Feb 1, 2017 aircraft and airmen of the 8th af 381st bomb group. Remembering ridgewell is a short video created by ridgewell airfield commemorative museum chairman, paul bingley. The subsequent battle in the skies over europe witnessed the 381st, in concert with their fellowairmen with the. Details for our 2019 reunion will be announced in the polebrook post group historian. Many thanks to the 381st bomb group memorial associationfor all their help ridgewell airfield commemorative association this site is dedicated to the brave men of the u. Rays arvil pyle log book of ships he flew his mission. B17f75dl b17g configuration 381st bomb group, 535th bomb squadron. Army air corps, 8af, bombers, 381st bomb group, mighty eighth. Activities included visits to the national museum of the us air force and the champaign aviation museum, and more.
Bomb group for sale military collectibles for sale. Robinson, 5 july 1944 constituted as the 381st bombardment group heavy on 28 october 1942. Boeing b17g nose art ice col katy of the 381st bomb. Air force for airmen entering the space, missile, or missile maintenance career fields. A pictorial history 010712 the 4th fighter wing in the korean war 010728 the 448th bomb group h. Constituted as 381st bombardment group heavy on 28 oct 1942. The 381st bombardment group h in world war ii ron mackay on. United states army air forces bombardment group, 381st worldcat. This site was first posted in 1993 when a search for information on the web about the 381st was scarce. Ridgewells flying fortresses, 381st bombardment group h in wwii book. A private collection of wwii memorabilia dedicated to the 381st bomb group usaaf and 90 squadron raf this site is dedicated to the brave men of the u. Several books have been written about the 381st specifically, the 8th air force and the area of ridgewell. This video tribute features actual color photos of the 381st from world war ii as well as a stillflying b17g, yankee lady, with 381st bomb group markings.
The film remembers ridgewell, as was then and is now, complimented by original footage filmed during the second world war of aircraft of the 381st bomb group based at the airfield. The 381st bombardment group h in world war ii in june 1943 the quiet english countryside around the village of ridgewell in northwest essex was transformed by the arrival of the 381st bomb group with its b17 flying fortresses. The group was awarded two distinguished unit citations, the first for bombing shipyards at bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 october 1943 and the second was awarded to the 1st bomb division as a whole for flying without fighter protection to bomb aircraft factories at oschersleben on. The insignia of the 534th bomb squadron, 381st bomb group. Usaaf nose art research project research study into named planes of usaaf during world war two wwii. The 381st training group is the gateway into the u. The united states air force 381st training group at vandenberg air force base, california provides training for the nations space and intercontinental ballistic missile operations forces and missile maintenance forces. Trading store 381st bomb group, ridgewell england station 167. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. A 410th bomb group a20 flying over the english countryside, and a 381st bomb group b17.
Wwii 457th bomb group collection the fireball outfit books patch pin mission. The group had lost twenty men the week before when the 8th air force struck frankfurt on january 29th. See more flying fortresses of bomb group, eighth air force, in 1944 return from a mission to royal air force station ridgewell, england. 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. Home book shop wars battles biographies timeline weapons blog full index. The 381st became operational in june 1943, during a period that saw the total number of american combat aircraft in the european theatre rise from 1,260 in may up to 4,242 at the end of the year. B17f of the 381st bomb group 534th bomb squadron site statistics. It was an annual reunion of the 381st bombardment group heavy, a b17.
Served in combat from jun 1943 to apr 1945, operating chiefly against strategic objectives on the continent. Ridgewell airfield commemorative association 381st. This page is dedicated to all the men and women who served with the 381st bomb group based at ridgewell airfield, essex, uk during ww2. Mere months after his last mission in 4337657 in late 1944, the fox went down on feb. Air force was part of the army during world war ii, and was also called the army air forces or the air corps. Please feel free to post your pictures, memories, stories. The united states air force 381st training group at vandenberg air force base, california provides training for the united states air forces space forces, intercontinental ballistic missile forces, and missile maintenance forces. The subsequent battle in the skies over europe witnessed the 381st, in. Ridgewells flying fortress hb the national wwii museum. Media related to 381st bombardment group at wikimedia commons. This air education and training command aetc organization is a tenant unit located on an 80acre 32 ha site at vandenberg. Most of these historic photos are from the cdrom photo album featuring the 381st bomb group, produced by frank slomzenski, and from the 381st website. Miscellaneous information related to the 381st bg 381st. Our photo album shares some memories of the reunions events and participants.
