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391st Bomb Group

Group

  • An airman of the 391st Bomb Group wearing a service dress jacket and kilt. Written on slide casing: '391 BG.'

    An airman of the 391st Bomb Group wearing a service dress jacket and kilt. Written on slide casing: '391 BG.'

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  • 1LT Elmer A. Dietschler (far right) with his family 391st BG - 574th BS - 9th AF Co-Pilot - Metelsky Crew

    1LT Elmer A. Dietschler (far right) with his family 391st BG - 574th BS - 9th AF Co-Pilot - Metelsky Crew

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  • Martin Marauder B-26 41-35010 'Jinx' 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF and crew.

    Martin Marauder B-26 41-35010 'Jinx' 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF and crew.

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  • Martin Marauder B-26 42-95844 'Powerful Katrinka' 574BS, 391BG, 9AF.

    Martin Marauder B-26 42-95844 'Powerful Katrinka' 574BS, 391BG, 9AF.

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  • Martin Marauder B-26B 42-95844 'Miss Behavin' 575BS 391BG 9AF.

    Martin Marauder B-26B 42-95844 'Miss Behavin' 575BS 391BG 9AF.

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  • Lt. F.J. Majka and crew of the 575th Bomb Sqdn. pose beside Martin B-26 Marauder 'Skyhag'. 391st Bomb Group, England. 8 June 1944. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A10993-66844AC.

    Lt. F.J. Majka and crew of the 575th Bomb Sqdn. pose beside Martin B-26 Marauder 'Skyhag'. 391st Bomb Group, England. 8 June 1944. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A10993-66844AC.

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  • Lt Saunders and crew of the 575th Bomb Sqdn. pose beside Martin B-26 Marauder 'Skyhag'. 391st Bomb Group, England. 21 August 1944. Shot down by flak on December 23,1944. 4 KIA, 2 POW MACR 11664. Crew : 2Lt Robert M Saunders (pilot) 2Lt Kenneth D Albert (copilot) 2Lt Martin K Mazurk (bombardier) S/Sgt John J Wilkes Jr (engineer) S/Sgt Leonard E Raef (radio). NARA Ref 342-FH-3A10994-A66844AC.

    Lt Saunders and crew of the 575th Bomb Sqdn. pose beside Martin B-26 Marauder 'Skyhag'. 391st Bomb Group, England. 21 August 1944. Shot down by flak on December 23,1944. 4 KIA, 2 POW MACR 11664. Crew : 2Lt Robert M Saunders (pilot) 2Lt Kenneth D Albert (copilot) 2Lt Martin K Mazurk (bombardier) S/Sgt John J Wilkes Jr (engineer) S/Sgt Leonard E Raef (radio). NARA Ref 342-FH-3A10994-A66844AC.

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  • 1st Lt Clarence E Mickelson 574BS, 391BG, 9AF. Pilot of B-26 43-34309 lost on raid to Ahrweiler 23-Dec-44.

    1st Lt Clarence E Mickelson 574BS, 391BG, 9AF. Pilot of B-26 43-34309 lost on raid to Ahrweiler 23-Dec-44.

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  • 2nd Lieutenant Stephen V Biezis 575BS, 391BG, 9AF. Co pilot of B-26C 42-107671.

    2nd Lieutenant Stephen V Biezis 575BS, 391BG, 9AF. Co pilot of B-26C 42-107671.

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  • B-26C 42-107671 08-L 'Silver Dollar' 575BS, 391BG, 8AF lost 23-12-44.

    B-26C 42-107671 08-L 'Silver Dollar' 575BS, 391BG, 8AF lost 23-12-44.

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"The heaviest losses sustained by the 391st Bombardment Group in a single operation occurred on 23 December 1944, after an attack on the railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler, Germany (11). Upon completion of the second bomb run, the formation was attacked by an estimated fifty to seventy-five FW-19Us and ME-109's. As a result, sixteen aircraft were missing in action, and the returning planes were badly battle-damaged. Despite the morning losses, all available aircraft flew on the afternoon of the same day against the communications center at Neuerberg, Germany, which was vitally important to the German forces fighting in the Ardennes Bulge. Interpretation of the strike photos credited the Group with destruction at the road intersection and with damage to three main highways leading into the intersection."
Extract from : http://www.b26.com/page/391/assignments.htm

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Matching 25 January 1944 – 19 September 1944
Based Roye / Amy 19 September 1944 – 16 April 1945
Based Asch 16 April 1945 – May 1945

Connections

People

  • Clayton Abraham

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bomber pilot | 391st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 573BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. Shot down by Fw190's 3 miles East of Ahrweiler. Last seen dropping behind formation with both engines smoking, gear down, going into spin, crashed....

