96th Bomb Group Museum UK

12/11/2024

Time for something a little different. Today's post is regarding what was one of, if not the first memorial to the servicemen of the 8th Air Force. The following is taken from the Unit History.

St Andrews Chapel

Back on the 12, with the Bishop of Norwich, Right Rev. Percy Herbert and Rev. Harper-Mitchell officiating, the 96th dedicated a most beautiful memorial to its dead and presented the treasure to the residents of Quidenham. Behind these ceremonies stretched months of selfless work.

When the group first came to Snetterton Heath and its nearby village of Quidenham, The rector of the Parish, the Reverend William Harper- Mitchell, invited 96ers to attend the services in Quidenham's historic St. Andrews church. He even conducted services on the base itself and instituted discussion groups on religious and international topics during which British parishioners and American Airmen participated. It developed into a beautiful relationship. The life of the village and its church became interwoven with life on the base. 96ers were married in quaint St. Andrews. One such wedding was that of Martha Jean Miller, Director of the aero club, to paratrooper Sergeant Bruce Miller (82nd airborne). Also married there was one of the original Archie Old pilots, Captain Dick Jeger.

It had been back in April of this year when the 338th's Flight Surgeon, Captain Herbert Allen first thought of leaving some sort of memorial to the dead and missing. He toyed with the concepts of a plaque or perhaps a stained glass window. This latter idea, so harmonious with the decor of the church, was encouraged by the 338th's Exec, Captain Robert Robb, who promised help by way of funding.

These men contacted the Group Chaplain, Reverend Charles E. Smith and it was he who approached the Rector of Quindenham.

Reverend Harper-Mitchell was elated and he had a story of his own. It seems that for years he had yearned to have one of St. Andrew's chapels restored to its proper beauty. The chapel he had in mind had been given to the church in the 14th century by one of the trade guilds to honor St. Mary, their patron. Reverend Mitchell estimated that it would cost 400 pounds to restore St. Mary's Chapel. This estimate included the altar, candlesticks, altar cloths, crucifix, drapes, floor coverings, altar rails and other accessories. Certainly, he agreed, such a restoration would be a meaningful, ever-lasting gift from the 96ers to the parish. And a memorial window replacing the present stained glass panel, and a memorial book inscribed with the names of Americans lost in action should more than justify the expense of the total restoration.

An architect recommended by the Bishop of Norwich began planning. Artist Reginald Bell whose work already adorned Yale University, New York City's St. John the Divine and Norwich Cathedral was given the task of producing the memorial window.

But at this point the cost-to-complete stood at 597 pounds and that figure exceeded the amount of non-essential construction allowable in wartime by British law.

So off went Group Ground Exec, Lt. Colonel "Sandy" Moffett and Chaplain Smith to Cambridge seeking permission from government officials there. Then Chaplain Smith accompanied Reverend Harper-Mitchell and the architect in a plea before the Chancellor's Court of the Church of England in Norwich. A "Faculty for the continuance of work was immediately granted and it assured preservation of the proposed memorial without change.

The fund raising campaign began. The rank and file were educated to the plan and back on June 31st collection boxes were placed at all pay tables in the Finance Office and the Officer's Mess. By the first day the Group was only 120 pounds short of the total financial objective. By August 31st money had ceased to be a problem. Even the choir raised 10 pounds during a special program of sacred music.

Meanwhile a preliminary design for the memorial window had been conceived by the men who had backed the project from the start Captain's Allen. Robb and Smith. This design was drawn up by Sgt. Gerald Athey. 413th and was exhibited in the Officers', Non-Coms' and Aero Clubs.

Mr. Bell's modifications to Sgt. Athey's design were minor being dictated by ecclesiastical custom and by Mr. Bell's knowledge of what may best be done with stained glass as the medium.

The final design incorporated an airman in flying togs looking up at a figure of Christ. Far below is the spire of St. Andrews over which bombers are assembling for an assault. Also incorporated are the 8th Air Force Emblem, the 96th group Emblem and the emblems of its four squadrons.

