301st BG - The Big Triangle First

The Big “Triangle” First
Thru August 1942

*Historical Records from the Book “The B17 Flying Fortress Story” by Roger A Freeman

The First Bombardment Wing 1942

On the evening of the 4th of August 1942, the First Bombardment Wing left Fort Dix for embarkment at Staten Island, New York. The journey was made by ferry from the railroad terminus on the New Jersey side of the Hutson River. At Staten Island, they boarded the former luxury liner, Uruquay. After arriving from Richmond Virginia,the ground echelon of the 301st Bombardment Group also boarded the Uruquay. In addition, sailing with a ten ship convoy was the battleship USS West Point a heavy cruiser and 19 Destroyers on which the ground echelon of the 92nd Bombardment Group was embarked after arriving from Sarasota, Fl. These two units were being shipped under the code No 5164, along with many other unites destined for England. Early on the morning 6th August after the convoy left harbor and joined an escortof one battleship, a heavy cruiser and 19 destroyers then moved slowly up the Atlantic coast. the following morning the convoy was assembled in the harbor of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where Canadian ships were added. From Halifax, the convoy proceeded into the Atlantic. With an uneventful crossing the Uruquay docked at Swansea, Wales, August 18th. By nightfall the 19th ,the First Bomb Wing had joined the First Provisional Bomb Wing at Brampton Park Spending their first night in England in tents. The First Bombardment Wing disbanded immediately and the combined units became the First Bombardment Wing.

The first B17F’s of the 301st Bomb Group arrived in late July. By August 15th there were 20 on hand, none were operational. “DOC STORK” a B-17F-1-BO of the 352nd Bomb Squadron had been lost the 9th of August when it made a wheels up landing at Church Lawford while on a flight from Bovingdon to Chelveston. This was the first loss of a US B17F in the UK. By the end of August, 16 combat missions had been issued by the Commanding General, Eight Bomber Command to the Commanding Officer, First Bombardment Wing, at Brampton Grange. Eight missions had resulted from these Combat Orders. No aircraft were lost to enemy action during the eight missions, but several aircraft had been damaged with the first fatality on August 21st. B-17E 41-9089 of the 97th Bomb Group “ JOHNNY REB” was attacked by FW-190s. The co-pilot 2nd Lt Donald A Walter was killed and the pilot 2nd Lt Richard F Starks wounded. The aircraft did return to Horsham St Faith. The remainder of the 301st Bomb Group’s B-17F’s came in during the latter half of August with the exception of Lt Sylverster’s 41-24348 a B-17F-1-BO “Pegasus” of the 352nd Bomb Squadron had been damaged in Greenland and was delayed until September. The Group continued intensive training during this period, but did not take part in any August operations.By the end of August, Boeing had delivered some 300 B-17F’s from it’s Seattle factory, and production at this plant was running at 110 aircraft a month. All arriving in England with the 92nd and 301st Bomb Groups.

In August and September the 97th and 301st Bomb Groups were making their first contributions to the bombing effort and the number of aircraft despatched rose from 120 in August to 195 in September. A large force despatched on the 26th kept the numbers bombing only just above the August figures. On the first of the month there were 101 B-17’s on hand which were available for operations. On the 5th the 301st Bomb Group made its first combat mission by contributing five aircraft from the 352nd Bomb squadron and seven from the 419th Bomb Squadrons for a mission on the Rouen-Sottville marshaling yards.On the 7th the 97th and 301st Bomb Groups were despatched to the Rotterdam shipyards.Only nine aircraft were able to bomb: two of these on targets of opportunity.After this mission there was a break in operations. The Eight Air Force had been allotted the task of organizing and equipping the Twelfth Air Force who was to prepare for the upcoming operation (Torch) in North Africa. On September 14th the 97th and 301st Bomb Groups were transferred to the Twelfth Air Force.So important was the need to keep these units up to full strength and fully equipped for this assignment that orders were issued to the Eight Bomber Command to cease operations to concentrate on training and making preparations in aid of the forthcoming invasion of North Africa. As these orders were soon rescinded, and the 97th and 301st Bomb Groups were able to continue operating under the First Bombardment Wing until their departure to North Africa in November. On the 2nd the 97th and 301st Bomb Groups had a mission to Meaulte and were engaged by the Luftwaffle in a ensuing air battle. 41-24397 “PHYLLIS” of the 301st Bomb Group was damaged by FW-190s and made a belly landing at Gattwick. The nose of the B-17 was cut off to facilitate the removal of the injured top turret gunner. The 301st also flew a mission to Lille and suffered the loss of 41-24362 as she ditched in the North Sea about a mile from North Foreland. A passing Spitfire radioed in the position to Air Sea Rescue who picked all 10 crew members within the hour. Another B-17 41-24352 landed at Earls Colne with three wounded crew members.The 301st BG would complete the first two missions in November before preparing for their departure to North Africa.Since arriving in the ETO (European Theater of Operations) the Group had lost one B-17 MIA (Missing in Action), three in crash landings and one left for reasons unknown. None of these losses had been made up for prior to November. Five replacements were assigned early in the month. Eight missions were flown during November, seven were U-Boat bases on the French cost. The first was to Brest on the 7th. The next day the 301st Bomb Group despatched B-17s to Lille and the airfield at Addeville / Drucat. This would be the last mission with the Eight Air Force. The 301st Bomb Group departed for North Africa in November.

The order of July 1942 establishing the First Bombardment Wing with headquarters at Brampton Grange

(From the book Fortresses of the Big Triangle First by Cliff T Bishop)

Aircraft salvaged in the UK prior to August 15th 1942. These are aircraft that were lost before their holding units were assigned to

the First Bombardment Wing.

The Uruquay, owned and operated by the United States Marine Commission. A converted luxury liner that brought the First Wing across the Atlantic in August 1942

Aircraft “B17- F” assigned to the 352nd Bomb Squadron June 1942

B17 F Tail # 41-24347

B17 F Tail #-41-24350

B17 F Tail #-41-24352

B17 F Tail #-41 24368

B17 F Tail #-41-24372

B17 F Tail #-41-24397

B17 F Tail #-41-24404

B17 F Tail #-41-24407

B17 F Tail #-41-24409

B17 F Tail #41--24442

Aircraft and Crew status as 8th AAF units August 1942, prior too the North African flight as the 12th AAF and then to the 15th AAF, Italy.

General Orders 8th Bomber Command 27 July 1942

B24 Operational Diary; November 1942

”Y” in a box.

301st Bombardment Group tail markings.

Above: Cotton Eyed Joe. 301st BG makes an emergency landing

Photos curtitcy of the 301st Veterans Association

British Spitfire

The first US operated B-17 F -1-BO to be salvaged in the UK was 41-24347 “DOC STORK” of the 301st Bomb Group, 352nd Bomb Squadron which crash landed at the RAF Church on 9th August 1942 after developing engine trouble on a flight from Bovingdon to Cheveston