The groups first operation was an attack on the uboat base at kiel on december 1943 the eighth air forces 154th heavy bomber mission. Wwii 445th heavy bomb group 701st bomb squadron 8th air force. Ukmade 703rd bomb squadron, 445 bomb group, 8th air force. These men were under jim stewarts command in the 703rd squadron of the 445th bomb group, and their deaths hit him hard. The united states air force usaf reactivated the group in the air force reserve in 1947. It is a current reproduction hand painted by aviation artist nicholas gamarello. The complete aircrew roster database of almost 4,000 airmen is indexed by last name with dates and missions flown. It trained with consolidated b24 liberator bombers in. An original cadre ship acquired 9 november 43 and assigned to gentrys crew who flew her overseas in december 43. Please select any of the units below to submit a research inquiry to ww2 researcher bill beigel. Bomber pilot is a book dedicated to jimmy stewarts war time and air national guard service. The association includes 392nd veterans, 2nd and 3rd decedents of the veterans, as well as others interested in wwii history. Group established fort dix, nj and inactivated on the 12th of september 1945. He eventually flew a total of 20 combat missions in wwii.
He was then promoted to operations officer of the 453rd bomb group, attacking targets deep in germany and flying support missions on dday. The group was one of six b24 groups that were originally expected to reach italy by december 1943. James maitland stewart american air museum in britain. His twenty combat missionsincluding one to berlinin command of his own squadron in the 445th bomb group later, stewarts promotion to group operations officer for the 453rd bomb group i have met a few movie stars, but of them all, i think that jimmy stewart was most like those modest heroes he portrayed. Both ships arrived new york on the 8th of june 1945. Constituted 700th bombardment squadron heavy on 20 mar 1943. Original wwii usmc marine corps squadron patches for sale a2, a1, g1, b2, b3, anj4 us wwii leather flight jackets aaf, usmc, usn vintage hyde corp original wwii army air forces squadron patches i. A startstop button b crown c date window d splitreset button e chronograph minute dial f.
On top of being one of the the bestloved actors ever, jimmy stewart was a also princetongrad architect, an accordion player, and a wwii bomber. Throughout his combat career, stewart flew as lead pilot in b24 liberators. Below are some brief wartime facts related to the 445th bomb. The 445th operations group 445 og is the flying component of the 445th airlift wing, assigned to fourth air force of the united states air force reserve. Early in the war, jimmy stewart served as a bombardier trainer.
He was eventually qualified on b17s and was attached as operations officer with 445th bomb group, 703rd squadron. These men were under jim stewarts command in the 703rd squadron of the 445th bomb group. Wwii 445th heavy bomb group 701st bomb squadron 8th air. In november 1943, now a captain and operations officer for the 703rd bomb squadron, 445th bombardment group of the eighth air force, he arrived in tibenham, england. Stewart led the group s high squadron, taking them in over the target at 27,000 feet. While flying missions over germany, stewart was promoted to major. Wwii 445th heavy bomb group 701st bomb squadron 8th air force pocket patch posted in army and usaaf. Wwii aac aaf squadron insignia patch page 2 units above 200. We find stewart assigned to b24s of the 445th bomb group 703rd sqd. Bomber pilot is a book dedicated to jimmy stewart s war time and air national guard service. The 445th operations group is the flying component of the 445th airlift wing, assigned to fourth air force of the united states air force reserve.
Nov 01, 2006 we find stewart assigned to b24s of the 445th bomb group 703rd sqd. Upon completion in the states, his crew shipped out overseas in january of 1945 bound for tibenham, england. All items are guaranteed to be 100% original, we do not sell reproductions. The group included the 712th, 7th, 714th and the 715th bomb squadrons. It details personal stories from the personnel of the 467th. It contains books, photographs, audiovisual materials, oversize graphic materials, artifacts, memorabilia, microfilm, and organizational records donated by. In july 1967 the unit redesignated to the 931st tactical airlift group. In march of 1944 he was transferred to the 453rd bombardment group at old buckenham old buc. For somebody who thinks its a wonderful life is the most over rated movie in history i will still not look at jimmy stewart the same again, now i will look at him with much more respect. Jimmy stewart and the fight for europe, my goodknight books release. Ive got a lot of archival records and would love to share and trade.
