3rd Bomb Wing

Wing

One of four original bombardment wings of the Eighth Air Force, the 3rd Bomb Wing comprised four groups of B-26 Marauder medium bombers by September 1943, as part of VIII Air Support Command.



Its HQ had moved from Elveden Hall, Suffolk to Marks Hall, Essex in the spring of 1943 in an exchange of bases with B-17s of the 4th Bomb Wing.



The 3rd Bomb Wing and its assets then transferred to Ninth Air Force control (as part of IX Bomber Command) on October 16th 1943 – becoming the nucleus of the 98th Combat Bombardment Wing, headquarted at Earls Colne airfield.



The '3rd Wing' designation then disappeared from USAAF nomenclature until after WW2.

Commanding Officers

Major General Frederick L. Anderson Handwritten caption on reverse: 'M G Frederick L. Anderson.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: US Strategic Air Forces VIII Bomber Command 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-17175
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General
Brigadier-General Haywood S. Hansell (right) and Colonel Curtis E. LeMay (left) with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Dry Martini and the Cocktail Kids the 4th" of the 305th Bomb Group, 13 May 1943. Official caption on image: "71088 A.C." Printed caption on reverse: '71088 USAF - Brig. General Haywood S. Hansell and Colonel Curtis E. LeMay pose beside the Boeing B-17 "Dry Martini 4th, The Cocktail Kids" on 13 May 1943. 304th[sic] Bomb Group based in England. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 1st Combat Bomb Wing Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
  • Service Numbers: O-17468
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 558th Bomb Squadron Headquarters Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-020743
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Assistant Chief of Staff
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: IX Bomber Command
  • Highest Rank: General

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Elveden Hall 12 September 1942 - 12 June 1943

Based

Marks Hall 12 June 1943

Encompassing

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Private First Class Barbara O'Brien of the Womens Army Corps, paints the nose of a B-26 Marauder (YU-Y. serial number 41-34982) nicknamed "Jolly Roger" of the 323rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publcation 4 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295589.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'W.A.C.S. on duty at a Bomber Station. Associated Press Photo shows:- Pfc: Barbara O'Brien painting the Jolly Roger on the nose of a Marauder with the crew looking on.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Lieutenant James T. Wilson and Lieutenant Robert J. Owen of the 386th Bomb Group in the cockpit of their B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] nand '279545.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AT THE US MARAUDERS BASE. The B-26 Marauders, American super medium bombers are operating now from bases in Britain. This series of pictures shows various scenes at the airfield where the ground crew and the fliers work together
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Date
ContributorSavvyGA
Changes
Sources

Clarification of 3rd BW's status; and removal from USAAF unit listings in October 1943.

Date
ContributorSavvyGA
Changes
Sources

Maurer, Freeman et Al.

Date
ContributorPaul Bellamy
Changes
Sources

Airfields of the Ninth Then & Now (R A Freeman, 1994)
Air Force Combat Units of World War II (Maurer, 1983)