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 an Oak Leaf Cluster to his 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 D. 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
  Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Pilot B-24 41-11896 flew on 1-Aug-43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. ...

Structure

Part of

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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. ...

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  IX Bomber Command

  Command

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  5th Bomb Wing

  Wing
  The 5th Air Division (5th AD) originated on 19 October 1940 at McChord Field, Washington. Its initial mission was air defense of the northwest United States with three bombardment groups (12th, 17th and 39th) flying early B-17 Flying Fortresses (B-17C...

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  47th Bomb Wing

  Wing

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. B-24D 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...

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Assigned 9th Air Force		November 1942
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
Assigned 12th Air Force		September 1943
Based	Lecce	17 January 1944 – 19 April 1945
Assigned 15th Air Force

Connections

People

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  Joseph Altemus

  Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 98th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Goddard crew. 10 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Regensburg 22-Feb-44 in B-24 42-73138; fighters / flak, explosion starboard side of fuselage. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 2726 ...

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  Herbert Arens

  Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 Command Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
  2nd Lt. Herbert W. Arens was a B-24D command pilot in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 344th Bomb Squadron. He flew the B-24D Liberator bomber, SN 41-11803, named, Rosie Wrecked 'Em, on the mission to destroy the oil refineries at...

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  Robert Austin

  Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 98th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti in B-24 41-24198; Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 166 Awards: PH.

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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 41-11921 'Northern Star' 'Doc', flew on the 1-Aug-43 Ploesti raid. The aircraft successfully bombed the target and returned safely to Benghazi, Libya despite being intercepted by enemy...

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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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  Francis Beatty

  Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Crew member of B-24 41-11921 'Northern Star' 'Doc', flew on the 1-Aug-43 Ploesti raid. The aircraft successfully bombed the target and returned safely to Benghazi, Libya despite being intercepted by enemy fighters...

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  Theodore Beaudry

  Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 98th Bomb Group
  Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, the B-24, 42-41007 'Margie A Virgin', was shot up pretty bad, and upon landing somewhere in Europe, caught fire with 6 members of the former DOPEY CREW: Gooden, Perkins, McNeil, Beaudry, Cox, and Cochrane,...

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  Francis Beauregard

  Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
  Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 41-11896.

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  Thomas Bennett

  Military | Captain | Pilot | 491st Bomb Group
  Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-40082.

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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
  The B-24D Liberator bomber, named, The Sandman, was flown by Lt. Robert Sternfels and his copilot, Lt. Barney Jackson, in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron, on Operation Tidal Wave, the famous mission to destroy the...

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  42-40364 The Pink Elephant - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

  B-24 Liberator
  The Pink Elephant, 42-40364, was in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, who called themselves, "The Pyramiders", and the 343rd Bomb Squadron. First named, The Pink Elephant, 42-40364, was the second B-24D, that was later renamed, "Snow White and...

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  41-24198 The Vulgar Virgin - Hell From Heaven - Shoot You're Faded

  B-24 Liberator
  - The B-24D, 41-24198, named, The Vulgar Virgin, flown by Capt. Wallace Taylor, in the 9th AF, the 98th BG, and the 344th BS, based in Benghazi, Libya, should not be confused with Lt. Claude A. Turner's B-24D, 42-40608, also named, The Vulgar Virgin...

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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. As Hadley was approaching his target refinery, code named, "White IV",...

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  41-11819 Raunchy

  B-24 Liberator
  The B-24D Liberator, Raunchy, 41-11819, was in the 344th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force, based at Benghazi, Libya, North Africa, in early 1943. ...

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  41-11840 The Witch

  B-24 Liberator
  The aircraft, 41-11840, named, The Witch, was in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 343rd Bomb Squadron left. It deployed for duty in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in July, 1942. It's pilot, Lt. Glade Jorgenson, played a...

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  42-40655 Four Eyes - Damfino

  B-24 Liberator
  The B-24D bomber, 42-40655, named, Four Eyes, and, Damfino, flown by Lt. Donald J. Hadcock, was assigned to the 343rd Bombing Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force. ...

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  42-40322 Cornhusker

  B-24 Liberator
  The B-24D, Cornhusker, in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 415th Bomb Squadron, flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the large mission destroy the German held oil refineries at Ploesti Romania. It was shot down over the Ionian Sea by Bf-109G...

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  41-11886 Lil Joe

  B-24 Liberator
  The B-24D, named, Lil Joe, 41-11886, was flown by Pilot Lt. Lindley Hussey on Operation Tidal Wave to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, Lil Joe was shot down and lost on the Ploesti oil refinery mission. On approach to it's target, Lil...

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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.