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401st Bomb Squadron

Squadron

  • The insignia of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group.

    The insignia of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group.

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  • England-Keen eyes of Capt Oscar O'Neill, skipper of 'Invasion II', peer out over the oxygen mask that high altitude combat forces every crew member to wear. O'Neill is the first man to see enemy aircraft getting

    England-Keen eyes of Capt Oscar O'Neill, skipper of 'Invasion II', peer out over the oxygen mask that high altitude combat forces every crew member to wear. O'Neill is the first man to see enemy aircraft getting "cocked" for a frontal attack. Over the intercom, through the sensitive throat mike he yells back to rest of the crew "Gunners alert ! Focke Wulfe 190 coming in high at 1:30.. here we go... " NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12655-50030AC.

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  • 1st Lt Robert Freihofer, [ Troy, N.Y ], co-pilot of Boeing B-17

    1st Lt Robert Freihofer, [ Troy, N.Y ], co-pilot of Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 42-5070 'Invader II'. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A09020-3A09020.

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  • " Master Sgt. Robert Dalton [ Reading, Pa ], has named his engine of Boeing B-17 'Denise' after his best girl back home. Sorry, but It's true, Denise will never receive from Dalton one-half of the loving care that her engine namesake does ". - M/SGT Robert Dalton, one of the original crew chiefs of the 91st BG when the unit deployed to England in November, 1942. Dalton & assistant crew chief Jack Gaffney took care of B-17F 42-5070 "Invasion II" (coded LL-A). When that ship was lost on the 17 April 1943 mission to Bremen, they were assigned B-17F 42-29591 "The Shamrock Special" (coded LL-Z). NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12442-3A12442.

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  • " Sgt Jack Gaffney, [ San Bernardino, California ], has named his engine on a Boeing B-17 after his best back-home girl Judith sorry, but It's true- Judith will never receive from Dalton one-half of the loving care that her engine namesake does ". - Sgt Jack Gaffney of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st BG during his assignment as assistant crew chief on B-17F 42-5070 "Invasion II" (coded LL-A). In addition to his mechanic duties, Gaffney created "nose art" for seven different 91st BG Fortresses. He painted nose art for "Invasion II" (42-5070), "The Bad Egg" , "The Sky Wolf, Shamrock Special, Destiny's Child, Los Angeles City Limits, Sunkist Sue. Jack Paul Gaffney was born on Oct 16th, 1918 - passed away on July 17th, 2011. Sgt Benedict Borostowski Ball Turret Gunner climbs into his position for a photo in the background. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12473-60295AC.

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  • B-17G 42-31812

    B-17G 42-31812 "Destiny's Child" (coded LL-H) of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Grp. Crew chief Jack Gaffney's pride and joy, he was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in his maintenance actions.

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  • B-17F 42-29591

    B-17F 42-29591 "The Shamrock Special" (coded LL-Z), 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Grp, Bassingbourn. The ship was named by assistant crew chief Sgt Jack Gaffney in honor of his stepfather's Irish ancestry.

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  • Fr. Michael S. Ragan, 91st BG chaplain shakes hands with a 91st BG air crew member in early 1945 at Bassingbourn. Photograph by Lt. Thomas F. Flemming.

    Fr. Michael S. Ragan, 91st BG chaplain shakes hands with a 91st BG air crew member in early 1945 at Bassingbourn. Photograph by Lt. Thomas F. Flemming.

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  • Airman known only as

    Airman known only as "Ray" and his pal in front of B-17G, #42-31678. LL-L "Little Patches" at Bassingbourn in 1944. Photograph by Msgt. Rice C. Linn of 91st BG.

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  • J. D.

    J. D. "Jack" Hamner (Tail Gunner), far left, and crew with 883 "The Jub Jub Bird". According to transcribed 401st Dailies, he and his crew flew 8 of his 30 missions in 883 from 26 March 44 to 27 May 44. The crew on the 26 March 1944 mission to Pas De Calais, France was: Lts. R. J. Griesbach, C. R. Peck, J. R. Simonson, J. R. Piland, T/Sgts. E. J. Viskocil, R. G. Hartford, S/Sgts. R. E. Rigaud, J. D. Hamner, H. V. Lane, H. R. Small. Back Row - Left to Right S/Sgt. John "Jack" D. Hamner, Tailgunner; J.H. Piland, Bombardier; 2nd Lt. Roy Griesbach, Pilot; J.R. Simonson, Navigator; 2nd Lt. Charles R. Peck, Co-pilot; R.E. Riguad, Ball Turret Gunner Front Row - Left to Right H.R. Small, Right Waist Gunner; E.J. Viskocil, Top Turret Gunner; R.G. Harford, Radio Operator; Harry Lane, Left Waist Gunner

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Commanding officers

  • John Davis

    Military | Major | Commanding Officer | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Major John D Davis was Commanding Officer of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, based at Bassingbourn from December 1944 to June 1945. He later married Lieutenant Helen Pierson, an Army Nurse stationed at the nearby 163rd General Hospital at...

Structure

Part of
  • 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars

    91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars

    Group
    The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...

Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Bassingbourn

Connections

People

  • Daniel Abeles

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Shot down 19 April 1944 in B-17 #42-97406. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Robert Ade

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Killed in Action (KIA). Shot down 17 April 1943 in B-17 41-24459 'Hellsapoppin. ' According to Havelaar, the target was the Focke Wulf aircraft factory. Fighters and flak were heavy and the 401st BS was hit especially hard.

  • James Akers

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Shot down 22 June 1943 in B-17 #4229536 'Mary Ruth-Memories of Mobile. ' Result unknown.

  • John Alba

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Shot down 21 November 1944 in AC #43-38545. Escaped and returned. Plane became known as the phantom plane and crew because after the crew bailed out it made a perfect 3 pt landing in a field and when the British went to help the crew there wasn't one!...

  • Kirk Aldrich

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Shot down by fighters and crashed NE of Gardelegen, GR on a mission to Berlin on 6 Mar 1944 in B-17G #42-31079. Prisoner of War (POW) POW

  • Harry Alexander

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    On 4 February 1944 on a mission to Frankfurt, B-17G #42-39771 'Jeannie Marie' was forced to land due to extensinve flak damage at Eindhoven, Holland. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Charles Allen

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Mid air collision 31 August 1943 in B-17 #42-29816 'The Eager Beaver. ' Plane crashed into Channel. Returned to base. Mr. Allen lived through the most harrowing experience in the history of the group. He was a husky, 20 year old Indiana boy with a...

  • John Allen

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Flew on B-17 'Times A-Wastin'. ' Flew 35 missions

  • Robert Allen

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    2nd Lieutenant Robert N. Allen was born on January 5, 1918, the son of Ola DeLong Allen. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Allen. His hometown was Latham, New York. ...

  • William Allen

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
    Shot down 22 June 1943 in B-17 42-29536 'Mary Ruth-Memories of Mobile. ' Killed in Action (KIA). "A man from GA. with big dreams of becoming a salesman but he was KIA. RIP uncle Glenn" from Walker Allen

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Aircraft

  • 41-24431 The Saint

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-G] Bangor 27/8/42; Bassingbourn 11/10/42; detailed mechanical trip to Honington, Sfk. 16/2/43 but crashed on attempted t/o with Earl Riley, Co-pilot: Earl Dosier, Navigator: Roy Schwendiman, Bombardier: Edwin Bush, Flight...

  • 41-24447 Kickapoo

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-H] Bangor 29-Aug-42; Bassingbourn 1-Oct-42; Missing in Action 11m Wilhelmshafen 26-Feb-44. Flak hit caused fire in #4, crashed North Sea. 10 Killed in Action, Missing Air Crew Report 4830. KICKAPOO. ...

  • 41-24449 Short Snorter

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    B-17F 41-24449 'Short Snorter' was assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-B] Bangor 31-Aug-42; Bassingbourn 1-Oct-42. On 20-Dec-43 the aircraft was damaged on the mission to Romilly, France with Capt William Harris, but limped back to base OK. 10RTD ...

  • 41-24452

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    B-17F 41-24452 was assigned to 91BG/401BS at Bangor 29-Aug-42; Bassingbourn 1-Oct-42. Despatched on 20-Dec-42 to bomb the German air depot at Romilly, France. Enemy aircraft KO’d tailplane and the aircraft crashed near Rouen, France. 3KIA 7POW MACR...

  • 41-24459 Hellsapoppin

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-B] Bangor 2/9/42; Bassingbourn 1/10/42; Missing in Action Bremen 17/4/43 with John Wilson, Waist gunner: Walt Bohaczyk, Ball turret gunner: Gil Andrews, Waist gunner: Cliff Cadle,Tail gunner: Bob Ade; (5 Killed in Action); Co...

  • 41-24484 'The Bad Egg'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-C] Bangor 31/8/42; Bassingbourn 1/10/42; on return from Cognac 43+m 31/12/43, diverted through weather to Gt Dunmow, Andrews Field, then Hunsdon Afd, with Hilary Evers, Co-pilot: Paul McDuffee, Navigator: Frank Keneley,...

  • 42-102392 Cool Papa

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Gt Falls 2/3/44; Hunter 14/3/44; Grenier 7/4/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [OR- ] Bassingbourn 22/4/44; Missing in Action 7m Troyes 1/5/44 with Albt McCardle, Co-pilot: Joe Vandenboom, Navigator: Cliff Stanton, Bombardier: Everett...

  • 42-102504 Times A-Wastin'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 9/3/44; Gr Island 31/3/44; Grenier 6/4/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-D] Bassingbourn 11/5/44. ...

  • 42-102509 The Liberty Run

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 10/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 6/4/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-A] Bassingbourn 22/4/44; Missing in Action Leipzig 20/7/44 with Art Hultin, Co-pilot: Capt Bill Martin, Navigator: Bob Hart, Bombardier: Maurice Bonomo, Flight...

  • 42-107027 Hikin' For Home

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 1/2/44; Grenier 27/2/44; ...

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known
Aircraft used
  • B-17 Flying Fortress

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 01:44:20 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to media associations
Sources

my photo
Date Contributor Update
08 February 2015 16:08:44 Pat Flyer Changes to type, aircraft types and aircraft associations
Sources

Edited by P. Milward 8 February 2015
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:49 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. 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)

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