  • John Adair

    Military | Major | Bomb / Nav | 391st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 575BS, 391BG, 8AF USAAF. Bomb/Nav of “Silver Dollar,” B-26C 42-107671, shot down about 30 miles south of their target, the railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler, Germany. 23-Dec-44. A/C last seen with starboard engine feathered and port engine...

  • John Amber

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 391st Bomb Group
    John Amber served as a radio operator gunner with the 391st Bomb Group. Amber must have served with a different unit prior to the 391st as he was already at the rank of Tech Sergeant and wore several different medal ribbons in October 1944 before...

  • William Bell

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 391st Bomb Group

  • John Berens

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 391st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Transferred to 1st PFF Sqn(Prov), 9AF USAAF. Shot down by fighters leading 397BG to Ahrweiler, Germany in B-26 44-67881. Killed in Action (KIA). 23-Dec-44 MACR 15984. Awards: PH.

  • Stephen Biezis

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 391st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 575BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Co-pilot of “Silver Dollar,” B-26C 42-107671, shot down about 30 miles south of their target, the railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler, Germany. 23-Dec-44. A/C last seen with starboard engine feathered and port engine...

  • George Bishop

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 391st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. 15 missions flown. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. A/C B-26 42-95865 tail shot off by fighters, went down out of control. Killed in Action (KIA). 23-Dec-44 MACR 11664. Awards: PH.

  • Joseph Blair

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bomb / Navigator | 391st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany in B-26 41-35010 'Snakes Revenge' departing the target the formation were set upon by fighters. Dropped out of formation losing oil from both engines,...

  • Charles Bohm

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 391st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Transferred to 1st Pathfinder Sqn, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Euskirchen railroad bridge in B-26 42-95878 'Weary Lera' shot down by flak while leading 322BG crashed in flames near Bonn,...

  • Verne Bovie

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 391st Bomb Group
    Taken POW on 23/12/44 when his plane 42-107747 went down 3 miles East of Ahrweiler, Germany. Sole survivor.

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Aircraft

  • 41-31716 The Black Death

    B-26 Marauder

  • 41-35010 Jinx, Snakes Revenge

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany in B-26 41-35010 'Snakes Revenge' departing the target the formation was set upon by fighters. Dropped out of formation losing oil from both engines,...

  • 42-107576

    B-26 Marauder

  • 42-107595

    B-26 Marauder

  • 42-107597 'Old Sarge'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. 62 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. A/C hit by fighters, tail turret and gunner torn off in collision with enemy fighter, both wings set ablaze, exploded, crashed two miles...

  • 42-107671

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 575BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler, Germany. Shot down about 30 miles south of the target, 23-Dec-44. Hit in the bomb bay by flak and attacked by enemy A/C, last seen with...

  • 42-107673

    B-26 Marauder

  • 42-107720

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 574BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. 46 combat missions flown. Severely damaged by fighters and bellylanded at base after raid to Ahrweiler, Germany 23-Dec-44. Repaired. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Gladbach, Germany hit by flak in...

  • 42-107747

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 573BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. 51 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. Shot down by Fw190's 3 miles East of Ahrweiler. Last seen dropping behind formation with both engines smoking, gear down, going into spin,...

  • 42-107811

    B-26 Marauder

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Citations

None

Air Force
9th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
22 February 2017 11:17:37 general ira snapsorter Changes to stations
Sources

Stations added with details from:
- "Battle Colors Volume III - Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War Two' by Robert A. Watkins;
Date Contributor Update
19 August 2015 15:29:14 general ira snapsorter Changes to description
Sources

Highlight added from http://www.b26.com/page/391/assignments.htm
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 15:35:45 rossingtonj Changes to type
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

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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