B24 liberator 4128666 dixie dudrop 703bs, 445bg, 8af usaaf. This group flew the b24 liberator out of tibenham uk. Beautiful, ukmade 703rd bs, 445th bg, 8th af squadron patch. Wwii 445th heavy bomb group 701st bomb squadron 8th air force pocket patch the 445th operations group 445 og is the flying component of the 445th airlift wing, assigned to fourth air force of the united states air force reserve. They flew 280 combat missions out of a former royal air force station near the village of tibenham in norfolk county. Born in ohio in 1924, he was commissioned in may of 1944. Jimmy was transferred to the 453rd bomb group where walter matthau also of hollywood fame was assigned. Converted to c124s and served under the military airlift command.
November 1943 lucky gordon 445th bg sissy lee unit. The 448th bomb group trained in the b24 heavy bomber for deployment for combat in europe. The 445th was stationed at raf tibenham in late 1943. Refer to item title, read description and see images.
Im writing a book about a 389th bg crew who flew in the summer and fall of 1943 and was shot down on 7 january 1944, as captain stewart was leading the 445th in their wing. It spent most of the rest of the way engaged in strategic bombing. Usaf brigadier general jimmy stewart flew bombing missions. Ford b24h1fo liberator 427563, hells warrior, 701st bombardment squadron, 445th bombardment group. Ww 2 a2 jacket 323rd bomb squadron 91st bomb group 8th. Group the 445th bomb group flew b24 liberators from tibenham, norfolk. Air force 445th bombardment group, heavy usaf veteran locator. Captain james stewart, 445th bomb group, 1943 wwii. Stauer jimmy stewart bomber chronograph watch visit us at. Constituted 445th bombardment squadron medium on 19 jun 1942. Us army air force, corps collection of patches from. To sort any of the information below, simply click on any of the header items.
The group earned a distinguished unit citation on 24 february 1944 for. The group is stationed at wrightpatterson air force base, ohio the group was first activated during world war ii as the 445th bombardment group, a consolidated b24 liberator unit stationed in england with viii bomber. You will find personal insights from both fellow officers and ncos who flew and worked with jimmy stewart ranging from stolen kegs of officers beer to a bored major stewart taking a b. We have reunions every year at various locations in the usa. Stewart, however, persisted and by late 1943 he was commander of the 703rd bomb squadron, 445th bomb group, at tibenham, norfolk, flying b24 liberators. A tribute to the 467th heavy bombardment group, american eighth air force. The 448th bomb group was established on 6 april 1943. This website is dedicated to preserving the history of the 445th bombardment group heavy that was part of the 8th air force during world war ii. Shortly after his arrival in england, stewart was promoted to major and transferred to the 453rd bomb group, part of the eighth air force, and made a squadron commander. During the 17 months this unit was deployed to england, they flew 280 combat missions between dec 43 and 25 apr 45. Within a month he was put in command of the squadron.
The crews first mission was bombing uboat installations at kiel on december 1943. He served as operations officer to the squadron, bomb group and then as group operations officer to the bomb group. Tibenham england and then promted to operations officer and sent to the 453rd bomb group. Shank who flew b24s for the 445th bomb group in the 701st and 702nd squadrons. The group was first activated during world war ii as the 445th bombardment group, a consolidated b24 liberator unit stationed in england with viii bomber command. The group was first activated during world war ii as the 445th bombardment. Jimmy stewart and his crew while he was a commander of the 445th bomb group see more photo president john kennedy with sac chief general curtis lemay and sac vicechief lieutenant general thomas power at strategic air command hq, offutt air force base, omaha, nebraska, united states, 1962. His next mission was to bremen on december 16, when he flew as lead pilot for the 445th group. Captain james stewart, 445th bomb group, 1943 wwii bomber. Moved to seething, england from november december 1943 and was assigned to the 8th af. In august 1943, stewart was assigned to the 445th bomb group, first as operations officer of the 703rd bomb squadron and then as its commander, at the rank of captain. Use the search bar to the right to locate a 449th horseman by name, rank, serial number, squadron or crew. Only four of the 445th groups planes made it back to the base two crashing in france, one in belgium, another at raf old buckenham. If you do not see the name of the unit you are searching for, you may click on any unit and type the correct name into the form that follows.
