11th Bomb Group (H) , livre ebook

Muroc, July -August 1944. Charles Crooks-ball turret; Warren Heinzman-tail turret; and Gerald Sutton-navigator. (Courtesy of Gerald Sutton.) On the Front Cover: Aztec’s Curse. (Courtesy of P. Gudenschwager.) On the Back Cover: Lil Audrey. (Courtesy of Clinton M. Rutherford.)

Daniel Mead works to make bomb trailers serviceable after a Japanese bombing raid. 431 st Bomb Squadron, Funifuti, (Courtesy of Daniel Mead.)
TURNER PUBLISHING COMPANY 412 Broadway, P.O. Box 3101 Paducah, KY 42002-3101 Phone: (502) 443-0121
 
Turner Publishing Company Staff: Publishing Consultant: Keith R. Steele Publishing Coordinator: Pam Wood Designer: Herbert C. Banks II
 
Copyright © 1996 Turner Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved. Limited Edition.
 
Additional copies may be purchased directly from Turner Publishing Company.
 
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 95-062449
9781618587138
 
This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the written consent of Turner Publishing Company. This publication was produced using available material. The publisher regrets it cannot assume liability for errors or omissions.
Table of Contents
Title Page Copyright Page INTRODUCTION PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 11TH BOMB GROUP HISTORY 11TH BOMB GROUP WAR STORIES 11TH BOMB GROUP VETERANS 11TH BOMB GROUP ROSTER 11TH BOMB GROUP ROLL OF HONOR INDEX
Charles Winter peers through one of the 11th Bomb Group’s damaged planes. (Courtesy of Charles Winter.)

Hamilton Air Force Base, March 1945 leaving for overseas. Standing, from left: Robert Schrock, Richard King, Lionel Reid, Jack Graham. Kneeling, from left: Johnny Aymar, Robert Thomas, Ervin Molzar, Clydel Wilkinson, Raymond Friese and Winston Dukose. (Courtesy of Ervin Molzar.)
INTRODUCTION

Robert E. May
When the 11th Bomb Group (H) Association was first formed I had no idea what was involved nor did I realize how long it would exist. We are now in our 38th year of holding a reunion with each year bringing us to a new location around the United States to celebrate. The membership quickly made a decision to meet every fifth year in the Hawaii Islands beginning as far back as 1965.
We have met in 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1991. The 1991 was also the year that everyone played a part in producing our Solid Bronze Memorial Tablet and the dedication of it as it rests near the flag pole on Hickam Air Force Base. We hold a re-dedication ceremony of this Memorial Tablet each December 7. Due to the length of travel time to and from the Hawaiian Islands, 1996 will probably be the last full trip to Hickam Air Force Base as the 11th Bomb Group Association.
As we look back on the impact our Association has made over the years, there have been many members who remained active with some of them going on to be Trustees or Officers. During the past 38 years, our Association has been graced with an illustrious group of presidents. Serving our membership, they are: Robert E. May 1961 and 1962, Hiram L. Jenkins 1963 and 1988, Everest W. Capra 1964, *Spencer L. Davis 1966, *Richard A. Scully 1967, John W. Krey 1968, Ed Swinney 1969 and 1976, James A. Burrows 1971, Neal Siebenbruner 1972, Kenneth M. Merrill 1973. *James M. Street 1974, Fred B. W. Tan 1975, William M. Cleveland 1977, *Oren S. Armstrong 1978, Robert E. Baird 1979, H. F. Kollmeyer, Jr. 1980, Jack Worrel, 1981, Thomas C. Sparks 1982, *Thomas H. Harris 1983, Frank S. Walker, Jr. 1984, Doyle V. Ebel 1985, Barney L. Glenn 1986, Arthur O. Eldridge 1987, Dale A. Henderson 1989, Leonard D. Ellis 1990, Richard A. David 1991, Allan D. Davis 1992, Tillman A. Jurgens 1993, Robert H. Lounsberry 1994, Noble H. Clarke 1995, Robert J. Markovitch 1996, Lucian J. Trudel 1997, Fred R. Fluhr 1998. Those presidents with an * preceding their name are deceased as of this printing.
One of the features of this book is a mission listing that includes the B-24 era which is from mid 1943-1945.
One Damned Island After Another Plaque was compiled by Harry B. Girdler and shows all the islands, squadrons, and both air forces, the 7th and 13th. We have placed the following plaques at: 1. Hickam AFB 2. Wright-Patterson AFB, 3. The Garden of the Missing in Colorado Springs, CO, 4. Henderson Field, Solomon Islands, 5. Hickam AFB, Hawaii. The last one is placed in an historical site on Hickam AFB.
Probably the greatest thing that has happened to the 11th Bomb Group (H) Association is the great honor that was bestowed upon us by having the 11th Bomb Group (H) named as an Historical Unit, the Unit is also permanently activated historically and will never be deactivated. This unit is at Bolling AFB, Washington D.C. the location where we will hold part of our 1998 National Reunion.
We had two unit citations presented to us, the first one the Distinguished Unit Citation, South Pacific, July-November 1942 the next Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) South Pacific August 7 to September 9, 1942. We are very proud of them both.
I would also like to acknowledge all the wives who played such an integral part in supporting their husbands to allow them to take part as a trustee or the presidents job or any other job in the association. I would especially like to acknowledge my wife, Donna, in her 38 years of continous support to me.
 
