an ammunition dump in Czechoslovakia. On December 16, the 93rd went to Bremen, the 50th mission for Boomerang, the Liberator that had almost been condemned to the scrap pile after the groups first mission. 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) Squadrons: 328th, 329th, 330th, 409th Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2013 1. Thank you. Constituted as 409th Bombardment Group (Light) on 1 Jun 1943 and In mid-July, the three Eighth Air Force groups began practicing for a low-level mission against the Ploesti oil refineries, along with the 376th and 98th groups from the Africa-based Ninth Air Force. B24 Liberator Audio and Video files at Marshall Stelzriede's Wartime Story site. Airplane after airplane was hit by the heavy fire and went down in flames. Restoration Australia. The Arriving at Tunis on September 18, the Traveling Circus began operations in support of the Fifth Army in Italy, as well as strategic bombing missions. Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from The U.S. 93rd Bomb Group saw action over Western Europe, North Africa, Italy and Rumania. Will Rogers Field, Okla, 1 Jun 1943; Woodward AAFld, Okla, Seven from this crew were killed on this mission and 3 returned. Bill is an expert in locating records of downed flyers from fighter groups, fighter squadrons, bomb groups, bomb squadrons, reconnaissance units, combat cargo units, or other units which were part of the Air Force in World War II. The 10-day mission turned out to be a 90-day deployment, with the group operating first from Tafaroui, then moving to Gambut. Maximum speed: 303 mph (488 km/hr). When I was a schoolboy in the 40s (I,m in my eighties now) and attended Margaretting C E school in Essex. PERFORMANCE Before that they were at oakdene on Rushmore Hill,Knockholt. So many names from the past! Pages 200-239 Mechanical Failures and Procedures, and more The Liberators gunners managed to shoot down two of the enemy fighter-bombers and damage a thirdthe other two broke off their attack. "The Flyin' Moose" Jacket > National Museum of the United States Air [MORE], Home For further information on how your data is collected and used, please read our Privacy Policy. about about the I am sure every USAAF crash site was photographed. I have very few books detailing losses in that area, particularly US losses, but I knew of a few places to look online! The church has had a few incumbents since Ashlachsen, we were married in 1991 by Malcolm Bury but he has sadly died. Bombardment Group Unit Rosters and Unit Photographs While the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses did their share in the air war against Germany, they were far from alone in their efforts. Does anyone know anything about a 409th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group (Heavy)B-24H-25-FO Liberator Gypsy Queen Serial# 42-95024 possibly crashed on the afternoon of 5 November 1944 at Shipmeadow, Suffolk (between Beccles and Bungay. Hardwick, England. I love being able to locate the pieces of the puzzle and watch the picture form. - Camera bags Do you know if there was more than one plane that went down there? The 93rd Bomb Group was one of the three 8th Air Force B-24 groups that were detached (TDY) and sent to North Africa in support of 12th Air Force on 12 Dec 1942. He had been assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group. cheek, top turret (2), ball turret (2), left and And you said there are many local stories about the crash? Extra fuel and a maximum load of bombs, ammunition and thermite sticks put each airplane well over the safe takeoff weight for a B-24. mistake, please stay and enjoy, then bookmark our url. Want to help? Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons. Staff Sergeant Leo L. Henry Nose Gunner. USAAF Crash Sites 1942 - 1945 - aircrashsites.co.uk 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), a War Memorial My aunt was active in Knockholt WI. Do you know where it may be currently? Dropmasters from the Ninth Air Force Troop Carrier Command replaced waist gunners on missions in which bundles of supplies rigged for parachute drop replaced the bombs normally carried. Please note that your data will be managed in the US by the American Air Museum in Britain charity. B-24 Liberator 93rd Bomb Group in flight | World War Photos When that assignment ended, the squadron flew missions with the newly arrived 44th Bomb Group. Hello, one site after another has led me here. USAAF 93rd Bomb Group Museum, Station 104, Hardwick, Norfolk, UK 9th Bomb Squadron - Wikipedia Liberator images. Sept 1942. RAF Glatton with some photos from when 457 BG was based there. activated the same day. This feature also made the airplane suitable for Please does anyone have information concerning the aircraft crash in wetheringsett approx 1944. Used to work not that far from you at Heathrow. Lt Lowell D. Baker, bombardier, killed My assumption is that the crash must have occurred the same day, but that may be wrong. The squadron is equipped with the Rockwell B-1B Lancer bomber. 