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WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF
THE 98th VETERANS ASSOCIATION
Mark Kurth, Historian
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---------------FORCE FOR FREEDOM--------------- |
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WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF |
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CONTENTS |
By Herb Harper
Preface
The following information was compiled from many sources. There may be conflicting data such as dates, places and names. However, I have tried to be as accurate as possible from the data available.
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
98th Bombardment Wing (M) 1947 - 1954. B-29s
The 98th was re-activated on 1 July 1947 and equipped with B-29 Superfortresses at Spokane Army Airfield, Washington. In 1948, they did a 90 day TDY to Okinawa. During this period, the 98th lost two B-29s and a C54 returning with 98th personnel ditched in the Pacific. Again a 90 day TDY to Sculthorp, England was conducted in the summer of 1949. During the training phase 1947 - 1950, the 98th recorded 6 B-29 losses.
During the TDY to England, the 98th practiced high level (35,000 ft) bombing missions on the Dutch Island of Helgoland. The aircraft were challenged by RAF and USAF fighters. The gunners were evaluated on gun camera film. The Bombardiers were rated on their performance as well as were other air crew members. Needless to say, ground support personnel were very influential in the overall final evaluation. I must say here, we were operating under simulated combat conditions and the food was far from perfect. Our food service personnel were extraordinaire in making dehydrated potatoes, powdered eggs, bully beef, turnip soup, month old bread, and SPAM palatable. As a result of the exercise, the 98th was rated very highly and combat ready.
In early 1950, the 98th was alerted for permanent change of stations to Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. However, before the move was completed, the Korean conflict broke out and the 98th arrived at Yokota Air Base, Japan in the first week of August 1950, flying their first mission to Korea on 7 August. Although the 98th was designated as a wing, it continued to operate as a group until 1951 when it was staffed as a wing.
The 98th continued to fly against the North Korean Communist until the cease fire in 1953. Remaining at Yokota until July 1954. The 98th returned their B-29s and personnel to the U.S. in July 1954.
From August 1950 to July 1953, the 98th flew more than 5,000 sorties and dropped more than 40,000 tons of bombs (actual total unavailable). They earned 10 battle streamers and two Outstanding Unit Awards which are comparable to the Presidential Unit Citation. They also received the South Korean Presidential Citation. The 98th was credited with the destruction of 5 MiG 15 Jet Fighters and one propeller driven fighter. The 98th recorded 19 B-29 losses from August 1950 to July 1954
98th Maintenance and Supply Group: 1947
Constituted on May 10th 1947 as the 98th Maintenance and Supply Group, stationed at Spokane Army Airfield, (later Spokane AFB), Washington. Consolidated with the 98th Field Maintenance Squadron and constituted the 98th Maintenance Squadron, Bombardment, Medium. On 16 March 1950, re-designated 98th Maintenance Squadron.
Re-designated 98th Field Maintenance Squadron on 16 June 1952 and transferred to Yokota Air Base, Japan.
From July 1954 to June 1966, the 98th Field Maintenance Squadron was stationed at Lincoln AFB, NE which included a two and one half month TDY to Lakenheath, England. (November 1955 - January 1956)
Inactivated 25 June 1966 and re-activated as an AF Reserve Squadron on 1 October 1985, it was re-designated as the 98th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron under the 452nd Air Refueling Win at March AFB, CA.
Inactivated 1 March 1986 and re-activated as a reserve squadron on 1 October 1987 and assigned to the 98th Air Refueling Group at Barksdale AFB, LA.
98th Strategic Aerospace Wing (M) 1954 - 1966: B-47s
Lincoln Air Force Base was under the control of the 98th Air Base Group when 98th air crews began arriving in the latter part of 1954. The 98th Air Base Group was then inactivated in October 1954 and the 818th Air Division was organized under SAC regulations governing the function of a multi-wing base of command.
Colonel William F. Coleman assumed command of the 98th in November 1954. B-47 aircraft began arriving in January 1955. At this point the wing began an intensive training program to effect the conversion to combat ready status as soon as possible. This was achieved in July 1955 and a "graduation" mission was flown.