Sincerely,

Robert E. May
Secretary-Treasurer
Executive Director
PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Dave Turner
The 11th Bomb Group served as an important power throughout the air war in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After its activation on February 1, 1940 at Hickam Field, the 11th Bomb Group survived the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 and chased the Japanese forces across the Pacific, ending up on the front doorstep of Japan.
Flying the B-17, B-18, and B24, the 11th Bomb Group was made up of the Headquarters Squadron, the 14th, 26th, 42nd, 98th, 50th, and 431 st Squadrons. We recognize the team effort that was required to be a part of the “Grey Geese,” and we salute both the flight crews and ground crews who performed equally well toward the success of each mission.
This volume is dedicated to the veterans of the 11th Bomb Group. You took on every dangerous mission with strength, vigor and bravery. You provided, for the rest of us, models of heroism as you risked your lives in the dangerous skies of the Pacific. For you, places like Guadalcanal, Northern Solomons, Eastern Mandates, and the Rukyus were not just words on a map. They were places where your lives hung in the balance-the places where you fought and often sacrificed your lives. What follows is your story; told in your own words and seen through your own eyes. I would like to thank all of you who participated towards the success of this great volume.
I would like to personally thank Mr. Bob May, Mr. Bud Parker, and Mr Phil Gudenschwager of the 11th Bomb Group Association. Their efforts are greatly appreciated in creating this history. Finally, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Keith Steele, Publishing Consultant, whose dedication to publishing military aviation history helped make this volume possible.

Dave Turner
President
Turner Publishing Company
Claude Murphy, October 1944 at Muroc Army Airfield, CA. 98th Bomb Squadron. (Courtesy of Claude Murphy.)

Homesick Angel flies through flak while dropping bombs on enemy terrirory. (Courtesy of Bud Parker, 11th BG Archives.)

11TH BOMB GROUP HISTORY

Bomb burst blanket shops, hangars and plane parking areas of Moen’s Strip No. 2 as Madame Pele, veteran 7th Air Force B-24, leaves its target. Madame Pele was bought with the proceeds of war bonds purchased by Honolulu school children, named by them for the Hawaiian Goddess of Fire. (Courtesy of Bud Parker, 11th BG Archives.)
How can I live among this gentle, Obsolescent creed of heroes, and not weep? Unicorns, almost, For they are fading into two legends In which their stupidity and chivalry Are celebrated. Each, fool and hero, will be immortal. (from Bomber Command by Keith Douglas)

11TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) CREATION
The Japanese-American war in the Pacific was, in some ways, unique in history. Never before had the world seen great armies transported across thousands of miles of ocean to land on heavily defended shores with only the support of ships and planes. It was monumental as a naval war; more warships were sunk in its sea battles than in all other 20th century naval engagements combined. Yet it was air power that proved to be the key and conclusive element in the Pacific war, from Japan’s stunning raid on Pearl Harbor to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many different organizations and units contributed to the projection of American power by air in the war. This is the story of one of them: the Army Air Forces’ 11th Bombardment Group (H).
The history of the 11th Bombardment Group can be traced back to 1915 when Raynol C. Bolling of U.S. Steel and James E. Miller of the Columbia Trust Company organized the First Aero Company of the New York National Guard. Many young men interested in aviation as a sport were attracted to the unit. Much interest was shown in organizing the unit to government requirements, and in 1916, when the Chief Signal Officer of the Army was called upon to establish reserve air squadrons, Major Bolling’s unit was the first to become federally recognized. In 1917 the unit was sent to France to fight in the First World War. Here the unit became known as the 26th Aero Squadron. In September 1930, the 26th Squadron was sent to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii as the 26th Attack Squadron. In December 1939, it became officially known as the 26th Bombardment Squadron (H), one of the four heavy bombardment squadrons of the 11th group. America’s first ace, Lt. Douglas Campbell, was a member of this squadron.
The 431st Squadron of the 11th Group was originally known as the 50th Aero Squadron at its activation at Kelley Field, Texas in 1917. The squadron participated in battles over St. Mihiel an