This B-24, 42-78221, “Exasperating Gezaborator,” and crew were assigned to the 756^th Squadron of the 459^th Bomb Group. On June 13, 1944, “Exasperating Gezaborator,” was involved in a mid-air collision with the B24 #307 after leaving the Munich, Germany target area. On September 17, 1949, two members of the crew were buried in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery at Section E141.

S/SGT McClain, Bernard J,  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Tassin, Larry L          Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Urban, William T.      Lorraine American Nat’l Cemetery

SGT Pribbenow, John W.

2/LT Kiesler, George E.

SGT Greene, Eugene H.     Lorraine American Nat’l Cemetery

SGT Cary, Phillip W.

One observor noted, "After we crossed the alps the fighters hit us again, but not for more than 15 minutes.  Our escort did a marvelous job all mission - best yet!  We had a bad gas leak so were sweating out getting back home, but made it ok.  The B24 #307 'Jeannie Able' - collided shortly after the target and broke in two.  Only one chute got out........"

Constituted as 459th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May 1943. Activated on 1 July 1943. Trained for combat with B-24's. Moved to Italy, Jan-Feb 1944, and assigned to Fifteenth AF. Engaged primarily in strategic bombardment, Mar 1944 - Apr 1945, attacking such targets as oil refineries, munitions and aircraft factories, industrial areas, airfields, and communications centers in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for leading the 304th Wing through enemy interceptors and intense flak to raid an airfield and aircraft assembly plant at Bad Voslau on 23 Apr 1944. During combat the group also flew some support and interdictory missions. Struck railroads in Mar 1944 to cut enemy supply lines leading to the Anzio beachhead. Participated in the pre-invasion bombing of southern France in Aug 1944. Hit railroad bridges, depots, and marshaling yards during Apr 1945 to assist Allied forces in northern Italy.

This B-17 Flying Fortress, 42-97153, “Daring Doris,” and crew were assigned to the 333^rd Squadron of the 94^th Bomb Group. On September 11, 1944, “Daring Doris” was involved in a mid-air collision with the B17, 42-31653, “Green Hornets,” and crashed near Frankfurt, Germany. On January 16, 1950, six members of the crew were buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Section E264-265.

2/LT Bishop, Richard N       Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/SGT Moore, Edward R,     Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/SGT Mazurkiewicz, Thomas F   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Tipton, Norman J            Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

1/LT Duda, Charles V   Pilot   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/SGT Cunneen, Joseph P,        Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/SGT Howard, Walter N.

S/SGT Kulak, Thomas J.

SGT Caro, John          Golden Gate National Cemetery

 42-31653, assigned to the 410^th Squadron of the 94^th Bomb Group, was known as “Kac 's Flak Shak” and ”Green Hornets” when the planes collided on September 11, 1944 near Frankfurt.   Sgt Sidney I. Hatfield and 2/LT Jack O. Williams were crew members on 42-31653. Sgt Hatfield is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Lt Williams is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.(BO)

This A20 Havoc Attack Bomber, 41-3252, and crew were assigned to the 85^th Squadron of the 47^th Bomb Group. The plane was shot down by a German BF 109 fighter one mile northeast of Sciacca, Sicily on July 4, 1943. The three members of the crew were buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Section E117-118 on August 22, 1949.

2/LT Mitcham, Oriell      Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

SGT Kelly, John F        Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

SGT Montgomery, Frank M, Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

85th Bomb Squadron

The 85th was first activated as a bombardment squadron shortly before the United States entered World War II. Stationed at McChord Field, Washington it flew antisubmarine patrols following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The squadron was sent to North Africa to participate in Allied operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in late 1942 where it specialized in conducting low-level bombing missions against enemy forces. The unit earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for actions against German forces at Kasserine Pass in February 1943.

Following the Axis defeat in North Africa the 85th participated in the reduction of Pantellaria and Lampedusa and the invasion of Sicily in the summer of 1943. These islands were pounded from the air, but casualties were light because the Italian garrisons stayed underground. They fired anti-aircraft at us by remote control. An amphibious assault was mounted, but each garrison surrendered to the Air Force before Allied Amphibious Forces landed. Pantellaria surrendered through the display of panels on their airport which stopped Allied bombing as we had promised. Lampedusa surrendered to an R.A.F. Flight Sergeant who had made a forced landing in an Air-Rescue amphibian bi-plane.