The 96th was the first American unit to establish a memorial in England within the confines of a village church. A total of $2400 was dedicated to the project which to this day remains a beautiful tribute to the 96th war dead and to Anglo-American friendship.

Picture - SGT Gerald Athey who contributed to the design of the Memorial chapel speaks with Rev. Harper-Mitchell.

11/11/2024

#240 NOV, 11, 1944: KOBLENZ, GERMANY

Though commemorated in England, Europe and America, the Armistice day only saw business as usual as far as the 8th was concerned. In fact, being 3rd mission in as many days, it seemed as if the 8th was thumbing its nose at November's streak of terrible weather.

Soon due at the 96th was the crew of Peder's Parade piloted by Lt, Peder Larsen. Today though he was boarding a train in Glasgow for the replacement center at Stone. Larsen noted this Armistice day thus in his diary. " Most everyone in Glasgow is wearing a Red Poppy and kids ask us for chewing gum or ci******es, "

For the 96th today's dispatched force was quite small; only a dozen. Regular PFF failed to distinguish the primary target at Oberlahnstein and so the secondary, marshalling yards at Koblenz, were clobbered. Being well identified by the Mickey Op, the target received the full load of 132x500 pounders, In debriefing the raid was considered a milk run during which was sight of a German jet scoring 2-mile contrails as it climbed straight up provided the only excitement.

11/11/2024

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Laurence Binyon, 1869 - 1943

Today make sure to take 2 minutes to remember them.

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10/11/2024

#239 Nov, 10, 1944: WEISBADEN, GERMANY

German airfields were targeted today and the 96th attacked the Luftwaffe base at Erbenheim near Weisbaden, Although the Group attacked at mid-day, the target was protected by clouds and resorting to old PFF techniques did not help. Strike photos later showed that bombs had fallen 2 miles from target. However, the city of Weisbaden did not escape the 96th as well as the airfield. Captain Herb Stilwell, 413th PFF pilot, experienced mechanical problems at the start of the bomb run and jettisoned his bombs over Weisbaden before straggling home alone.

Flak was moderate but accurate. While on the bomb run Lt. Art Brodsky's 338th Tangerine II received a direct hit, and exploded in half. There was only one survivor, tail gunner, S/Sgt. Bob Morgan. Most of the A/C crashed at Oestrich/Rheinengen.

The other gunners, S/Sgt. Pearson of Lt. Maniaty's 338th crew and S/Sgt. Wheat of Lt Clark Bennington's 339th crew, were wounded. Ten A/C returned with minor damage: Three returned with major damage.

Once more (but not since a long time ago) a strange, unmarked B-17 stayed with the formation after the bomb run until the coast when it turned back for Germany.

10/11/2024

Just some photos from our memorial service earlier today. The video footage will be following in the next few days.

We had the fantastic pleasure to welcome Colonel Garlow and his family from RAF Mildenhall. Col. Garlow's Great Uncle flew with the 96th and paid the ultimate sacrifice whilst serving with the 96th.

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10/11/2024

Just some of the memorials to members of the 96th that can be found near the museum.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Laurence Binyon, 1869 - 1943

🇺🇸

09/11/2024

#238 NOV. 9, 1944: SAARBRUCKEN, GERMANY

Pre-mission discussions had considered the selec- tion of German military concentrations on the front lines. Something had to be done here before Allied ground forces could break through at Metz. However, this possible tactical use of heavy bombers to support a land campaign was dropped. The cloud cover at the front and the proximity of Allied and German troops made the concept too risky. Therefore Saarbrucken's massive marshalling yards were severely crippled.

The implications of Bob Smith's diary entry today would have horrified the unsuspecting villages of England. Little did they know the dangers they were exposed to when overloaded Fortresses struggled above them to rendezvous with their assigned units.