Jurisdiction of SAC bases was realigned and the 98th was transferred out of the 15th AF to the 8th AF. The 98th continued to fly and emphasize the "bomber stream" type missions. The 98th proved its proficiency on 10 October 1955 with a successful "Post Hole" SAC evaluation mission.
On 6 November 1955, the 98th deployed for a 90 day TDY to Lakenheath, England. On 27 December 1956, the 98th was again tasked as the 98th Air Refueling Squadron with KC-97s was required to deploy to Harmon AFB, Newfoundland returning to Lincoln on 14 March 1957.
The 98th remained a unit of the 8th AF until 1 January 1959 when it was reassigned to the 2nd AF. The 98th continued to maintain its combat ready proficiency through many 2nd AF operational competitions.
Aside from the 98th Air Refueling Squadron, the 98th B-47 Wing included the 343rd, 344th, 345th, and the 415th Bomb Squadrons. Other squadrons included Headquarters, Armament & Electronics, Field Maintenance, Organizational Maintenance, and the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron.
The 98th Air Refueling Squadron was again deployed to Lajes Air Base, Azores in September 1962. Again, the 98th ARS was committed to operations connected to the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. On April 15, 1963 the 98th ARS was inactivated. After a full nine years, the 98th ARS had flown a total of 64,000 hours without the loss of a single man or aircraft.
98th STRATEGIC WING: TORREJON, SPAIN KC-135s, 1966 - 1976
From January 1964 to April 1965, the 98th controlled an Atlas ICBM squadron. The wing was inactivated on June 5, 1966 at Lincoln AFB, but activated the same day at Torrejon Air Base, Spain replacing the 3970th Strategic Wing. For the next decade, the98th had no tactical aircraft components assigned to it, but rather used attached KC-135 tankers and crews furnished by other SAC wings to provide air refueling support for the operational, alert exercise commitment of SAC, TAC, USAFE and NATO. It's operational area included the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, most of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In October 1976, the 306th Strategic Wing, based in West Germany, assumed this support task and the 98th phased down at Torrejon and was inactivated December 31, 1976.
Under the command of Col. Donald Keplinger, the 98th Strategic Wing was unique in that it was tenant on a USAFE (United States Air Force Europe) fighter base. The 98th Strategic Wing usually had the equivalent of two KC-135 tanker wings (30 aircraft) in its possession. The uniqueness was that the tankers were there TDY. The 98th did not own any planes.
The primary mission was to provide refueling support to USAFE as required. The tankers provided refueling support for all fighters crossing the Atlantic, both coming and going. At times of major deployments, it was quite spectacular to observe as many as 30 tankers taking off in a short time frame. The 98th also provided support for aircraft enroute to or from Iran and Turkey.
At this time, the 98th had two subordinate units in Europe. A detachment in Mildenhall, UK and one in Athens, Greece. Support was provided for the RC-135 recon missions.
Sometime in 1975, the U.S. and Spain renewed their treaty with significant changes. One of which would move SAC out of the Torrejon area, establishing a unit at Zaragoza, Spain sometime in 1976 and limiting the number of aircraft in Spain at any given time. Also about this time a liaison office was opened at USAFE headquarters at Ramstein, Germany. So now the 98th would be at Ramstein instead of Mildenhall.
A very interesting event happened at Torrejon on July 4, 1976. On this date the United States Flag was allowed to be raised and flew all day during duty hours. Because of the treaty with Spain, the U.S. Flag had not flown at Torrejon for many years, but was allowed to fly this day in celebration of our 200th anniversary. How sad to note it was reported that ONLY five individuals came out to see the flag raised and only about ten were there when it was lowered.
Col. Donald M. Griffin was commanding when the 98th Strategic Wing was closed down at Torrejon in September 1976.
98th Air Refueling Group (A.F. RESERVE) KC-10s, 1987 - Present
The 98th Air Refueling Group boast a rich heritage from the 98th Bomb Group going back to W.W. II. Activated on 1 October 1987 as the 98th Air Refueling Group (Heavy), stationed at Barksdale AFB, LA with KC - 10 aircraft. It consisted of the 78th Air Refueling Squadron and 98th Consolidated Maintenance Squadron under the command of the 452 Air Refueling Wing at March AFB, CA.