After victory in Sicily things were quiet for awhile and the 47th took on a most unusual operation--fighter escort! Yes, with those A-20's equipped with multiple .50 caliber machine guns in the nose, we flew "top cover" for Allied shipping convoys in the central and western Mediterranean. Another first for a Light Bombardment Group.

 The squadron next supported the British Eighth Army during the invasion of Italy and continued to led support combat support throughout the Italian Campaign, earning it a second Distinguished Unit Citation for actions in the Po Valley 21–24 April 1945. In August and September 1944 the 85th briefly broke off from the Italian Campaign to support the invasion of southern France. 

This B-24 Liberator, 42-7681, and crew were assigned to the 715^th Squadron of the 448^th Bomb Group. On December 8, 1943, the plane crashed enroute from the United States to England due to engine failure with no survivors. On August 24, 1949, ten of the fourteen military personnel on board were buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Section E110.

SGT Heaton, Charles A Jr           Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Faris, Eber D                       Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/SGT Fink, Thomas M     Passenger  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Murphy, Kenneth J,                 Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

PFC Rosas, Domingo                   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

PFC Rose, Jerome S         Passenger   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Smith, Salem A Jr                Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Oden, Howard M.      Passenger    Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

SGT Leis, William E.                           Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

SGT Cockings, Rector T.                     Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

PFC Edwards, Samuel

SGT Barbarito, William N. Jr.

2/LT Bilyk, John                      Passenger

2/LT Rhodes, John P.        Pilot    Fort Sam Houston Nat’l Cemetery

Marrakech → UK. USAAF, Transport Command. The aircraft and the crew were on way to the 448th Bomb Group, 715^th Bomb Squadron in England. It had departed from Morrison Field, Florida in the United States and stopped in Marrakech, French Morocco. Taking off on the last leg to England, the plane crashed 12 miles northwest of Marrakech. All aboard were killed. 

This B29 Superfortress, 42-24864, “Stork Club Boys,” and crew were assigned to the 398^th Squadron of the 504^th Bomb Group. On March 27, 1945, the plane was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft while mining the Shimonoseki Straits near Yawata. Eight members of the crew were buried at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery Section E165 on October 11, 1949.  

S/SGT Anderson, Charles A  CFC Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

1/LT Brown, John A     Pilot  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Fintel, Harland E  Navigator Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

SGT Francescon, Albert L   Tailgunner Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

SGT Griffith, James E    Left Gunner  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Love, Baxter J Jr    Bombardier    Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/SGT Rose, Leroy F            Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

SGT Donlavey, Richard E  R Gunner Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

1/LT Andrews, Albert H.   Copilot                        POW

2/LT Hanley, Fiske    Flight Engineer                        POW

When the aircraft was hit by flak, only LT Andrews and LT Hanley survived by bailing out through the fire enveloping the aircraft.  After coming down, they were nearly killed by a civilian mob before being rescued by a policeman. Soon, however, the severely wounded airmen were in the hands of the Kempei Tai, the Japanese equivalent of the Gestapo. Only about 200 B-29 prisoners were repatriated after V-J Day. At another prison (Hanley avoided shipment there only because of an administrative error), 62 prisoners were kept in their cells when a B-29 raid set the prison on fire. All burned to death, except for 17 who got out and were murdered by guards. Fifty other prisoners were beheaded at another location. The Kempei Tai commander gave orders on August 14 that all B29 Prisoners were to be executed immediately. The deputy commander got them all out to a military camp where the survivors were rescued by a party led by Commander Harold Stassen from Admiral Halsey's staff.

