11th Bombardment Group (World War II years)
Constituted as 11th Observation Group in 1933. Redesignated 11th Bombardment Group (Medium) in 1938.
Activated in Hawaii on 1 Feb 1940. Redesignated 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in Nov 1940. Assigned to Seventh AF in Feb 1942. Trained with B-18’s; received B-17’s for operations. Flew patrol and search missions off Hawaii after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
Moved to the New Hebrides in Jul 1942. Became part of Thirteenth AF. Struck airfields, supply dumps, ships, docks, troop positions, and other objectives in the South Pacific, Jul-Nov 1942, and received a DUC for those operations. Continued operations, attacking Japanese airfields, installations, and shipping in the Solomons, until late in Mar 1943.
Returned to Hawaii, reassigned to Seventh AF, and trained with B-24’s. Resumed combat in Nov 1943 and participated in the Allied offensive through the Gilberts, Marshalls, and Marianas, while operating from Funafuti, Tarawa, and Kwajalein.
Moved to Guam in Oct 1944 and attacked shipping and airfields in the Volcano and Bonin Islands.
Moved to Okinawa in Jul 1945 to take part in the final phases of the air offensive against Japan, bombing railways, airfields, and harbor facilities on Kyushu and striking airfields in China.
After the war, flew reconnaissance and surveillance missions to China and ferried liberated prisoners of war from Okinawa to Luzon. Remained in the theater as part of Far East Air Forces but had no personnel assigned after mid-Dec 1945 when the group was transferred to the Philippines. Redesignated 11th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Apr 1946. Transferred to Guam in May 1946, remanned, and equipped with B-29’s. Terminated training and operations in Oct 1946. Inactivated on Guam on 20 Oct 1948.
Bombardment Squadrons.
26th Bombardment Squadron: 1940-1948;
42d Bombardment Squadron: 1919-1948;
Personnel Strength:
MONTH FIELD GRADE OFFICERS OFFICERS/FLIGHT OFFICERS ENLISTED
01 Apr 1945 111/2 431
30Apr 1945 149/6 533
01 May 1945 149/6 533
31 May 1945 123/6 494
01 June 1945 6 123 494
30 June 1945 9 120 499
June losses in action: T/Sgt Guillerno ABREGO ASN 18
Sgt John F. BARRETT, ASN 31364776
Aircraft Strength:
DATE B24J B24L B24M Trainer
01 Apr 1945 10 5
30 Apr 1945 10 5
01 May 1945 9 5 1
31 May 1945 9 5 2 1
01 June 1945: 9 5 2 1
30 June 1945: 5 8 1 1
Aircraft Lost in June: 44-41576
44-40521
Losses:
B24 44-41576
B24 44-40521
APRIL 1945: During the month of April 1945, th 42BS of the 11BG participated in seven misions to MARCUS and four over TRUK. Missions were routine and no major losses were suffered, althought two officers were seriously injured. Toward the end of the month, airfields and runways at both targets were concentrated upon. The 494th BG from Anguar, Palau Islands, was sent to join them on Guam, with combat crews, airplanes, and limited ground personnel, all attached to the 11th BG. The 42nd BS housed and fed personnel of the 895th Bomb Squadron of the 494th BG. Men were sleeping in the war-room, day-room, other tents, etc. They also hit Marcus and Truk, on different days than aircraft from our group.
26th Bombardment Squadron: 1940-1948
June 1945 – B24 SWEET ROUTINE, with the Farnham crew flying it, crashed on takeoff from Harmon Field, Guam. Seven crew members were killed with three gunners and the radar operator surviving the fiery crash.
42nd Bombardment Squadron: 1940-1948
98th Bombardment Squadron: 1941-1948;
431st Bombardment Squadron: 1942-1946.
Stations. Hickam Field, TH, 1 Feb 1940;
New Hebrides, Jul 1942;
Hickam Field, TN, 8 Apr 1943;
Funafuti, Nov 1943;
Tarawa, 20 Jan 1944;
Kwajalein, 5 Apr 1944;
Guam, 25 Oct 1944;
Okinawa, 2 Jul 1945;
Manila, Dec 1945;
Guam, May 1946-20
.
Commanders.
Lt Col Walter F Kraus, Feb 1940;
Lt Col St Clair Streett, 15 Jun 1940;
Lt Col Albert F Hegenberger, 1 Apr 1941;
Col LaVerne G Saunders, Mar 1942;
Col Frank F Everest, Dec 1942;
Col William J. Holzapfel Jr, 26 Apr 1943;
Col Russell L. Waldron, 7 Jul 1944;
Col John Morrow, Mar 1945-c. Dec 1945;
Harrison, 4 Mar 1950; Col Thomas P Gerrity, 3 Apr 1950-16 Jun 1952.
Campaigns.
Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan; Guadalcanal; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus; China Offensive.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: South Pacific, 31 Jul-30 Nov 1942.
Insigne. Shield: Azure (Air Force blue), on a bend or (Air Force yellow), three grey geese volant proper (in their natural colors). Crest: On a wreath or and azure a grey goose proper with wings displayed and inverted. Motto: Progressio Sine Timore Aut Praejudicio – Progress without Fear or Prejudice. (Approved 11 Jun 1941.)
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
20 March 1945 – The B24 BALL OF FIRE , with 2Lt Arthur Leitz piloting it, on a night harassment mission to Chi Chi Jima, lost power on takeoff and crashed about a half mile off the end of the Harmon Field, Guam runway. All eleven crewmembers died