390th Bombardment Group
(“Square J”)
The unit was constituted as 390th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 15 Jan 1943 and activated on 26 January 1943 at Geiger Field, Washington as the 390th Bombardment Group, with the 568th, 569th, 570th, and 571st Bombardment Squadrons assigned as its original squadrons. The group did not begin to fill its ranks until early the following month. The group trained at Geiger until June 1943 when it moved to Great Falls Army Air Base, Montana. Four Bombardment Groups, the 2nd, 385th, 390th, and 401st, trained at Great Falls AAB from November 1942 to October 1943 under Army Air Force Training Command. Senior officers of the group were the first from bombardment groups to be assigned to Eighth Air Force to attend the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, where comprehensive training, based on the Army Air Forces' combat experience, was conducted. The 390th's B-17s began their flights overseas on 4 July, taking the ferry route from Iceland to Prestwick Airport, Scotland, where the first aircraft arrived on 13 July 1943. The ground echelon left for Camp Shanks, New York the same day and sailed on the SS James Parker on 17 July 1943, and arrived at Liverpool on 27 July. The group was reunited at its station, RAF Framlingham, a few days later and assigned to the Eighth Air Force.
Mission #3: Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission (August 17, 1943)
Regensburg
Schweinfurt-Regensburg was an ambitious Eighth Air Force plan to cripple the German aircraft industry. In a “double strike” mission never previously attempted, two bomber wings were assigned to bomb heavy industry in two German cities at the same time: this, an effort to divide and confuse German air defenses. The operation was flown on August 17, 1943. This was mission #3 for the 390th Bombardment Group: target Regensburg. The long-range aspect of the mission meant two things: first, little fighter support (both targets were well out of fuel range for the fighters); second; not enough fuel for many of the bombers to return to England. Thus, the Regensburg force of this mission became the first American “shuttle” mission, in which all or part of a mission landed at a different field and later bombed another target before returning to its base.
The mission was known as a “double-strike” because it entailed two large forces of bombers attacking separate targets. The Regensburg strike force (4th Bombardment Wing, of which the 390th was a part) was tasked with attacking Messerschmitt Bf 109 plants. Equipped with the long range fuel tanks, these bombers were to fly on to bases in Bône, Berteaux and Telergma (French Algeria). The 1st Bombardment Wing, following it, was to turn northeast and bomb the ball-bearing factories of Schweinfurt. They would then return to England. For both strike forces, timing was central to strategy. The Regensburg plan had to account for one-to-two hours of climb and assembly into formation, an eleven-hour mission, and a narrow 90-minute ‘window’ in which to launch the mission and still allow the 4th Bombardment wing to land in North Africa during daylight.
On the morning of August 17, England was covered in fog. The 4th Bombardment Wing was delayed until the last possible minute. By the time the fog had cleared to allow the 1st Bombardment Wing to take off, the Regensburg force had already reached the coast of the Netherlands. This timing gap meant that the German fighters would have sufficient time to land, replenish, and attack the Schweinfurt force.
Consequently, the launch of the Schweinfurt force was delayed even further—this, to allow U.S. escort fighters time to return to base to rearm for a second escort mission. In all, the 1st Bombardment Wing was delayed more than three hours behind the 4th Bombardment Wing. This meant there would be no diversion tactic to divide and confuse German fighters.
The mission inflicted heavy damage on the targets, but at a catastrophic loss to the Eighth Air Force. Twenty-four bombers from the 4th Bombardment wing were lost; 36 were lost from the 1st Bombardment Wing. In total, sixty aircraft were lost over German-controlled territory, in Switzerland, or ditched at sea. This more than doubled the highest previous loss at that time. The 390th Bomb Group suffered six of those aircraft losses:
- Two planes were lost in the target area.
- A third (“Peg of My Heart”) had two engines knocked out and landed safely in Switzerland, where the crew was interned.
- A fourth plane, in trouble and out of gas, headed for Spain. It landed near Toulons, France, and the crew made prisoner.
- Two other planes ran out of gas, and ditched in the Mediterranean Sea.
Due to the catastrophic loss of aircraft, the Eighth Air Force was unable to follow up immediately with a second attack that could have seriously crippled German industry. When Schweinfurt was attacked again months later, the lack of long-range fighter escort contributed to even greater losses of both aircraft and men. Subsequently, deep penetration raids were ceased until the problem of fighter coverage could be addressed.
Army Air Forces World War II Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
The shoulder sleeve insignia worn by all personnel of the Army Air Forces (AAF) was approved on 23 February 1942. The patch was designed by James T. Rawls, an artist and a member of General Arnold's staff. He made many designs, but Arnold rejected them all. Rawls, dejected by his lack of success, was shown a picture of Prime Minister Winston Churchill giving his well-known "V for Victory" sign. Rawls made a quick sketch bending the wings up, and Arnold said, "That's just what I wanted." Arnold, incidentally, is said to have designed the first Air Force pilot wings in 1917 when he was a major.
On 2 March 1943, shoulder sleeve insignia were authorized for each overseas air force, and the winged star was limited to those AAF personnel not in overseas commands. On 25 June 1943, personnel in all air forces were authorized distinctive insignia, and only Headquarters AAF and a few other independent commands continued to wear the winged star. It is sometimes known as the Hap Arnold emblem, named for General Henry H. Arnold who commanded the AAF in World War II. The ultramarine disk represents the medium in which the Air Forces operated, and the white star with red disk was the identifying symbol of U.S. Army and Navy airplanes since 1921. (The red disk was removed from aircraft markings in 1942 to prevent confusion with Japanese insignia.) The golden wings symbolize victorious operation. Although the patch is no longer worn on Air Force uniforms, the design appears on U.S. Air Force uniform buttons.
