98th Bombardment Group:  1942 - 1946  B-24s

Constituted as the 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942 at Barksdale Field, LA.  Activated on 3 February 1942 at McDill Field, FL with B-24 Liberator Bombers, the 98th continued training at Ft. Myers and Drane Field, FL.

The 98th was initially manned by a cadre of men from the 44th Bombardment Group.  At least two b-24s were wrecked during phase training in the U.S.  The two planes were 41-1131, Pilot, Joe Kilgore on 6-4-1942 and 41-1137, Pilot, Francis Menge on 6-24-1942.  All the aircraft used in phase training were transferred to another group.

The 98th was alerted and departed for the Middle East on 15 July 1942, arriving in Palestine in late July 1942.  They flew their first mission to Mersa Metruh on 1 August 1942, with the aircraft being serviced by RAF personnel until 98th maintenance personnel arrived about 19 August 1942.

The 98th was initially assigned to the USMEAF (United States Middle East Air Force).  However, the USMEAF was dissolved on November 12, 1942.  At that time, the 98th came under the 9th Air Force.  The 98th was under the command of the 12th Air Force in September and October 1943.  Then, it was under the 15th Air Force beginning on 1 November 1943.

Probably their most famous mission was the Low Level raid to Ploesti on 1 August 1943, exactly one year after the first mission was flown.  On this raid, of 47 B-24s launched, only 21 returned safely.  One crashed on takeoff with the loss of all crewmembers except two.  Six aborted before reaching the target.  Seventeen went down in enemy territory.  Two went down at sea.  The Group Commander, Col. John R. (Killer) Kane was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership.

On another raid on Ploesti on 9 July 1944, Lt. Donald Pucket sacrificed his life trying to save three of his crewmembers who could not or would not bail out of their doomed B-24.  Donald Pucket was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his sacrifice.

The 98th continued fighting the Nazi for the rest of the war.  Flying a total of 417 missions and earning a total of 15 battle streamers as well as two Presidential Unit Citations.  As cited above, two members of the 98th earned the Medal of Honor..

The 98th returned to the U.S. in April-May 1945 and was re-designated the 98th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy).  the 98th was deactivated as a group on 10 November 1945.  However, the 343rd, 344th, and 345th Squadrons were reassigned to B-29 groups and re-designated as Very Heavy bomb squadrons.  The 343re Squadron was assigned to the 40th Bomb Group at March AFB, CA. and deactivated 27 November 1946.  The 344th was assigned to the 444th Bomb Group at Davis-Monthan Field, AZ and deactivated on 1 October 1946.  The 345th was assigned to the 462nd Bomb Group at McDill Field, FL and deactivated on 31 March 1946.

The following stations were occupied during WW II.  On some occasions, different squadrons occupied different bases during the same time frame.

Barksdale Field, La. February 1942

Mc Dill Field, February 1942

Ft. Myers, Fl. March 1942

Drane Field, Fl. May - July 1942

Ramat David, St. Jean, Palestine

Fayid Egypt November 1942 - February 1943

Beninia, Libya February 1943 - September 1943

Herglia, Tunisia September - November 1943

Brendisi, Italy - 1943

Manduria, Italy - December 1943

Lecce, Italy - January 1944 - April 1945

Fairmont Army Airfield, NE - May 1945

McCook Army Airfield, NE - June 1945 - November 1945

NEXT:   98th Bombardment Wing (M) 1947 - 1954.  B-29s