Stories of the 448th Bomb Group

This week we paid a visit to the guys at the 306th Bombardment Group Museum. We met Garth who has volunteered here for 2 years and newest member Sam. You guys are doing a great job

“On the morning of 6 June 1944 as we crawled slowly out of the hay for another day, Raymonde came running out to meet us, very excited and saying “Debarement – debarkement!” This meant D-Day! The event had finally happened. Quickly, we entered the house where Jean was listening intently to the radio and in an obviously elated state over this wonderful news. How long these people had been waiting for this stupendous undertaking since the fall of France four years ago! The landings had been executed on the beaches of Normandie some 200 miles south ofour location. This was admittedly a longway from the action, but nothing to compare to the distance to the Spanish border. All we had to do now was wait a while longer for the armies to expand their operations into the Pas-de-Calais area, and freedom would be ours.
The radio remained on all day as we eagerly followed initial reports of the landings’ progress. It was a day of buoyant hope and inspiration for all. At last we had something meaningful to pursue rather than an abstract date for the invasion to take place for that never-to-be-forgotten moment when liberation and freedom would arrive.” – Charles C McBride, Bombardier on B24 The Crud Wagon, crashed 1st April 1944 and evaded.

Tonight, we attended a talk at the American Library - Memorial to the 2nd Air Division, USAAF in Norwich by General The Lord Dannatt. Following a convivial drink at the start, we settled down to enjoy the talk, but the powers that be in the Millennium Library building decided we did not need lights. So out came the torches and Lord Dannatt proceeded to carry on with his talk. With the weather not being too nice, the atmosphere was just perfect to imaginie th events of 80 years ago in Normandy and the invasion of France. Lord Dannatts talk was focused on the creation of the British Normandy Memorial at Val-Sur-Mer, at the head of what was Sword Beach. The memorial that has been created is adorned with the names of the 22000 men that paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Battle of Normandy: the period between 6th June and the liberation of Paris 22nd August 1944. On the 6th of June 2024 the King will open the Winston Churchill Centre for Education and learning at the memorial.

Halfway through the talk the lights came back on and the talk concluded with questions and answers.

On this night Lord Dannatt also signed copies of his new book Churchills D-Day, which was unfortunately sold out by the time I had finished talking to attendees.

Today we were honour to attend the memorial service at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial to lay our wreath for the men of the 448th Bomb Group and individual roses for those who were laid to rest there. A very touching service.
Afterwards we had lunch at The Eagle Pub where many an Eighth Air Force man went. It is steeped in history and the food is good too.

Last weekend we visited the 93rd Bomb group museum UK for their first open day of the season. Another little gem in the heart of Norfolk and well a visit. We then went just up the road to see the aircraft from the Auster club who had flown in for the day.
After that we had a quick sneak peak at the Norfolk Tank Museum while waiting for our son to finish his voluntary work there as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The presentations by the guest speakers will take place in the Sandringham Centre just by the carpark next to the Heritage Centre, signage will be clear on the day.

Reserve a spot today! General the Lord Dannatt will be presenting his new book CHURCHILL'S D-DAY at The American Library on Thursday 30th May @ 7PM. Free to attend, more info and registration here: https://buff.ly/4dA0cjs 🎖️ 🛫 👨‍✈️

Its been a heck of a week for us, so this post is a bit late. However last weekend we were at Knettishall again, home of the 388th Bomb Group Association, helping with their final touches ready for their first visitors since starting the museum refurbishment.
After a lot of hard work from everyone, we managed to present the museum to all its glory for the visitors.
It's been an honour to help with this project and wonderful to meet a new group of people with the passion to keep these stories alive.