B-17F – 42-30315 – “Battle Queen”/”Peg of my Heart”
Royal Air Force Framlingham (Station 153)
Royal Air Force Framlingham or more simply RAF Framlingham is a former Royal Air Force station located 3 miles southeast of Framlingham, Suffolk, England. It was built in 1942 and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force. It was built as a standard heavy bomber airfield. The three intersecting runways were of 2,030, 1,440 and 1,430 yards in length. There was an encircling concrete perimeter track and fifty aircraft hardstands, along with two hangars, technical sites and Nissen hut accommodations for some 3,000 persons, dispersed in the surrounding countryside. The airfield was opened in 1943 and was given USAAF designation Station 153.
95th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
390th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The 390th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrived at Framlingham on 4 July 1943 from Great Falls Army Air Base Montana. The 390th was assigned to the 13th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Square-J". Its operational squadrons were:
568th Bombardment Squadron (BI)
569th Bombardment Squadron (CC)
570th Bombardment Squadron (DI)
571st Bombardment Squadron (FC)
The group flew the B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The 390th began combat on 12 August 1943. Five days later, the group attacked the Messerschmitt aircraft complex at Regensburg and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission.
Harlingen Army Airfield
Harlingen Air Force Base, originally Harlingen Army Airfield, is a former U.S. Air Force base in northeast Harlingen, Texas. With the outbreak of World War II it was decided to build a military airfield in Harlingen. Col John R. Morgan was the first commanding officer of the Harlingen Aerial Gunnery School, arriving in August 1941; he was to hold that appointment through World War II. On June 30, 1941 a contract was let for Morgan and Zachary, El Paso and Laredo builders, to start the military airfield construction. The mission of Harlingen Army Airfield was to train aerial gunners. The school received its first assigned cadre in August 1941. Its primary mission, with an initial student load of 600, was that of training aerial gunnery students in a five-week (extended to six weeks in 1943) training program. Over 48,000 soldiers were trained until the school, one of three such types in the country, closed in 1945. It was initially assigned to the AAF Gulf Coast Training Center as a flexible gunnery school, with the 78th Service Group being designated as the first host organization at the new airfield. The airfield had two parallel 6000-foot runways and two 5,200-foot runways. An auxiliary airfield was built at Port Isabel, Texas to support training and flight operations at Harlingen. Training was conducted in air-to-air & air-to-surface gunnery; air-to-air training used a variety of aircraft, including AT-6 Texans, BT-13 Valiants, P-63 Kingcobras, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-26 Marauder and B-24 Liberators. For ground-based training, facilities included moving target ranges and gunnery simulators. The first class of aerial gunners graduated from the Gunnery School in January 1942.
Great Falls Army Air Base, Great Falls , Montana
Construction began on Great Falls Army Air Base on 8 June 1942. Its original mission was to establish an air route between Great Falls and Ladd Field, Fairbanks, Alaska, as part of the U.S. Lend-Lease Program that supplied the Soviet Union with aircraft and supplies needed to fight the German Army. Airfield operations began on 30 November 1942 when the first B-17 Flying Fortress landed at the new base. Four Bombardment Groups, the 2nd, 385th, 390th, and 401st, trained at Great Falls AAB from November 1942 to October 1943. Aircraft would take off at a predetermined time, form up in squadron formation over their respective location, and later, over central Montana, join up in group formation. These bombardment groups went on to participate in decisive raids over Germany as part of Eighth Air Force. Upon completion of the B-17 training program, in October 1943, Great Falls Army Air Base was transferred to the Air Transport Command (ATC)
Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range, Colorado
The Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range (LBGR) was a World War II facility southeast of Denver, Colorado. It became an Army Airfield in 1942. In World War II, bombing with "practice and HE bombs", training in "fixed and flexible gunnery", and rifle training were conducted at the range.
Geiger Field, Spokane, Washington
Spokane built Sunset Field in 1939 with an agreement to lease the land to the military for a dollar a year. In return, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Army jointly constructed the runways on Sunset Field. In 1941 the Army assumed control of the airstrip renaming the field as Geiger Field in June 1941 and construction of the airbase began prior to the declaration of war. Geiger Field became a major training base used as a group training airfield for B-17 heavy bombardment units. New aircraft built by Boeing were ferried here and formed into combat units. Geiger was closed in late 1945 and developed into the Spokane International Airport.
Federal Building, Byron White Courthouse, Denver, Colorado
1823 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80202
The marble building takes up an entire city block in downtown Denver. Upon major renovation, in April of 1994, it was renamed as the Byron White U.S. Courthouse. Upon completion in 1916, it was designed and built for the Post Office, occupying the first floor, the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals occupying the second floor. The other floors were occupied by other federal offices, such as the U.S. Marshals, the Secret Service, the U.S. Attorney, the Immigration Offices, the Naturalization Office, the Customs Department, the Internal Revenue, the Forestry Service, the Civil Service, and the Weather Bureau. Gladys Caldwell Fisher completed the Indiana limestone sculptures, entitled “Rocky Mountain Sheep” and “White Ram,” in 1936 with funds provided by the Treasury Relief Art Project. They are viewable on both sides of the entrance to the Byron White US Courthouse, which was originally the U.S. Post Office Building.
Source: Pedro Arbona, Jaime Ballester, José Félix Ballester
