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Page 148 of the 401st Bomb Group unit history.
Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations).
Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
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Bomber crews from the 401st Bomb Group look over P-51 Mustang, FT-T, serial number 43-12172, of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, at Deenethorpe airfield. One of their B-17 Flying Fortresses is in the background. Printed caption on reverse of print: '...401st Bomb Group look over a North American P-51 Mustang at an 8th Air Force base in England, 27 December 1943.'
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A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have returned to operational duties following a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296493.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. Photo shows: The crew of the Fortress bomber which crashed on the village of Deenthorpe.
L-R. T/Sgt William D Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, South Caroline,
Sergeant Waldon D Cohen, Ball-turret gunner of Altoona, Pennsylvania,
Sergeant Harold J Kelsen, waist gunner, of Brooklyn NY,
Sergeant Robert V Kerr, tail-gunner of Montesano, Washington,
S/Sgt Benjamin C Misser, radio-operator, of Quarryville, Pennsylvania,
[Lieutenant Wardlow Hammond, co-pilot, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania],
Lieutenant Walter B Keith, pilot of Hodgeville Kentucky, who is talking to Captain RJ White, of Kingsport Tennessee, who rescued the navigator Lieutenant King [a censor has obscured the navigator's name] from the blazing bomber. Gai. December 11th 1943. PN.'
Press caption for image series: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. All but two of the crew of a Flying Fortress which crashed on the village of Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, and exploded with its cargo of bombs following the fire which broke out inside the bomber, are back on operational duties with the Eighth Air Force. The navigator and bomb-aimer are still in hospital, recovering from injuries. They were rescued from the blazing Fortress shortly before the explosion. Gai. December 11 1943. Note to censor: This story covers the set of four pictures under the above title.’
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Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White.
Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of Kingsport, Tenn, who rescued the navigator from the burning plane. G. 11th December 1943. PN.'
Press caption for image series: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. All but two of the crew of a Flying Fortress which crashed on the village of Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, and exploded with its cargo of bombs following the fire which broke out inside the bomber, are back on operational duties with the Eighth Air Force. The navigator and bomb-aimer are still in hospital, recovering from injuries. They were rescued from the blazing Fortress shortly before the explosion. Gai. December 11 1943. Note to censor: This story covers the set of four pictures under the above title.’
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Combat and ground crew of the 401st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress, (serial number 41-31983) nicknamed "Mary Alice". The airmen, left to right, are: (Front row) Charlie Wilson (waist gunner), William "Mack" Mackowiack (ball turret gunner). (Middle Row) Eddie Chambers (bombardier) and Dan Knight (pilot). Handwritten caption on reverse: '401.'
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Sergeant Martin Goodman, a radio operator of the 401st Bomb Group.
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Mechanics of the 401st Bomb Group examine the foam-covered wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress that exploded. Printed caption on reverse: '65725 AC- Mechanics were working in the bomb bay of this Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" when sparks from a torch caused an explosion in the oxygen system- this was the result- the aircraft was sent to salvage. 401st Bomb Group, England 24 September 1944. US Air Force Photo.'
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An airman of the 401st Bomb Group updates the operations board. 13 January 1945. Printed caption on reverse: '65620- 401st Bomb Group operations, 13 January 1945. England. A- Same as basic. US Air Force photo. Detachment-5, Hq AAA (MAC).'
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Civillians with the wreck of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295794.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '5/12/43 B-17 Crash 401 BG.'
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Fireworks at Deenethorpe, home of the 401st Bomb Group, on VE Day. Written on slide casing: 'VE night at Deenethorpe, 8 May 1945.'
Deenethorpe was a base purpose-built for American heavy bombers, with the Class A regulation 2,000 and 1,400-yard runways. All the buildings on site,such as the accommodation and administrative blocks, were temporary. In December 1943, several local homes were destroyed when one B-17 Flying Fortress failed to take off and its bomb load detonated when the aircraft struck a building. The 401st Bomb Group were based here between 3 November 1943 and 20 June 1945.
