The 98th trained for bombardment missions with B-24 Liberators during the first half of 1942.

The group was alerted and departed for the Middle East on 15 July 1942, arriving in Palestine in late July 1942. The 98th was initially assigned to the USMEAF (United States Middle East Air Force). However, the USMEAF was dissolved on 12 November 1942. At that time, the 98th came under the 9th Air Force. It flew its first mission to Mersa Matruh, Libya on 1 August 1942, with the aircraft being serviced by Royal Air Force personnel until 98th maintenance personnel arrived in mid-August 1942.

It supported the British Eighth Army in its westward advance from Egypt into Libya and Tunisia. It bombed land targets, air fields, railroad lines, shipping, and harbor installations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Crete, and Greece to cut enemy supply lines to Africa and to prepare for the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italy. The 98th earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for action against the enemy in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sicily from August 1942 to August 1943. It received a second DUC for participation in a low-level bombing raid on enemy-held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, on 1 August 1943. On this raid, of 47 B-24s launched, only 21 returned safely. One, the 'Kickapoo', crashed on takeoff with the loss of all crew members except two. Six planes aborted before reaching the target. Seventeen went down in enemy territory. Two went down at sea. The Group Commander, Col. John R. (Killer) Kane was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership. Kane's copilot, Lt. John S. Young, was awarded his third Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in the mission.

The 98th was under the command of the Twelfth Air Force in September and October 1943. From 1 November 1943 it was under the Fifteenth Air Force and moved to Italy. It flew many long-range missions to France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania to bomb enemy heavy industries, airdromes, harbors, oil fields, and communication centers. On another raid on Ploesti on 9 July 1944, Lt. Donald Pucket sacrificed his life trying to save three of his crew members who could not or would not bail out of their doomed B-24. Donald Pucket was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his sacrifice.

In the summer of 1944, the 98th participated in the invasion of southern France, assisted in the Soviet advance into the Balkans, and supported the partisans and guerrillas in Yugoslavia and neighboring countries. It flew a total of 417 missions and earned a total of 15 battle streamers as well as two Presidential Unit Citations.

The group returned to the United States as the war was ending in Europe, where it trained in preparation for movement to the Pacific Theater. It was re-designated the 98th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, but the war with Japan ended before redeployment.

The 98th was inactivated as a group on 10 November 1945. However, the 343rd, 344th, and 345th Squadrons were reassigned to B-29 groups. The 343d Squadron was assigned to the 40th Bomb Group at March Air Force Base, California. and inactivated on 27 November 1946. The 344th was assigned to the 444th Bomb Group at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona and inactivated on 1 October 1946. The 345th was assigned to the 462nd Bomb Group at McDill Field, Florida and inactivated on 31 March 1946.

US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Constituted as 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 3 Feb 1942 Trained with B-24’s. Moved to the Mediterranean theater, Jul- Aug 1942, and served in that area until the end of the war. Assigned to Ninth AF in Nov 1942, to Twelfth AF in Sep 1943, and to Fifteenth AF in Nov 1943.

Entered combat in Aug 1942. Bombed shipping and harbor installations in Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Crete, and Greece to cut enemy supply lines to Africa. Also hit airdromes and rail facilities in Sicily and Italy. Received a DUC for action against the enemy in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sicily from Aug 1942 to Aug 1943. Awarded another DUC for participation in the low-level assault on oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 Aug 1943: although its target had already been attacked by another group, the 98th proceeded through dense smoke and intense flak to bomb its assigned objective. Col John R Kane, group commander, received the Medal of Honor for leading the 98th to complete this attack despite the hazards of oil fires, delayed-action bombs, and alerted defenses.

Afterward the group flew many long-range missions to Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and the Balkans to bomb such strategic targets as industries, airdromes, harbors, and communications, and engaged primarily in such operations until Apr 1945.

1st Lt Donald D Pucket, one of the group’s pilots, was awarded the Medal of Honor for action during a mission against oil refineries at Ploesti on 9 Jul 1944: just after bombing the target, Lt Pucket’s plane was crippled by antiaircraft fire and crew members were wounded; he calmed the crew, administered first aid, surveyed the damage, and, realizing it was impossible to reach friendly territory, gave the order to abandon ship; refusing to desert three men who were unable to leave the bomber, Lt Pucket stayed with the plane that a few moments later crashed on a mountainside.

In addition to strategic operations, the 98th also flew interdictory and support missions. Aided Allied forces at Anzio and Cassino. Participated in the invasion of Southern France. Assisted the Russian advance in the Balkans. Returned to the US, Apr-May 1945.

Commanding officers

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  Frank Robinson

  Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
  Commanding Officer 44th Bomb Group 1-April-1942 to 4-January-1943.

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  Hugo Rush

  Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs

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  John Kane

  Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer, Command Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
  John Riley Kane (January 5, 1907 – May 29, 1996) was a colonel in the United States Army Air Corps and later the United States Air Force. He received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II, for his...

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  Julian Bleyer

  Military | Colonel | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
  Pilot B-24 #41-11896 flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. ...

Structure

Part of

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  15th Air Force

  
  The Fifteenth Air Force was one of two Strategic Air forces in Europe, along with the Eighth Air Force. ...

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  9th Air Force

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  US Army Middle East Air Force

  
  US Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF) was activated on 28 June 1942 in Cairo, Egypt. It brought together several units which had been operating the area including the HALPRO Detachment, and Lewis Brereton's 9th Bomb Squadron. ...