On 12 - 14 May 1989, the group was tasked to support C-5 and C-141 cargo planes airlifting troops into Panama which was the prelude to Operation Just Cause. In early August 1990 aircraft and crews of the 98th ARG again was called on to support Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. Following that operation, the 98th ARG was involved with President Bush's code name SINBAD, a secret plan to monitor drug trafficking in South America.
Yet again the 98th ARG flew mercy missions into Mogadishu, Somalia delivering 491,610 pounds of supplies to the starving natives. Still operating in Operation Southern Watch the group flew missions along the southern border of Iraq in January 1993.
98th RANGE WING, (REGULAR A.F.) NELLIS AFB, NV. 2001 - Present
Reactivated on 5 November 2001 and re-designated as the 98th Range Wing under the command of Colonel Wilhelm F. Percival, the 98th is the first and only Wing dedicated to range management in the USAF.
The 98th Range Wing is responsible for the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). Comprised of 2.9 million acres and almost 16,000 square miles of air space. The NTTR maintains the densest threat simulator environment in the world. In addition to communications jamming equipment, the simulated threats include a wide range of SAMs, AAA, GCI, and passive detection systems. These assets provide year round training to U.S. and allied air crews in Red Flag weapons school exercises in addition to electronic combat. Unmanned bombing ranges are also used. Each range consists of tactical type targets representing airfields, surface to air missile (SAM) sites, truck convoys, munitions and fuel storage sites, and artillery companies. The Nevada Test Site, operated by the Department of Energy borders the NTTR.
The 98th Range Wing, under the Air Warfare Center, consists of the following subordinate units:
98th Operations Group: Includes the 98th Operations Support Squadron and 98th Range Squadron.
98th Air Base Group: Includes the 98th Support Squadron and 98th Logistics Squadron.
98th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON
The 98th Air Refueling Squadron and the lineage of the MIGHTY FIGHTIN' WOODPECKERS has its beginning in 1942 as the 8th Reconnaissance Squadron. Shortly afterward, it was re-designated as the 398th Bomb Squadron and flew B-25 and B-26 bombers. It was disbanded in October 1943. In March 1944, it was reactivated as the 398th Bomb Squadron, Very Heavy, and flew B-17s. In December 1944 the 398th converted to B-29s, and moved to Tinian. The squadron earned five Distinguished Unit citations for their missions against Kamikaze bases on Okinawa and Japan. It was inactivated on 15 June 1946.
On 16 August 1950 the unit was reactivated as the 98th Air Refueling Squadron at Spokane Air Force Base, Washington and assigned to the 98th Bombardment Group, Medium, while flying the KB-29. It was inactivated again on 8 April 1952. From 1952 to 1963, the squadron was activated and deactivated several times and moved from base to base.
The 98th Air Refueling Squadron (SAC) was formed at Lincoln AFB, Nebraska in 1954. Made up of former members of the 55th ARS from Forbes AFB, Kansas.
On 23 March 1955, Walter Lantz Productions, Inc. authorized the use of WOODY WOODPECKER as the unit's emblem. The company "recreated" the character, carrying a gasoline can and copyrighted it for use by the squadron. NOTE: there might be some differences in the claim for the origin of the design of the Woody Woodpecker. It is contended that it come to Lincoln from the 55th ARS by one source.
In 1985, after 22 years of inactivation, the 98th ARS was reactivated and consolidated with the 398th Bombardment Squadron. It was re-designated the 98th Air Refueling Squadron, HEAVY on 19 September 1986 and then renamed the 98th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 April 1994 at Fairchild AFB, Washington, flying KC-135T aircraft. The 98th ARS was again deactivated in 1998.
344th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON
Re-designated 344th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 7 May 1986. Activated on 1 October 1986. Re-designated 344th Air Refueling Squadron 1 July 1992.
For the entire lineage of the 344th, refer to the 98th Bomb Group, 98th Bomb Wing, and 98th Strategic Aerospace Wing history.
