History of the 29th Bomb Group
The
29th Bomb Group was activated on February 1, 1940 at Langley Field, Virginia.
It was comprised of the 6th, 43rd, 52nd, and 411th bomb squadrons. The
411th inactivated on May 20th 1944. On April 1, 1944, the 29th Bomb Group
(H) was redesignated as the 29th Bomb Group (VH). After training
at Langley Field, the group moved to MacDill Field, Florida. In conjunction
with the U.S. Navy, they flew patrol missions in the Caribbean. On June
20, 1942, the group moved to Govern Field, Idaho to train personnel to
become combat crews with ground and air training. After training 22 Bomb
Groups, the 29th moved to Pratt, Kansas to begin training as a B-29 combat
unit.
On May 29,
1944 Col. Carl R. Storrie assumed command and the air and ground training
began. The training was very intense and at Pratt as well as in Puerto
Rico and Cuba. The ground crews completed their training and staging,
and they arrived on Guam between February 15 and 26, 1945.
A total of
66 combat missions were flown having both day and night raids. In addition,
there were flights for air-sea rescue (Dumbo), weather reconnaissance,
and radar scope. The targets varied from air fields, aircraft factories,
chemical plants, oil refineries, and industrial areas.
The first
mission was to Tokyo on February 25, 1945 and the last mission was on
August 15, 1945. Then, the group flew supplies on mercy missions to the
POW camps in Japan. Finally, and with great honor, the 29th Bomb Group
participated in the "Show of Force Mission" over Tokyo Bay and
the battleship U.S.S. Missouri.
The men of
the 29th Bomb Group served proudly, and their bravery was recognized by
many awards. The greatest award, the Medal of Honor, was awarded for bravery
on a mission to Koriyama Japan to: |
20TH
Airforce - 314th Wing Guam
Other Awards
2 Destinguished
Unit Citations
3 Silver Stars
2 Soldier Medals
372 Distinguished Flying Crosses
49 Oak Leaf Clusters to the DFC
1,450 Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medals
Many Purple Hearts
The
cost to the 29th Bomb Group was enormous in terms of human lives. Two
crews were lost in training. an additional crew, which ditched near
Japan, was picked up by a U.S. submarine. While in combat, the bomb
group lost 18 more crews, and at war's end, there were a handful of
men who were POW's.
The
men on the following honor list were honored at the Air Force Academy
Chapel in Colorado Springs on October 8, 1993. There was a special ceremony
held for the dedication of the 29th Bomb Group plaque at the memory
wall.
In
conclusion let me say, buy zithromax and
to all of us who are remaining, may we enjoy peace in our hearts.
Joe Chovolak, 29th Bomb Group Historian
| For all of their help, a special thank you to: |
| Fred Pawlikowski: |
29th Bomb Group Secretary |
| Jim Livingood: |
29th Bomb Group Historian |
|