"We were carrying a maximum load of 6 x 1000 pounders and using 3000 feet of runway to take off. It was touch and go! We cleared the trees with only inch- es to spare. The ship was very tired by this load and we climbed very slowly. We did not make rendezvous in time but eventually picked up the Group along the Divi- sion's assembly route. We climbed on course but never did reach our bombing altitude."

Bombing results were listed as fair. One returning A/C piloted by Lt. Henry Sullivan had to break formation and land in friendly territory. Sullivan returned to base on the 11th considering himself and his crew lucky.

They would all be killed in ten more days on the 21st.

07/11/2024

Don't forget it's this Sunday. Service starts at 10:45
St Andrews Church Quidenham NR16 2PJ

05/11/2024

#236 NOV, 5, 1944: LUDWIGSHAVEN, GERMANY

As this winter day developed into slanting rain and bitter, windy chill, Doc Hartman's dairy testifies to the fact that the 337th flight surgeon ws studying tropical medicine at the RAF school at Haltoms. A wonderful recording of the non-sequiturs of life the service.

Inclement weather in England did not prevent the group from attacking Germany. All 32 A/C carried 1000 pounders to the Ludwigshaven marshalling yards. A small gap opened in the clouds presenting bombardiers with their first visual sightings in some time. And, although the MPI was missed, bombs did fall within the designated target area. Lt. Fred Whitney, 413th, could not keep pace with the group due to cylinder temperature problems. Even so, he fell in with the 447th and did his job.

Over the target area unidentified were spotted, called-out and fired upon by eager gunners. Immediately they identified themselves as P-51s. Coming at our formations head on was not the thing to do. Careless fighter pilots who forgot to show a good silhouette to bomber formations still ran the risk of being subjected to friendly fire.

The 32 A/C returned safely but 17 had minor flak damage and 5 had major damage.

By return-time, an intense frontal system had developed over Snetterton which not only made landing difficult but which forced 5 A/C to land eastward at Beccles, Leiston and woodbridge.

04/11/2024

#235 NOV 4, 1944: NEUNKIRCHEN, GERMANY

A rather routine mission except for the use of MICRO H, the latest invention in blind bombing techniques and a method more sophisticated than H2X.

MICRO X was less susceptible to enemy jamming and the Mickey operator who used the new set today was Lt Rosentreler with Lt Hoody as group bombardier. Rosentreler successfully picked up both of the new systems beacons and was convinced that bombs fell well within the designated target area. But the other Mickey operator in the 413th, Lt Deen failed to pick up the second beacon and fell back on the old H2X system. Even so, his bomb fell into the designated area also.

02/11/2024

#234 NOV 2, 1944: MERSBURG-LEUNA

the 96th began the month with a blaze of glory. The 3 AD planes led the 8th, the 45 CBW led the 3 AD and the 96th was leading the way for the entire armada. And the group C.O. Colonel Robert Warren flew as Division Commander in the co-pilots seat of Captain Scott's 337rh lead A/C.

Another innovation today consisted of 3 A/C which carried chaff only. Mersburg's flak defenses for these oil refineries were notorious so personnel in these three planes dispersed chaff for a full twenty minutes during the run from the IP and after "bombs away". Even so German flak was intense. Thirty-five of the 41 A/C we put over the target returned with the flak damage to some degree.

Due to excellent fighter support, the 96th saw little of the Luftwaffe. Not that the German fighters were absent. In fact the Germans accounted for 18 of our fighter escorts. And 96ers did report seeing an ME-163 jet make a pass at the 3 chaff ships. climb, loop and roll over their small formation. However, the jet did not fire.

The three Mickey operators judged the bombing to be slightly short and to the north.

Bob Smith flew in one of these chaff sips and he recalls the mission.