You are invited to join with us to preserve the history and legacy of the men and women of the 392nd b. If you can identify any of the personnel in these pictures, please use this link to contact the webmaster so the names can be recorded. Jimmy stewart and his father alex in front of the family hardware store, 1945. Ww 2 a2 jacket 323rd bomb squadron 91st bomb group 8th air force h r marriott click images to enlarge description this is for the item stated in the title. Photographs crews this section is dedicated to those men who served with the 445th bomb group between april 1, 1943 and september 29, 1945. It was last assigned to the 507th tactical air control wing at shaw air force base, south carolina, where it was inactivated in june 1988 the squadron was first activated during world war ii as the 703d bombardment squadron, heavy in 1943. The 445th bomb group as stewart himself would likely have said, he couldnt have been as successful as he was during his wartime career, if it wasnt for the dedication, sacrifice and devotion to duty of the men of the 703rd bomb squadron, 445th bombardment group of the 8th air force. Jimmy stewarts rise from private to colonel warfare. Squadrons of the 445th bg 700th bombardment squadron heavy 701st bombardment squadron heavy 702nd bombardment squadron heavy 703rd bombardment squadron heavyassigned 8th aaf. The group hq may also have used a medium blue background with white outer circle.
First, stewart commanded the 703rd bomb squadron, a unit of b24s that deployed to england where he guided them through their first combat missions from december 1943 to march 1944. Its a story with so many angles that the media practically has a smorgasbord. Jimmy stewart and the eighth air force, robert matzen james stewart, robert matzen jimmy. If we do not have a photo of a person in the 392nd bomb group, please contact us. Hours later, stewart found himself going into combat. At this point, stewart had more than 3,000 hours of flying time and had proved himself a respected and popular leader. The 407th air expeditionary group 407 aeg is a provisional united states air force unit assigned to the united states air forces central 321st air expeditionary wing. During that time airlift operations were conducted using the c. On his second mission, jimmy stewart led the entire 445th group. The eighth air force archive documents both the fighter and bomber groups that served in europe and africa during world war ii and the eighth air force veterans organizations nationwide. The group continued to hit strategic targets in germany, including the aircraft components factory. The crew originally intended to name her lil lassie.
Air force patches jim buchanan jbmilart military art. In december, the 445th bomb group transferred to tibenham in norfolk, and immediately began combat operations. Nov 22, 2016 hollywood icons jimmy stewart at old buckenham airbase, bomb group. World war ii already a famous actor by the james stewart, who had his commercial pilots license, enlisted in the army air corps at the outbreak of world war two. Previously assigned to 458th bg as one of that groups original aircraft flown to england via the southern route and was one of the dozen or so ships transferred as. The 90th bomb group squadrons all used the same design. The group is stationed at wrightpatterson air force base, ohio. On 15 january 1963, the unit was constituted as the 931st troop carrier group, medium. The 455th bombardment group was a b24 group that served with the fifteenth air force in italy, taking part in the strategic bombing campaign and supporting the fighting in italy and the south of france. Stewart flew 20 combat missions over germany, gaining the distinguished flying cross and the air medal before being transferred as group operations officer to the 453rd bomb group in early 1944.
Patches wwii us army air force air corps units above 200 patches. This section also includes an incomplete airmen photo roster with over 2,700 identified airman and over 4,000 ground crew entries. The 445th bombardment group was a b24 liberator unit serving with the eighth air force from 1943 until the end of the war in europe. Twentynine german and 25 american planes went down in a 15mile 24 km radius.
This incredible grouping belonged to lieutenant william o. Usaf brigadier general jimmy stewart flew bombing missions in. The group s first operation was an attack on the uboat base at kiel on december 1943 the eighth air forces 154th heavy bomber mission. The 703d tactical air support squadron is an inactive united states air force unit. The 361st fighter group intervened, preventing complete destruction of the group. The patch depicts a bomb soaring through the air wearing boxing gloves and was designed for the b24 liberators, the squadron that col. In june 1949 it was inactivated when continental air command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base reorganization plan. The 445th was actor jimmy stewart s original bombardment group. In particular, ive been working with three guys who a were in jimmy stewart s squadron of the 445 th bomb group and with him from boise, idaho on. However, after noting that flak repairs had made many patches on her wings and fuselage, the name patches was agreed upon. This website is a tribute to the men of the 445th bombardment group, 2nd combat bombardment wing, 2nd bombardment later air division, 8th united states army air force. The unit was inactivated with the closure of ali ab on december 16, 2011. On 11 february 1963, the unit activated, aligned under the continental air command, and began operations at bakalar afb, in.