Emblem: Celeste, a raven in flight, grasping in both feet an air refueling boom.
MOTTO: ANYTIME - ANYWHERE. Approved on 17 October 1994.
551st STRATEGIC MISSILE SQUADRON
Constituted as the 551st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and activated on 1 December 1942 as a B-17 unit assigned to the 8th Air Force as part of the 4th Bombardment Wing at Suffolk, England. They flew missions against Fokker assembly plants at Amsterdam and submarine pens in Norway. They also flew bombing missions to Germany, including Schweinfurt. They were deactivated as a unit on 28 August 1945.
The 551st Strategic Missile Squadron was activated on 1 April 1961 under the 98th Aerospace Wing at Lincoln AFB, Nebraska.
They were equipped with the HGM-16F (ATLAS) international ballistic missile with a seven megaton warhead. Playing a major role in the cold war, they were the last Atlas - F Squadron to stand at alert. Deactivated in 1965 when Lincoln closed.
Personnel of the 551st are still very active with their own association and hold an annual reunion. For information, contact:
551st SMS Association
2890 Lafayette Ave.
Bronx, NY 10465-2231
781-792-2360
sms551@aol.com
98th BOMBARDMENT WING DETACHMENT IV: KB-29s 1952 - 1953
Detachment IV, with K-B29s at Yokota Air Base, Japan is somewhat of a mystery as they flew both "intruder" missions and refueling missions. Some missions were classified "combat" since they did in fact fly into the combat zone over the Sea of Japan.
They used the single point refueling system with a trailing drogue. Fighter aircraft being refueled used a wing tank probe to couple with the drogue. The KB-29s had no gun turrets, however carried two scanners along with the refueling operator in the back. They flew un-pressurized during refueling operations due to the large concentration of fumes. This required the crew to be on Oxygen during that time.
At this time it is unknown when the KB-29s were withdrawn.
98th VETERANS ASSOCIATION: 1949 - PRESENT
In 1949 Colonel Salvator Manzo, a former commander of the 98th Bomb Group during World War II, began collecting names and contacting former members of the 98th. His thoughts were to organize all interested personnel to honor the memory of the 98th with the goal of writing the history of the group. At the time, Col. Manzo was assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group at Spokane AFB, Washington. Ironically at the time, the 98th was also stationed at Spokane AFB.
In 1950 a group of 98th Veterans met in Boston to try to form an association. Unfortunately it was not very successful and they met again in 1951 in New York without any further success.
They did not meet again until 1968 when they met with the 91st Bomb Group Association at Denver, Colorado to learn the details of forming an association and formatting a charter. 1968 Charter members were: Edwin J. Albus, Eldred Chance, John A. Fornwalt, Robert G. Howard, Frank Pintabone, Rudolph Schmeichel, Kenneth Scroggins, John Slothower, E. Ray Stulting, Harry J. Baker, Davis C. Cochran, A.V. Freeman, Royden Labrecht, Floyd Pleasant, Lawernce Scholl, Ernest M. Sharman, Oscar C. Stone, and Norman R. Thomas.
About 1976, Jim King of the 98th Bomb Group B-29s, formed the "98th Bomb Group Memorial Veterans Association." This group met on a few occasions, however Jim had medical problems which hampered his tremendous efforts to expand and keep his dream rolling. Jim King passed on in 1978. Without Jim's influence and leadership, the "Memorial Association" faltered. However, by this time the 98th Bomb Group Veterans Association had become known to the B-29ers and B-47 (Cold War) veterans. About 1979 or 1980, the B-29 veterans were accepted as members. In 1982, the B-47 Veterans were also invited to join, and the association expanded greatly. At the Chattanooga reunion in 1996, Herb Harper proposed that the association accept relatives of 98th members as "Associate" members. The motion was voted on and accepted. Since then, the association accepts seriously interested individuals who show a sincere interest in the history of the 98th. We also try to honor ALL spouses of 98th deceased veterans with and "HONORARY MEMBERSHIP". We welcome you and encourage you to join us at our annual reunions.
We ask and encourage ALL our members to make suggestions on improving our association.
Herb Harper, Historian
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