Today in 1944 the 448th Bomb Group saw their first man complete 30th mission. That man was Lt. Julius Leroy Engdahl.
Leroy was born on 12th December 1919, in Brady, Texas. He enlisted on 16th September 1941, at Houston, Texas. His occupation was noted as musician and teacher of music.
In September 1942, while stationed at Langley Field, Virginia, Leroy was promoted from private first class to sergeant and passed the mental and physical examinations for becoming an aviation cadet.
In November 1942, Leroy entered the Army Air Forces Classification Centre at Nashville, Tennessee where he took all the examinations. He qualified for all three branches – pilot, navigator, and bombardier, being placed in the first bracket in all three tests. Leroy chose pilot training.
Leroy was assigned to Station 146 Seething in December 1943. On 30th December 1943, Leroy flew his first mission as co-pilot. On 11th May 1944, he was the first pilot at Seething to complete his thirty missions. He was met by his comrades on return and was given striped pyjamas, a bottle of scotch, and a cardboard replica of the Distinguished Flying Cross. When he wrote home to his parents, he told them that it was the happiest day of his life. “You should have seen the reception awaiting our plane. I peeled off as we were coming home and gave the field a real buzz, and my radio operator was shooting flares for all he was worth. Then I came in and landed and had about everybody taking pictures. The colonel was there to extend congratulations, and carried me to the dressing room in his car, after, of course, the fellows had stripped of all my clothes and put on me some of the loudest red, white and blue pyjamas and a high top hat, and a big sign around my neck reading, “I have finished my missions” and a giant-size DFC ribbon underneath that.”
As an extra celebration for Leroy on that day, his First Lieutenancy came through.
He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by General Doolittle and decorated with the Air Medal and four clusters. Leroy remained at Seething until 26th July 1944, flying weather ships and test flying aircraft.
Leroy married Barbara Woolever (b1927) on 14th February 1947 and they had four daughters.
Following his military service, Leroy was employed by Brown and Root, Dupont as an instrument mechanic, and then Dresser Industries, from which he retired after 25 years of service. Leroy also remained active in the Air Force reserves for 25 years and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Leroy believed that one of his greatest accomplishments was the restoration of the control tower in Seething, England. He personally wrote hundreds of letters to members of his bomber group and solicited contributions so the tower could be restored to its original state. Leroy was also instrumental in organising and planning annual reunions which took place in England and various places in the U.S. He was active in yearly Veteran’s Day programs and was extremely patriotic. Due to his failing health, he was unable to participate in the 2009 program at the Vidor schools. The program was dedicated to him, which deeply touched his heart.
Leroy passed away on 8th February 2010 in Orange, Texas.

8th May 1945 - VE Day

“It so happened that on May 8, there was a dance scheduled at the Officers Club and a plane (maybe more than one) was dispatched to the London area to bring girls to the base as dancing partners! Neil McCluhan’s mother, as she sent packages to him, always included in those packages at least one bottle of “shampoo”, or some other small bottle of liquid product, which she emptied and then filled with whiskey! Neil had “accumulated” a very good supply of booze, which he decided the two of us should now “work on!” We began by early evening on May 8, and took an ample supply to the Officers Club for the evening! As we proceeded to celebrate with the “good booze”, several of our fellow officers would come by a table we picked in a corner position, and Neil offered a drink to each. They, in return, wanted to buy a Scotch from the bar, so we would end up with even more to drink! We were the centre of much activity and were getting “well soused” as the dance was in full swing. Finally, Neil said we were out of liquor, but he still had some at his hut, so we decided to get that. When we went out the door of the club, there sat a Jeep with an Officer and a girl “on the seat”! I remember that we evicted them from the Jeep and proceeded to take off in it to go get the liquor! That is the last either of us remember from that evening! The next day the Air Inspector’s Jeep was found in a field on base! The amazing thing was that I woke up, at some point, in my bunk…… and Neil McCluhan was there! No one said anything about the borrowing of the Jeep, and the two of us did recover well from the terrific hang-over we amassed!” – Paul Homan

This weekend has been another busy weekend for us. On Saturday we were at Knettishall, home of the 388th Bomb Group Association helping out with the fitting out of the cabinets that were started on last week. Exhibits were installed too, with Edwin and his wife tackling the cleaning of the uniforms which are looking great. Lots accomplished today, so that the pictures and other parts of the Story of the 388th BG are able to go in this week.
On Sunday we were invited to attend the first open day of '24 of RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre. It was also the opening of a new chapter as it is in its very own dedicated home, that of the former base Chapel. Once you have paid the £2.50 entrance you are then free to wander the exhibits and vast amounts of information that surround you from all directions, yes look up too! This heritage centre really brings to the fore the role this base has played in the local area over the last 80 years, from holding local dances to the floods of 1953, and from a post war obscurity to front line nuclear base, and through to today as a training field for the air assets from RAF Mildenhall. It is really worth a visit, especially for the hospitality and cake!
On the way home, we stopped off to take a moment at the Wendling memorial for the 392nd Bomb Group.

