376th Bomb Group

Group
media-22868.jpeg UPL 22868 Leather patch, 376th Bombardment Group 376th Bomb Group collection

armyaircorps-376bg.com

Object Number - UPL 22868 - Leather patch, 376th Bombardment Group

Constituted as 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 Oct 1942 and activated in Palestine on 31 Oct. Began combat immediately, using B-24 aircraft. Operated with Ninth AF from bases in the Middle East, Nov 1942-Sep 1943, and with Twelfth AF from Tunisia, Sep-Nov 1943. Attacked shipping in the Mediterranean and harbor installations in Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy to cut enemy supply lines to Africa. Struck airdromes, marshalling yards, and other objectives in Sicily and Italy after the fall of Tunisia in May 1943. Received a DUC for action against the enemy in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sicily, Nov 1942-Aug 1943. Participated in the famed low-level assault on oil refineries at Ploesti and received another DUC: nearing Ploesti on 1 Aug 1943 and realizing that it was off course, the group attempted to reach its assigned objective from another direction; by this time, however, enemy defenses were thoroughly alerted and intense opposition forced the 376th to divert to targets of opportunity in the general target area



Moved to Italy in Nov 1943 and operated with Fifteenth AF until Apr 1945. Engaged primarily in long-range missions to targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans to bomb factories, marshalling yards, oil refineries, oil storage facilities, airdromes, bridges, harbors, and other objectives. Received a DUC for attacking the oil industry at Bratislava on 16 Jun 1944. Also flew support and interdictory missions, assisting Allied forces at Anzio and Cassino during Feb-Mar 1944, supporting the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944, aiding the Russian sweep into the Balkans during the fall of 1944, and assisting Allied troops in northern Italy during Apr 1945.



Moved to the US in Apr. Redesignated 376th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in May 1945. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1945.

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Established

Lydda 31 October 1942

Based

Abu Sueir 8 November 1942 - 10 February 1943

Based

Mellaha 6 April 1943 - 26 September 1943

Based

San Pancrazio 17 November 1943 - 19 April 1945

Previously was

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 16014804 / 0-437460 / 8445A
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 515th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31133182
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-728816
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 512th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14123316
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-681605
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co Pilot

Aircraft

UPL 15438
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Queen Bee, Lorraine
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 513th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Malicious
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 515th Bomb Squadron Halverson Detachment
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Florine JuJu, Liberandos, Teggie Ann, The Blue Streak
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 514th Bomb Squadron Halverson Detachment
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Edna Elizabeth
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron 512th Bomb Squadron 1st Provisional Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Kitty Quick Chum V
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 515th Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date
Contributormo2tx2az92
Changes
Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday ~ Michael Hill

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributormillebr
Changes
Sources

historyofwar.org

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

376th Bomb Group: Gallery (156 items)