Books by ray bowden covering usaaf ww2 history are available to buy. Home 534th bomber squadron, 381st bomber group, heavy. The 381st bombardment group was a b17 group in the eighth air force and took part in the daylight strategic bombing campaign over europe. Nov 17, 2019 i am an inspirational novelist with a threemanuscript series featuring the 381st bomb group.
Liberators over germany in wwii 010729 yellowjackets. Located at vandenberg air force base, california, the 381 trg provides initial operations and maintenance training for the nations space and missile forces. B17f of the 381st bomb group 534th bomb squadron world. This air education and training command aetc organization is a tenant unit located on an 80acre 320,000 m 2 site at vandenberg afb. The united states air force 381st training group at vandenberg air force base, california. This site will remain open for general and historical information but a new website rafca museum is now running giving information about the museum itself. This is a wwii us army air forces 532nd heavy squadron patch of the 381st bomb group.
In these pages you will find group history, photos, stories and and anything else deemed relative to the 381st station. Lt col harry p leber, jr, was transferred into the group in december 1943, as air executive, and he took over command in january. The subsequent battle in the skies over europe witnessed the 381st, in concert with their fellowairmen with the mighty eighth, striking 297 times at hitlers. B17s of the 381st bomb group en route to targets over nazioccupied territory. This organization has not provided guidestar with a mission statement. Moved to england, mayjun 1943, and assigned to eighth af. Searchable data base containing details are gathered from veterans, diary notes, official archive records, photographs and more. Ridgewells flying fortresses, 381st bombardment group h. Boeing b17g nose art ice col katy of the 381st bomb group 534th squadron site statistics. Airmen of the 381st bomber group at royal air force ridgewell in essex, england, during world war ii. He wrote a book in 2002 about his wartime experience titled on.
The 381st bombardment squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. Military antiques and museum uwi0051 wwii us army air. Buy 381st bomb group groupssquadrons series 6174 1st by ron mackay, don greer, tom tullis isbn. For information on becoming a member of the 381st bomb group memorial association, contact kevin wilson, secretary of the association. It is dedicated to the mighty men of the 381st bomb group stationed in ridgewell, england during ww ii. Uwi0051 wwii us army air forces 532nd squadron patch, 381st bomb group. See more ideas about wwii, air force and historical photos. Squadrons of the 381st bg 532nd bombardment squadron heavy 533rd bombardment squadron heavy. Military colonel commanding officer 381st bomb group commanding officer 381st bg, 8th af usaaf. As noted, he was assigned to 4337657 the fox as the rwg. The patch is in fair condition with a fair amount of mothing present across the patch. A 381st bomb group boeing b17g flying fortress crew returns to england following a bombing raid to frankfurt, germany on february 4, 1944.
In june 1943 the quiet english countryside around the village of ridgewell in northwest essex was transformed by the arrival of the 381st bomb group with its b17 flying fortresses. The 351st bomb group association held its 42nd annual reunion in dayton. The group was awarded two distinguished unit citations, the first for bombing shipyards at bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 october 1943 and the second was awarded to the 1st bomb division as a whole for flying without fighter. It was last assigned to the 310th bombardment wing, stationed at shilling air force base in. Volunteers are transcribing servicemen names and their awards from general orders that we are publishing on this website for enthusiasts, families and researchers of genealogy and world war ii history. During world war ii, the groups first predecessor, the 381st bombardment group was an eighth air force boeing. The patch is 5 34 across at its widest point and depicts a raging horse with wings. The 381st bombardment group h in world war ii ron mackay hardcover 256 pages 2000 in june 1943 the quiet english.
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