"Mersburg again! This time the target in the great oil refinery spread at Leuna. - At the IP we, along with 20 other ships, peeled off from 28,000 feet and went in alone throwing a regular carpet of chaff out behind us. We took violent evasive action and increased our IAS (Indicated Air Speed) to 180. There was a thin layer of cirrus and we began making contrails so the visibility got bad. A single ME-163 jet came up to attack and pressed in
to about 400 yards. Our gunners threw out a stream of tracers and might have damaged the jet there was a terrific amount of flak over the target. When we got to the RP (Rendevzous Point) the sky was black with flak for miles behind us. A few spent pieces broke the astrodome and the co-pilot's window. Near the RP we saw a P-51 take a hit and burst into flame. The pilot bailed out but his chute was afire. The P-51 became a spinning flamer.

8th bomber losses today were 38. Once again the legend of a co-pilot being jinxed by flying in the tail as an observer was promoted when Lt. Hitt was wounded in Captain Scott's lead ship, Lt Webb, 338th, and S/S Putman, 337th were wounded too.

Thankfully all 96th A/C returned to base.

30/10/2024

#233 OCTOBER 30, 1944: RECALLED

Today the 3AD demanded that the 96th put up more bombers than we had during the whole month. A "biggie" was scheduled. But over Holland a messy frontal system forced the 400 bombers to turn back.
Only weather ever caused the 8th to turn back.
Today's bombs were all returned to base except for the 339th's Lt, Ricke, He was loaded with the big bombs with the long noses and was ordered to jettison them in the North Sea.

Another old Stalwart of the 337th, 42-3438, was sacrificed over Heligoland as an Aphrodite drne, As such it joined the fate of two other sentimental war-wearies, Black Hawk, 42-30180 and Lt, Bill Hartman's Ruth L III.

Losses were light for this month but one thing that peaked off the repair charts in Major Mark Seaver's shops was the abortion graph.
There had been 74 abortions - 41 in one week! This had precipitated an engineering crisis the like of which the Group had never experienced in 18 months of combat. An investigation was launched. What was wrong? Was it the new pilots? Were they just too green?

The investigation revealed several inter-related reasons.
Primarily the reason seemed to have something to do with the decline in Luftwaffe resistance. Everyone had secretly noted this decline in casualties with joy. But the downside proved to be engine abuse. Not willfully. Prolonged engine life was rather unconsciously being accepted - taken for granted.

Engines were not the only causes for aborts. So were superchargers, prop governors and exhaust stacks. The 74 October aborts made engineering officers and commanding officers realize that they were not out in front of the problem. Under new flying conditions whatever preventive maintenance measures there were, STUNK. But even so, dedicated airmen all over - this problem was not restricted to the 96th - soon recognized that extant procedures were subject. More frequent oil changes were ordered and they cleaned out metallic, residue from overworked sumps. Detailed inspections at the component level became SOP. Navigational logs were examined to determine the stain on engines during rates of climb with full bomb and gas loads.

Some 86 engines were changed in October by the 96th. Sometimes the group had not even been able to field half its strength in the early October days. But soon as November got nearer, the men of the 8th engineered a successful decline in aborts.

Let's not misunderstand. The Germans were still to be reckoned with. Of the 600 bombers the 96th had dispatched over October's 16 targets, nearly ninety of them had returned with serve flak damage. Between the flak damage, 37 engines failures, 86 engines changes and 28 armament failures, ground crews, sheet metal men, armorers and all supporting personnel were exhausted by month's end.

Netting things out, 14 new replacement planes came to snetterton while three others had to be declared war-weariers. But by the month's end, the group boasted 65 operable bombers of which 8 were PFF.

The Red Cross Club sponsored a Halloween frolic replete with candle-lit grinning jack-o-lanterns. A concert was staged by the Hill Billy band and some visiting entertainers. And a rifle team had been formed and competing was in the 3AD. It came in 2nd as a team but individually Sgt Martin came in first.

30/10/2024

RCL [MZ-P], probably B-17F-100-BO s/n 42-30372 / Shack Rabbit III

29/10/2024

Just over 1week to go now

26/10/2024