This weekend, we were at Knettishall again, home of the 388th Bomb Group, helping with their huge project. We spent the day constructing new parts for the existing cabinets and moving them back into the museum. All the big bits are now back in ready for the flooring people to come in next week.
We will be there again this weekend helping with the displays ready for their open day. Watch this space!!!!!
If you want to find out more about the 338th Bomb Group check out their website - https://www.388thbga.org/museums-monuments
388th Bomb Group Association

Aviation Authors - Mike Peters ,The 381st Bomb Group at Ridgewell "Triumphant we fly" - The story of the 381st who flew B-17 Flying Fortresses over Europe in WWII

"1st February 1945 – Word was finally received that Lt Carroll. C Key had been discharge from the army and authority was given to drop him from our records. Lt Key lost an arm in a plane wreck on the way to this theatre and never joined the group." – 712th Squadron diary
Carroll Claude Key was born April 24th 1919 in Stringtown, Oklaoma to William and Theodosa Key. He had 3 sisters and 2 brothers as well as 5 half siblings.
Carroll lost his mother a few months after his birth and his father at the age of 10. He then lived with his elder sister.
In 1942 he enlisted and on December 24th 1942 Carroll married Eleanor McKelvey in Los Angeles.

On June 22 1943, Carroll graduated from Yuma Army Field and gained his wings. He was then stationed at Boise Army Air Base.
Carroll was assigned to the 448th Bomb Group and was the pilot for crew 10, 712th Bomb Squadron.
In November 1943, Carroll and his crew started their journey to Seething, England on aircraft #42-52128. They took the southern route to England, through Trinidad, then on to Belem, Brazil. However, on November 19th, 1943, there was a tropical rain storm at Belem and as Carroll tried to land the aircraft, his brakes locked, spinning his aircraft out of control. This in turn caused the left landing gear to collapse which caused the propeller from #2 engine to hit the runway and break, entering the cockpit and severing Carroll’s arm.
No-one else on board was injured and the rest of the crew were flown to England by ATC.
On December 8th 1943 Carroll was still in a Brazilian hospital while his wife gave birth to their daughter.
In June 1944, Carroll was discharged from the Army Air Force. He went on to work in an Aircraft Factory and had two more daughters.
Carroll passed away on September 18th, 1997.

Today marks the 80th Anniversary of the Night of the Intruders where the 448th BG came back from a mission to Hamm late at night, only to be followed by three ME 410 who brutally attack the bomb group as well as other bomb groups. Many aircraft were badly damaged and several crews were lost.
The crew of #41-28843 [THE REPULSER] was attacked over Kessingland and came down near the marshes. No-one from the crew survived.
The members of the crew were:-
Lt. Eugene V. Pulcipher – Pilot
Lt. Elmer Paul Meier – Co-pilot
Lt. William Carcelli – Bombardier
Lt. George Schuler Fahr – Navigator
SSgt. Chester J. Romanosky – Radio Operator
SSgt. James Robert Hardin – Top Turret Gunner
Sgt. William Howard Durant – Left Waist Gunner
Sgt. William Scott Davis – Tail Gunner
Sgt. Maynard Howard Young – Right Waist Gunner
Sgt. Carl Edward Spellman – Ball Turret Gunner
In 2009 a memorial stone was laid at St Edmunds church for the crew and today through the memorial service, we remember them as well as Lt. Cherry Pitts crew who were also lost that night.
If you wish to read more about the crew of REPULSER, you can find their story on our website here - https://www.storiesofthe448th.com/repulser/

We had a delivery last night........

This weekend, we were at Knettishall, home of the 388th Bomb Group, enjoying the fine weather as we helped with their huge project. We spent a few hours with the motorised wire brush attacking the corrugated metal sheets to prepare them for keying to the paint that goes on next weekend. Hard work and a long day but great fun, and we are glad the building is ready for the next phase.
If you want to find out more about the 338th Bomb Group check out their website - https://www.388thbga.org/museums-monuments
388th Bomb Group Association

Book your tickets for this great talk

Women at War, Americans in World War Two East Anglia Explore photographs, letters and documents illustrating their experience in WW2 East Anglia

This weekend we visited Bottisham Airfield Museum. It really is a great museum and it is always evolving each time we visit. Their P51 Mustang, "Lou IV", is in it's new house and the layout is amazing. Well worth a visit.