Encompassing

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  343rd Bomb Squadron

  Squadron
  Established as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South Atlantic Transport Route transiting from Morrison Field, Florida though the Caribbean to Brazil; performed trans-Atlantic...

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  344th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron
  The 344th Bombing Squadron was first activated at MacDill Field, Florida as one of the original three squadrons assigned to the 98th Bombardment Group. The 344th soon moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana, where it began to train as a Consolidated B-24...

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  345th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron
  Established as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South Atlantic Transport Route transiting from Morrison Field, Florida though the Caribbean to Brazil; performed trans-Atlantic...

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  415th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron
  Established as a B-24 Liberator reconnaissance squadron in early 1942. Engaged initially in antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; redesignated as a heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South...

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Missions

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  Operation Tidal Wave

  1 August 1943
  Operation TIDAL WAVE. B24D Liberators attack the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B-24s that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57 B...

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	Fayid	11 November 1942 – 9 February 1943
Based	Benina	14 February 1943 – 25 March 1943
Based	Berca	26 March 1943 – 4 April 1943
Based	Benina	4 April 1943 – 25 September 1943
Based	Lecce	17 January 1944 – 19 April 1945

Connections

People

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  Herbert Arens

  Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
  Pilot B-24 Liberator 41-11803 'Rosie Wrecked Em', 344th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid on the wing of Col. Kane, having to abort before the target because of mechanical problems.

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  Clement Badeau

  Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer / Top Turret | 98th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Underwood crew member, B-24 Liberator 41-11921 'Northern Star' 'Doc', flew on the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid. The aircraft successfully bombed the target and returned safely to Benghazi, Libya despite being intercepted...

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  Luther Bailey

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Turret Gunner | 100th Bomb Group
  Obituary for Luther Bailey ...

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  William Banks

  Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid in B-24 42-40208 'Sad Sack'. 50 x combat missions. ETD Awards: SS, DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

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  Neville Benson

  Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
  Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 41-11825.

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  John Bentley

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | 98th Bomb Group
  Received DFC on 15 July 1944 per General Order 1847

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  Julian Bleyer

  Military | Colonel | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
  Pilot B-24 #41-11896 flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. ...

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  Prentice Boston

  Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. John Childers crew. Completed tour. Returned to USA with B-24 'Chug A Lug' for war bonds tour. Awards: AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.

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  Jesse Bowling

  Military | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
  Jesse C Bowling named his aircraft Ruth Please! after his wife Ruth. Bowling was shot down on 19 February 1945 on a mission over Vienna. Bowling managed to land the aircraft in Zadar.

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  William Buchanan

  Military | First Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 98th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. John Dore crew. Missed the Ploesti oil refinery due to dysentery. ETD Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.

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Aircraft

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  42-52744 'Ding Dong Daddy From Dixie' 'Capricorn'

  B-24 Liberator
  Assigned to 834BS, 486BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred in Jul-44 to 835BS. May have been transferred briefly to 493rd BG but definitely transferred to MTO 10 Mar 45 by BAD 3 and assigned to 98th BG. Salvaged 27 Apr 45.

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  42-40402 The Sandman

  B-24 Liberator
  Crew of "The Sandman" on the Ploesti raid: ...

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  42-40364 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

  B-24 Liberator
  Capt. James A. Gunn, Jr. - Pilot (KIA), 2nd Lt. Richard C. Williamson - Co-Pilot (KIA) ...

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  41-24311 'Hadley's Harem'

  B-24 Liberator
  The B-24D, named 'Hadley's Harem' was Lt. Gilbert Hadley's personal airplane and the one he flew on the mission to destroy Hitler's oil refineries at Ploesti Romania in 1943. ...

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  41-11819 Raunchy

  B-24 Liberator
  ...

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  41-11840 The Witch

  B-24 Liberator
  Failed To Return - This aircraft was lost on the low-level Ploesti mission 1 Aug 43. It made a forced landing near the border of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia following a running fight with enemy fighters. Six of the crew became POWs in Bulgaria, the other...

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  42-40322 Cornhusker

  B-24 Liberator
  Shot down over the Ionian Sea by Bf109G's from JG 27/IV while returning from the August 1,1943 low-level mission to Ploesti,Romania. All 10 crew members were KIA. MACR 178 ...

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  42-40102 'Old Baldy'

  B-24 Liberator
  Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) with John Dore crew Ploesti; Lost near the target, AA hit point blank at 30 feet or less from a Romanian 80 mm. 10 x Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 223.

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  41-11817 'Stinger'

  B-24 Liberator
  B-24 Liberator #41-11817 'Stinger' participated in the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid returning safely to Libya with only one crew member WIA.

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  41-11761 The Squaw

  B-24 Liberator
  B-24 Liberator #4111761 'The Squaw' flew on the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, recovering to Cyprus, piloted by Royden L Lebrecht. On completion of its tour, returned to Fort Worth, TX, USA for a war bond tour.

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Citations

Two Distinguished Unit Citations:

Received a DUC for action against the enemy in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sicily from Aug 1942 to Aug 1943. Awarded another DUC for participation in the low-level assault on oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 Aug 1943: although its target had already been attacked by another group, the 98th proceeded through dense smoke and intense flak to bomb its assigned objective.