Detailed history
Not yet known
English Heritage's record description
A military airfield, opened in 1943 and closed in 1946. It conformed to the standard requirements for as United States Army Air Force bomber base, with three intersecting concrete runways and fifty hard standings. The technical site buildings were situated to the south east of the flying field, with one T2 type aircraft hangar there and one on the western edge of the flying field. Both have been dismantled. There was a bomb dump to the eastern side of the flying field, with a fuel dump and firing butts to the north east. Dispersed administrative, communal and barracks area were situated to the south. Wartime construction methods typically involved the use of "temporary materials" for many building types. The airfield may have initially been used for Royal Air Force training, but was mainly used by the 8th Air Force's 401st Bombardment Group who flew B17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber aircraft. One of the 255 missions, including raids on major German cities and industrial targets such as the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt. The airfield was designated Station 128 by the Americans. After the Americans left in 1945, the base was no longer used for flying but became a Royal Air Force recruitment centre, before closing officially in 1946. After this date the control tower continued to be used by the Royal Observer Corps- it was demolished in 1996. In 1963 the site was sold and part of the main south-west to north-east aligned runway has been used as a private airstrip.
Service
Units
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Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
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Group
Unit disestablished in April 1945 as part of a complete restructuring of the service and supply elements of the 8AF.
Most personnel transferred into the newly established 431st Air Service Group, the remainder distributed among the combat units on base.
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Squadron
Browse 18th Weather Squadron photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/60
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People
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Airplane Mechanic | 401st Bomb Group
'I was a Airplane Mechanic on the B-17 "Hells Angels Out of Chute 13" with the 401st Bomb Group + 612th Squadron. We were really proud of it because I finished 118 missions without an abort. It was shot up on the last mission of the war in Europe, but...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-17 #42-30855 'Ol' Massa', Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
Had the pleasure of personally delivering his bomb to Germany. He is a navigator but when the "Oshkosh Bomb" was dropped he operated the toggle. He was later KIA.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
On 27 Jan 1944, while taxiing after landing from a training flight, the landing gear switch of B-17G #42-31414 was placed in the up position instead of the flap switch. RTD. Shot down 28-May-44 in B-17 42-97073. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 5311.
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Military | Corporal | Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 614BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Schweinfurt in B-17 42-97464 'What Next ?'; Shot down 13-Apr-44. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3941
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 31 x missions. Ended Tour Duty (ETD).
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down by fighters on return from mission to Oscherleben on 11 Jan 1944 in B-17G #42-39893. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
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Military | Private
Killed In Service 24 Mar 1944 when PFF aircraft crashed into barracks on takeoff at 1245. KIS.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 614BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 31 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Private | Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 614BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Not among crew shot down 13-Apr-44 on Schweinfurt mission. Absent from MACR 3941
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 340BS/97BG Polebrook 15/4/42; transferred 390BG Framlingham 29/6/42; 407BS/92BG [PY-N] Bovingdon /9/42; 401BS/91BG [LL-X] Bassingbourn 22/7/43; 613BS/401BG [IN-P], then 612BS [SC-X] Deenethorpe, Nth. 6/11/43; /390BG Framlingham, 6/11/43; 600BS...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Hunter 22/3/44; Grenier 2/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-R] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; 111m, Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Kearney 15/3/44; Dow Fd 4/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-C] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 24/8/44 with Parker Finney, Co-pilot: Virgil Price, Navigator: Dale Scott, tog-Brown Bralley, Waist gunner: Burton...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/2/44; Gr Island 22/3/44; Grenier 20/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-H] Deenethorpe 13/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/3/44; Hunter 7/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-C] Deenethorpe 3/5/44; 614BS [IW-S]; 106m, Returned to the USA Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 14/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 12/3/44; Gr Island 22/3/44; Dow Fd 3/4/44; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 2/5/44; transferred 367BS/306BG [GY-F] Thurleigh 5/5/44. Missing in Action 63M Berlin 3 February 1945 with Vernor F. Daley Jr, Co-pilot: Joseph J. Carbine,...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/44; Gr Island 1/4/44; Dow Fd 8/4/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-Q] Deenethorpe 3/5/45; Missing in Action Dessau 28/5/44 with Bill Protz, Ball turret gunner: Frank Bartak, Waist gunner: Alby Reinhardt, Waist gunner: Glenn Cliff,...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/44; Kearney 1/4/44; Grenier 14/4/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-L] Deenethorpe 29/4/44; Missing in Action Dessau 28/5/44 with Paul Scharff, Co-pilot: Chas Eckert, Bombardier: Bob Hoover, Waist gunner: Roscoe Tomlinson (4 Killed in...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Hunter 8/4/44; Dow Fd 28/4/44; Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-R] Chelveston 25/5/44; transferred 379BG Kimbolton 21/1/45; 401BG Deenethorpe 25/5/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 9/6/45;...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 23/3/44; Hunter 9//4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-G] Deenethorpe 24/5/44; Missing in Action Dessau 28/5/44 with Fred Windham, Navigator: Carl Floto, Bombardier: Angelo Melito, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob...
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