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. My Uncle and Aunt, Geoffrey and Mollie Pain, and I lived at Edgehill Stonehouse Road,Halstead, 1954 1968. Salvaged after a mid-air collision Memorial at Hardwick Airfield. Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially. Ammunition was flying everywhere. On September 5, 1942, the first flight of 93rd Liberators left for England from Grenier Field, N.H., but got only as far as Newfoundland, where they were forced to land because of bad weather. Thanks Richard will make enqs re the book you mention. Shield: Azure, in front of a bend parti per bend sable and argent between two globes of the last with latitude and longitude lines of the second, the one in chief bearing a wreath vert and the one in base bearing a cross of four arrows. Wisconsin World War II veteran identified, to be buried in Grafton As the bombs detonated on Ploestis refineries, gasoline tanks caught fire and began exploding, throwing debris high into the air, into the paths of approaching Liberators. it here too Over the target, the German fighters bypassed the accompanying B-17s to concentrate their attacks on the B-24s. Thank you so much. Just starting quest to contact any living relatives and invite to memorial plaque unveiling in our village. During the groups combat tour, the 93rd earned two Presidential Unit Citations. 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. He and Jerstad jettisoned their bombs so that the mortally wounded B-24 would stay airborne just a few moments longer. He put me in touch with a colleague of his at the War Graves Commission who he felt sure would be able to help me. www.93rd-bg-museum.org, Liberator On 15 May 42. the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, to continue advanced flight training and also to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. Our Facebook photo Range: 2,850 miles (4587km). In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. My mother used to work there in the 1950s and 60s. - Box cutters Pilots ordered the gunners to engage the flak towers while they hugged the ground to spoil the anti-aircraft gunners aim. is - www.93rd-bg-museum.org They remained there until 22 Feb 1943, at which time they returned to Hardwick until 26 Jun 1943. Did you obtain these from any particular source? I worked at Glemham House (not Hall) for Lord and Lady Cranbroke and if I recall correctly there is a propellor blade embedded in the ground at the site where a plane crashed as a memorial ( On private land just inside the perimeter wall beside New Road) approx grid reference TM 34193 61657. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24J's of 93rd BG/330 BS flying through flak on the way to Misturg. The combined efforts of the Eighth Air Force B-17 and B-24 groups managed to severely cripple the German aircraft industry, cutting actual production to less than half of that planned for March. It was sad to hear of his death. Combat Stories I believe it crashed shortly after take off near Barningham, UK. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980). One other thing, in doing a basic computer search for the crash site, Park Farm, Hoxne, Suffolk, I was unable to find it. Thats him! on it to see it enlarged, it's massive. Have you ever seen the wreckage or heard stories about this particular crash? That was followed by a mission to Danzig on October 9 and a diversion for the famous B-17 mission against the ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt on October 14. I have to inform you that my Husband, Richard Storr died in April 2020 and therefore can no longer give you any more information for your research. I have walked past it a few years ago so its also close to a public right of way. Do you live in this area now? More than 18,000 Liberators were produced. You should be able to purchase a full accident report from this site. Accident-Report.com Do the same as above. This article was written by Sam McGowan and originally appeared in the May 1997 issue of World War II magazine. on a mission from North Africa in April 1943 and 640th: 1943-1945. Unit of Service: 409th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group Location of Service: Fort Snelling, Minnesota; El Paso, Texas; Gulfport, Mississippi; Pocatello, Idaho; Hardwick Airfield, Norfolk, England; France; Germany Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant Dates of Service: 1942-1945 Entrance into Service: Enlisted Military Status: Veteran Materials Thanks. 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. HQs https://aircrewremembrancesociety3.com/Aircraft-Losses/USAAF-Losses/U.S.A.A.F.Losses-1943/page-49/ attacking lines of communication and supply. 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. The Squadrons, then, returned to Hardwick, U.K., on 27 Aug 1943, and flew missions from that station until the Group was sent back to the United States on 12 Jun 45.