April 1st 1944, the 448th Bomb Group took off for a mission to Ludwigshafen, Germany. The lead aircraft, #41-28763 came from the 389th Bomb Group and Col. James Thompson, who was the Commanding Officer of the 448th, and 1st Lt. Alan J Teague were the aircrafts pilots.
Strong winds forced the formation to zigzag in an effect to stay on schedule. Once over their target, Col. Thompson’s camera equipment was having difficulty and this caused confusion within the formation. Part of the formation diverged away. Seeing this Col. Thompson ordered a 180-degree turn in order to rejoin these aircrafts. Failing to visually acquire the target, the 448th group headed for home.
On the way home the Group found a target of opportunity and released their bombs over the town of Pforzheim, Germany. The excessive manoeuvring, and the stronger than expected wind, consumed more fuel than planned. The group faced a daunting trip back home through enemy territory with perilously low fuel tanks.
Lt. Teague noticed the plane lacked the fuel to return to England so they fell out of formation and reached France. Lt. Teague ordered the crew including Col. Thompson, to bail out. Thinking the plane was empty, Lt. Teague prepared to crash-land the plane and then destroy the aircraft on the ground. Col. Thompson suddenly appeared on the flight deck. After a brief time he decided to bail but unfortunately, his parachute failed to open due to insufficient altitude and he died. Everyone else from the crew survived.
Lt. Teague successfully crash-landed the aircraft in an open field and hid as a German patrol arrived. The Germans searched for survivors on the aircraft. Finding no one, they left to search further a field. Lt. Teague hurried back to the aircraft in order to destroy it but was spotted by the German patrol and was promptly captured. They also captured the pathfinder equipment but failed to recognise the significance of it so left it on the aircraft under the care of two guards.
Three of the crew, Lt. Jesse Hamby, Sgt. John Dutka and Sgt. Simon Cohen managed to become under the care of the French Underground. The others were captured and became POWs.
Two days after the crash the three evaders returned to the crash site and overpowered the guards. They destroyed the equipment denying the Germans access to the highly classified system.

Although LeRoy Engdahl (713th BS) was the first 448th man to complete 30 missions on May 11th 1944, the 712th Bomb Squadron shortly celebrated their own Happy Warriors......
The 712th Bomb Squadron saw their first Happy Warrior who completed 30 missions on the 24th May 1944. He was S/Sgt Harold R. Loving. He was closely followed by Lt Bittner and Harson who completed their 30 missions on the 25th May 1944.
In fact, during May 1944 the 712th Bomb Squadron produced a total of 36 Happy Warriors - 14 officers and 22 enlisted men.
The photo is of S/Sgt Harold Loving.

Mission 36, 24th Mar ’44: Nancy, France. 23 aircraft dispatched. 1 aircraft, Repulser, failed to formate due to mechanical issues. Flak damaged 3 others who also returned early. Scattered cloud above the primary target or Nancy / Essey Airfield caused some confusion and as a result only some of the formation bombed. The remaining aircraft moved to the secondary target of St Dizier Airfield, but smoke from previous groups prevented most from dropping. All aircraft returned.

To read more about the missions that the 448th undertook check out our threads account - https://www.threads.net/

James Cooper’s aircraft, B24H-30 FO #42-95326 was damaged on a bombing run over Magdeburg, Germany on June 29th, 1944. Unable to maintain progress towards home, the plane force landed on one engine in Alkmaar, Netherlands. Consequently he and the others in the crew were captured. They were liberated on April 29, 1945 after 304 days as Prisoners.

“I completed 12 missions with the 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, as a navigator. I was shot down and crash-landed in Holland on June 29, 1944. Our target was Berburg, but we were hit on our third pass over Magdeburg, after dropping bombs on target. Situation normal.”

“After interrogation at Dulag Luft, we went to Stalag Luft III, until the end of January 1945. Then we were evacuated to Moosberg, Germany, first marching, then in crowded boxcars.”

“We were liberated April 29, 1945.”