504^th Bomb Group History

As a two squadron group, the 504th was deployed to Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) in late 1944, being assigned to the XXI Bomber Command 313th Bombardment Wing in the Northern Mariana Islands; being stationed at North Field, Tinian. The group began combat operations from Tinian in January 1945 with attacks on Japanese airfields and other installations on Maug and Iwo Jima and in the Truk Islands. Flew its first mission against the Japanese home islands early in February 1945 when the group bombed the industrial area of Kobe. Continued to attack strategic targets in Japan, operating in daylight and at high altitude to bomb such objectives as aircraft factories, chemical plants, harbors, and arsenals. Switched to night incendiary raids attacking major Japanese cities in the spring of 1945, causing massive destruction of urbanized areas.

Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for striking the industrial center at Yokohama late in May 1945. Began incendiary raids in March 1945, flying at night and at low altitude to strike area targets in Japan. Started mining operations against enemy shipping late in Mar, receiving a 2d DUC for mining Korean shipping lanes, the Shimonoseki Strait, and harbors of the Inland Sea, July–August 1945. In April and May 1945 the group hit airfields from which the Japanese launched kamikaze planes against the invasion force during the assault on Okinawa. During mid June 1945 the 680th Bomb Squadron was attached to the 504th bomb group to bring the group up to full strength with 3 squadrons. The group continued strategic bombing raids and incendiary attacks until the Japanese Capitulation in August 1945.

After V-J Day, the 504th dropped supplies to Allied prisoners, participated in show-of-force missions, and flew over Japan to evaluate bombardment damage. In the fall of 1945, the group largely demobilized as part of the "Sunset Project", with some aircraft being sent reclamation on Tinian; others being returned to the United States for storage at aircraft depots in the southwest. By Christmas, the group fleet was reduced to 30 or less planes Many of the remaining veterans signed for "any conditions of travel" to get home, arriving three weeks later in Oakland, California, where troop trains scattered them for points of discharge close to their homes.

This P61 Black Widow, 42-39364, and crew were assigned to the 427^th Night Fighter Squadron. On April 23, 1945, the plane crashed in India with no survivors. On August 25, 1949, both crew members were buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery Section E151.

1/LT Erickson, Jack W    Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery      

2/LT Wydra, Charles E      Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

History

The 427th Night Fighter Squadron was formed at Hammer Field, California, where they trained. The squadron also flew training missions in the Bakersfield area. With their training as a unit completed, the 427th NFS packed their bags and left California's sunny San Joaquin Valley in mid-July 1944. Initially traveling by ship from the east coast to Casablanca, French Morocco, once the squadrons planes were assembled and checked out, the unit flew east to Cairo, Egypt, where they expected orders for Poltava Airfield, Ukraine on the Soviet Eastern Front.

The expected mission of the squadron on the Russian Front was to provide night fighter escort and air defense for Eighth and Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on "shuttle" missions from their bases in England and Italy to targets in Eastern Europe as part of Operation Frantic. However, a Luftwaffe night attack on the Soviet Air Force bases where the bombers landed in Ukraine on 21 June 1944 created mass havoc and destroyed many aircraft on the ground. However, the Soviets refused to allow USAAF night fighters to defend the bomber bases, insisting that air defense was their responsibility, and the 427th's orders to Poltava were scrubbed.

Instead, the 427th NFS was to join the four Bristol Beaufighter-equipped night fighter squadrons of the Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean area. After about a week's stay in Cairo, the air echelon departed and arrived at the 19th Replacement Depot outside of Naples, Italy. Their new assignment was to provide night air defense from Pomigliano Airfield, which started upon their arrival on 3 September. Their stay was short, as on 20 September the 427th was given orders to relocate to the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations and join the Tenth Air Force in India.

Although they were in operation in the Naples area for less than three weeks, the 427th was able to fly a number of missions and had contacts with Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft from northern Italy. On one of these missions, a radar malfunction experienced just before firing range prevented possible destruction of the German aircraft. On the other mission in which contact was accomplished, the attack was cut short when the Naples antiaircraft defenses tried to help and nearly shot down the 427th's P-61.

Arriving in India, the squadron cooperated closely with the 426th NFS. The 426th, with only four operational Black Widows, needed additional aircraft for their Chengtu, China operations. A deal was struck between the COs of the two squadrons in which the 427th would give the 426th eight of its twelve aircraft in exchange for the 426th's aircraft at the depot at Karachi, where two were assembled and six were being assembled. At this time the 427th was assigned to Pandaveswar Airfield in West Bengal.

