofficial history of the 410th Bombardment Group (L). Written in France at a time when Hitler\u27s throne is crumbling and the axis dream of world domination is about to burst like a bubble in the breeze, it is intended to recall a few incidents of the past without any attempt to foresee the future. Lacking a crystal ball or the courage of a weatherman, we frown upon all attempts to predict how, when or where the 410th Bomb Group will cease to exist. To the contrary, we confine these pages to history, and history, as you know, is a recitation of facts. You will therefore find among the pages to follow both humor and tragedy -- the fun of a party, the loss of a friend. You will find here many things that can never be forgotten and consequently need never be written, and yet if among the pages you find one little incident worthwhile remembering that might otherwise have been forgotten, this book does indeed serve its purpose. Author unknownhttps://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1131/thumbnail.jp

Henri Temianka Photographs, Professional Acquaintances

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/temianka_photos/1099/thumbnail.jp

The story of the 73rd: the unofficial history of the 73rd Bomb Wing

From the Introduction Before leaving Saipan a number of men with the 73rd Wing and its units expressed a hope that some sort of a history of our organization would be published and made available to all Wing personnel. The Wing historical officer seemed the logical person to do this since he had handled the official history of the Wing which is now on file in Washington. In response to this demand, as well as to other requests received since returning to the States, this volume is prepared. While material in the book is partly borrowed from the official history, it is mostly written and collected now after a few months in the States have mellowed our memories of the Marianas. The 73rd Wing, as a whole, was a homogeneous, hard-working organization. Its personnel were cooperative with one another and did a tremendous piece of work on and from Saipan. The Wing was not only the first 20th Air Force organization to hit Tokyo but it also dropped the largest number of bombs on the Japanese Empire and flew the most missions of any of the 20th\u27s five wings. To the 15,000 men who went through the months on Saipan, those months were long and hard. While these men may not have actually been in the front lines, the Wing\u27s casualty list of both men and airplanes show that we were a fighting organization. Also our living conditions were far from comfortable most of the time. Our food was sometimes inferior and our quarters were not too good. We were subject to Japanese raids during the early part of the period. Nevertheless, our memories of Saipan will always be close to us. While this volume is written primarily from the point of view of the Wing Headquarters itself it should be of interest to all personnel of the Wing\u27s organizations. After all, the Wing did operate as a single unit from Saipan and the groups never did operate independently. The statistics and figures included have to do with the Wing operation as a whole rather than any particular organization. This history will necessarily lack the personal touch that the story of a smaller unit might have. Personalities are pretty much lost in the over-all picture. These 73rd Wing organizations included the four tactical groups-the 497th, the 498th, the 499th and the 500th Bombardment Groups. Also there were the four Air Service Groups -- the 65th, 91st, 303rd and 330th. Without these maintenance and engineering specialists and the Service Centers they manned, the Wing would surely have failed.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1155/thumbnail.jp

The history of the 398th Bombardment Group (H)

Dedication The casualties sustained by the men of the 398th Bombardment Group are not, perhaps, greatly significant in a world at war ... It is the gallant and indomitable spirit of these several dead, missing, and wounded that is significant in its ill-boding for all oppressors, in its promise for a better world without war ... We dedicate this day to those who contributed without reservation to our common effort ... who cannot be among us to share the commendation they so richly merit.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1126/thumbnail.jp

The Crusaders: a history of the 42nd Bombardment Group (M)

From Chapter 1: The birth and the early creeping of the 42nd Bombardment Group, Medium, may well seem lost in the mists of antiquity that hung over the United States before World War II. Indeed to many of our members, veterans of 60 or 70 missions in the Solomons or in the Indies and Philippines, veterans of the long road home via New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, the Russells, Stirling, New Guinea --- whether in the air or on the ground -- the early history of the Group is an unknown quantity save for shreds and scraps of information gathered from the casual remarks of old oldtimers. But if this history is to be a complete narrative of your Group it is necessary to go back almost beyond the memory of the oldest member. To go back, in fact, to January 15, 1941, when according to the official record, The 42nd Bombardment Group (M) was activated from the 7th Bombardment Group (H), G.H.Q. Air Force, at Fort Douglas, Utah, under the jurisdiction of G.H.Q. Air Force, with cadre furnished by the 7th Bombardment Group (H).https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1113/thumbnail.jp

40th Bombardment Group: a pictorial record of events, places, and people in India, China and Tinian from April 1944 through October 1945. Included are a few aerial views of Nippon, Singapore, Formosa and other exotic, far-off places

Foreword: The idea for a 40th Group Photograph Album was born several months before the end of the war, but the actual execution of the book had to await the termination of hostilities. Consequently you will find that certain events or activities may not be represented here, either because no photographs were taken at the time or because the photographs that were taken were not available to the editor when the book was finally put together. You will notice that we have tried to emphasize representative activities and scenes rather than individuals. Obviously it was impossible to include a picture of every man in the 40th Group. Therefore practically all formal group pictures have been left out. The few that are included were chosen for reasons other than that they portray certain individuals. This also applied to different photographs in which the same persons appear more than once. The editor would like to express at this time his appreciation to the members of the 11th Photographic Laboratory, for they are responsible for practically every photograph in the album. Appreciation also is extended to Forrest C. Wood, former Historian of the 40th Group, who has aided invaluably the efforts of the editor in the preparation of the written portions of the album. Lawrence B. Eustis, Captain, Air Corps, Group Photographic Officerhttps://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1128/thumbnail.jp

Directory of names and addresses of former members of the 401st Bombardment Group

Roster of members of the 401st Bombardment Grouphttps://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1127/thumbnail.jp

100 missions

Words of mine cannot pay adequate tribute to the skill and courage of the air crews; the unending task of the ground crews, and the loyalty and devotion of all concerned with these missions. I view this record with a pride that is shared by all who know of you now, and one that will be subsequently lauded by the entire nation. The first hundred have moulded each group into a trim and efficient fighting unit fully capable of the great task remaining before final victory is achieved. It is my sincerest hope that we are still all together, fighting together when that memorable day arrives. John K. Gerhart, Brigadier General, U.S.A., Commandinghttps://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1114/thumbnail.jp