4th March 1944.
Target; Berlin. Mission briefed and ready to depart but scrubbed due to heavy snow in East Anglia. Aircraft returned to hard standings. No mission credit.
13th Combat Wing were more successful, and reached Berlin, the first 8th AF bombers to do so.
Mysterious unidentified B17 photographed at Seething in the Gun Butts in the snow by the Group Publicity Officer.
4 officers and 202 men of the 715th transferred to 855th BS, 491st BG at RAF Metfield which was arriving. These men would provide the necessary combat experience to help the new Group settle in.

We received a lovely message from Steve Bacon who shared his Great Uncle's story. George was a tail gunner in the 713th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group. In his own words this is his story -
"Apologies for the lengthy post. I figured a few of these photos would be of interest to the group, and at the same time I wanted to paint a picture of my Great Uncle’s life and service with the 448th.

This is SGT George Henry Bonner (1917-1999). Though drafted in 1941 and assigned a non-combat position due to childhood tuberculosis, George was subsequently sent to combat training “through a bureaucratic error.” “I was so happy,” he said - “I didn’t want just limited service.” George went on to serve as a tail gunner with the 448th/713th, arriving on 5 June 1944 at Seething, with the assignment beginning on 10 June 1944. George’s B-24 was shot down on his 5th mission in “Tangerine,” tail number 42-95022, on 24 June 2024 (the 448th’s 103rd mission to Haute Cote V-weapons site).

When Uncle George’s plane was hit by flak, George was knocked unconscious, and there was a fire in the bomb bay with bombs still present, so one of his crewmates on board pushed him out and pulled his chute. All nine on board survived after bailing. When George woke up, he was on the ground surrounded by Germans. George grew up speaking German with his German-born grandparents (something I’m sure he kept from his crew mates), so he instinctively spoke German back to the soldiers who captured him. Unfortunately this led to some intense questioning and accusations of being a spy, and a “physical beating from a German captain” according to his journal, when he refused to give more than his name, rank, and serial number.

Simultaneously, on the day of his shoot-down, my grandmother wrote her brother a letter, based on the postmark date (photos attached). This letter and three others she wrote, each with an increasing tone of worry for her brother, were returned stamped “missing.” I can’t imagine. Even speaking with my Grandmother in her 90’s before she passed aged 102 in 2021, this time of her life was hard to speak of without getting misty-eyed and choked up. George’s fiancé, after a time, gave up hope of his return, and ended up marrying another one of George’s friends. George never married and never had children after this.

After George’s interrogation, he was sent to Stalag Luft IV in what was then Pomerania, present-day Poland, for the duration of the war. George was then marched out of camp, away from the nearing Russian artillery, for 81 days in “the Black March” during the dead of winter. George wrote that during allied strafing runs, the Germans would hide in the ditches and force the prisoners to stay on the road. Somehow George survived, and was liberated by British forces under General Montgomery on 2 May 1945 George was a slender man to begin with, but weighed less than 100 pounds at liberation. For the sake of brevity (I know, too late), I’ve included a map of his time from Seething to liberation. I’ve tried to narrate through the photos as well. In 2014, thanks to Patricia Everson, who connected me with Jackie Shapiro, widow of one of George’s crewmates Harold Shapiro, I was able to get a list of George’s roommates at the POW camp. From this, I determined the only living roommate at the time was Ervin Pickrel, and was fortunate enough to go and interview him in Idaho, just a week before his passing.

After the war, George continued his service in Korea, and then in the reserves while embarking on a successful career as a field auditor for the State of Connecticut. George finally retired from the Air Force in 1977. My grandma Bonnie, being a registered nurse since 1945, cared for her dear brother George in his last years. I was too young to ask George all the questions I have now. Thankfully, he gave a couple of interviews in local publications. In his own words: “I’m not a hero in any case…I owe so many people so much. I am so appreciative for what people have done for me.”

We have shared our latest story on our website. It is about Lt Winter's crew wo arrived at Seething in November 1944 and assigned to 714th Squadron. His crew members include:-
Lt Stanley L. Winter
Lt. Howard A. Courtnery
F/O Roland T. Hauver
F/O Leo J. Dymerski
Sgt Paul J F Misera
Cpl. Robert D. Bosworth
Cpl. Walden L. Gibbs
Cpl. Gomber D. Hass
Cpl. Linwood H. Peaslee
Cpl. George J. Weinberger
We share the missions they undertook and what happened to them during and after the war. You can read their story here - https://www.storiesofthe448th.com/lt-winters-crew/