Frank Robinson
Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Commanding Officer 44th Bomb Group 1-April-1942 to 4-January-1943.
The American Air Museum is Closed
Although the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
98th Bomb Group
Group
-
98th Bombardment Group (leather patch)
-
B-24D Aircraft Of the 44th and 98th Bombardment Groups Attacking White IV The Astra Romano Refineries, Ploest Aug 1 1943
-
Lt. Robert J Nespor, killed in action on 1 August 1943. Lt. Nespor was reassigned to fly Lt. John S. Young's regular airplane, 'KICKAPOO' with his copilot. Lt. John Clark Riley for the Ploesti mission to bomb the oil refineries. Nespor and Riley were killed just after takeoff when 'KICKAPOO''s #4 engine failed and caught on fire. The plane's wing hit a concrete pole on landing cartwheeling the plane into the ground in flames. All but two of the plane's crew were KIA, with two WIA. 1 Aug 1943. Both pilots, Lt. Nespor and Lt. John C. Riley were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart for their bravery and sacrifice for the Ploesti mission.
-
B-24D - 'The Sandman' piloted by Lt. Robert Sternfels of the 98th Bomb Group, 344th Squadron - Flying through the fires and explosions of White IV behind Col. John Kane and John Young in 'Hail Columbia' - at Ploesti, Rumania, August 1, 1943
-
'Hail Columbia' Crash on Cyprus Island - Center Photo Between #3 and #4 Engines - Col. John Kane with Lt. John Young
-
B-24D 'Hail Columbia' After Crash Landing at Nicosia, Cyprus - Aug 1, 1943 - Lt. Korger - Lt. Whalen and crew the next morning
-
Col. John R. Kane was the command pilot of his chosen B-24 for the Ploesti Bombing mission, 'Hail Columbia'. Just before the mission, Kane reassigned Lt. John Young to be his copilot in 'Hail Columbia' along with most of Young's crew form Young's B-24, the 'Kickapoo', thereby saving Lt. Young's and all of his regular crew's lives when 'Kickapoo''s engines failed on the early morning takeoff for Ploesti, and crashed in flames, killing it's pilot's and all crewmembers except two, who survived, though badly burned. August 1, 1943.
-
Capt. John Simmons Young, co-pilot with Col. John Kane on the B-24D 'Hail Columbia' after Operation Tidal Wave over Ploesti, Romania Aug. 1, 1943
-
'Hail Columbia''s Ploesti Mission Officers' Flight Crew : From left - Copilot Lt. John S. Young - Bombardier Lt. Harold Korger - Navigator Lt. Norman Whalen, August, 1943.
-
Col. John R. Kane was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor for his leadership and courage during Operation Tidal Wave over Ploesti, Romania. John Kane flew as Group Leader for his 98th Bomb Group, Col. Leon Johnson's 44th Bombing Group, and Col. Jack Wood's 389th Bomb Group, all of whom attacked and bombed their assigned targets. For the mission, Col. John Kane and his copilot, Lt. John S. Young from Texas, flew Kane's B-24D, the 'Hail Columbia', named by Kane for Columbia University and successfully bombed their target, code named "White IV", the Astra Romano Refinery complex. Lt Young was awarded the Silver Star and an Oak Leaf Cluster for his Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in the mission, August 1, 1943.
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 the Silver Star 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
-
-
-
Hugo Rush
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
-
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... -
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
-
-
15th Air Force
The Fifteenth Air Force was one of two Strategic Air forces in Europe, along with the Eighth Air Force. ... -
-
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
-
-
344th Bomb 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... -
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... -
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... -
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
-
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... -
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... -
Luther Bailey
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Turret Gunner | 100th Bomb Group
Obituary for Luther Bailey ... -
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. -
John Bentley
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | 98th Bomb Group
Received DFC on 15 July 1944 per General Order 1847 -
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. ... -
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. -
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. -
Samuel Caddick
Military | Pilot | 344th Bomb Group
Pilot of B-24 Liberator 'Hey Doc' completed 50 missions over Africa and Europe -
Wilson Cain
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 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' with William Banks crew. ETD Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME. -
Isaac Canetti
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
-
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. -
42-40402 The Sandman
B-24 Liberator
Crew of "The Sandman" on the Ploesti raid: ... -
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) ... -
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. ... -
41-11819 Raunchy
B-24 Liberator
Lost on Ploesti oil refinery raid. 1st Aug 1943. MACR 169. ... -
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... -
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 ... -
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. -
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. -
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.
Missions
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
Aircraft
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.
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 26 September 2019 14:23:05 | Emily | Changes to us air force combat units of world war ii description and commanding officers associations |
| Sources | ||
Air Force Combat Units of World War II |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 July 2019 07:30:58 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Anatomy Of A Disaster - Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg ---- Black Sunday - Michael Hill ---- Together We Served.com ---- Into The Fire - Duane Schultz |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 March 2019 23:32:53 | Dieterle | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
98th Operations Group site. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 March 2019 23:25:34 | Dieterle | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
98th Operations Group site. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 April 2018 06:03:28 | Kickapoo | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
Black Sunday by Michael Hill |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 March 2018 13:06:02 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Burning Hitler's black Gold by Robert Sternfels |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 January 2018 23:10:42 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
"Into The Fire" by Duane Schultz Part III Chap 6 , page 105 : " Not all of the planes made it [ the takeoff ]. 'The Kickapoo of the 376th lost an engine shortly after getting airborne. With a sickening jolt the Kickapoo hit the runway, smashed into a concrete telephone pole, and exploded.' Only two of the crew survived, one with horrible burns over most of his body." |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 November 2016 04:52:48 | 466thHistorian | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 13:26:35 | 466thHistorian | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 03:22:28 | 466thHistorian | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 03:03:40 | 466thHistorian | Changes to aircraft associations and commanding officers associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 02:58:02 | 466thHistorian | Changes to motto, insignia and citations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 02:32:36 | 466thHistorian | Created entry with type, category, name, description, air forces, aircraft types, unit encompassing associations, aircraft associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