On 28 November another contingent of the 427th NFS arrived at Myitkyina Airfield, Burma. More of the squadron arrived during December, basically by truck over the Ledo Road from their headquarters in India to prepare Myitkyina as the squadron's new headquarters where they would remain until May 1945.

During December, the 427th's small detachment of three P-61s at Myitkyina saw all there was of aerial "action." They participated in seventeen combat missions. Three were patrols ordered by higher headquarters, and two were due enemy aircraft in the area.

On 25 December 1944 a detachment of the 427th NFS arrived at Kunming airport, China, relieving the 426th's detachment, although the bulk of the squadron remained in Burma. During January 1945, they flew patrols over Myitkyina and Bhamo and twelve local tactical interceptions. No enemy aircraft was encountered. Unfortunately for the 427th, one of those misfortunes of war occurred. On 22 January one of its aircraft in the China detachment operating out of Suichwan Airfield in southeast China shot down a US C-87 with a crew of nine. The C-87 was in a prohibited area and made no radio calls, which led to the conclusion that it was hostile.

From this point on, Japanese night flying nearly ceased. More and more the 427th flew night intruder missions. The 427th NFS modified their aircraft to carry a three-tube bazooka-type rocket launcher under each wing. With their rocket-carrying P-61s, they operated against Japanese forces from their bases at Myitkyina in Burma as well as Kunming in China.

The 427th NFS intruder missions started on 22 February with a sweep of the road network south of Lashio, Burma. The squadron flew seven night intruder sorties that month. In mid-March, day and night offensive reconnaissance missions covering Pangkeyhtu/Loi-lem/Ho-pong/Namsang road network. Thirty-three day and night patrols were accomplished that month. Missions staged out of Kunming and Chihkiang Airfield were curtailed in April because of a shortage of fuel.

Squadron headquarters moved from Burma to Kisselbarri, near Dinjan, India, in late May The detachment at Kunming China remained there, operating elements from Dinjan Airfield, India; Chengkung and Nanning Airport in China until the war's end. Activity increased in July, with the squadron claiming 155 sampans destroyed and fifty-two damaged in addition to numerous warehouses, barges, trains and trucks destroyed. Besides flying day and night intruder sorties, two special medical supply airdrop sorties were flown in a BT-13 Valiant aircraft.

On 13 August 1945, the 427th was ordered to move to Liuchow Airfield, China. The air echelon flew there immediately while the ground echelon began the movement by road convoy. With the war over, the air echelon was ordered to fly to Yangkai Airfield, China, to turn in their aircraft for pickling and start processing home. All aircraft were turned in at Yangkai on 29 August due to cessation of hostilities and preparation for relocation to the United States. The 427th Night Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 13 October 1945.

This B24 Liberator, 44-40606, and crew were assigned to the 5^th Bomb Group. They were lost in the South Pacific on November 1, 1944 during a bombing run over the Alicante Airdrome on Negros, Phillipine Islands. On February 16, 1950, four members of the crew were buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Section E236.

S/SGT Fisher, Schuyler N       Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Miluski, Walter A.             Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Vines, James P                 Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/SGT Wood, Alex G       Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/SGT Chrismar, Alfred A.   Long Island Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Hengel, Robert Leslie

2/LT Pinks, Morris M.

S/SGT Shultz, Adam F.     

A TOUGH MONTH FOR THE 5TH GROUP

NOVEMBER 1944

In November the Group flew 21 missions -- 17 of which were flown against Japanese air bases in the Philippines.  Most of these were strikes against airdromes on Negros Island.  One was against Japanese headquarters on Leyte and one was flown to Borneo.  The two remaining missions were against Japanese shipping.  One was a strike against a Japanese reinforcing convoy off Ormoc Bay, Leyte on November 2nd.  The other was a strike against Japanese warships sitting in Brunei Bay, Borneo on November 16th, 1944.  Losses to the Group during the month were significant.  A total of 21 B-24's were lost to enemy action in November -- 12 in aerial combat. The first November mission was a Group mission to hit Alicante Airdrome on Negros, PI.