The 9th AF in the ETO
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  397 BG
 
397th Bombardment Group (Medium)

 




' Holy Moses'  397 BG 597 BS and her crew

 

Back row left to right : 1Lt.Winfred W.Anderson pilot, 1Lt.Angelo Saracelli co-pilot, Sgt.Manuel Estrella togglier, Sgt.Max Berger photographer,

 

From row left to right : Sgt.Leon LaFraniere, Sgt.Salvatore Merlo, Sgt.Louis Navarro

 

(Photo:  via Wynn Anderson)

 

Airfields - Bases
From To  
20/04/193 12/10/1943 MacDill AAF, Fla.
12/10/1943 1/11/1943 Avon Park Bombing Range, Fla.
1/11/1943 13/03/1944 Hunter AAF,Ga.
13/03/1944 ?/04/1944 Transfer to U.K.
5/04/1944 15/04/1944 Gosfield
15/04/1944 5/08/1944 Rivenhall
5/08/1944 30/08/1944 Hurn
30/08/1944 15/09/1944 A.26
15/09/1944 6/10/1944 A.41
6/10/1944 25/04/1945 A.72
25/04/1945 30/05/1945 Y.55
30/05/1945 ?/12/1945 A.72
?/12/1945 5/01/1946 Return to U.S.A.
5/01/1946 6/01/1946 Camp Kilmer, NJ
 
Commanding officers
From To  
?/05/1943 18/07/1943 Maj.Rollin M.Winingham
18/07/1943 5/10/1943 Lt.Col.John F.Batjer
5/10/1943 23/07/1945 Col.Richard T.Coiner,Jr.
23/07/1945 ? Lt.Col.Jimmie W.Britt
 
Aircraft used in the ETO
B26 & A26
 
Aircraft markings and Call Signs
397 BG Call Sign  
 

596 BS

 		 Marking  
Code X2-
Call Sign  
 

597 BS

 		 Marking  
Code 9F-
Call Sign  
 

598 BS

 		 Marking  
Code U2-
Call Sign  
 

599 BS

 

 Marking  
Code 6B-
Call Sign  
 
Remarks
20/04/1943 Activated 
6/01/1946 Deactivated
Serial Type Date Macr Sqn Location Remarks Sqn code Name
41-35100 B26C-20-MO 20/01/1944   598 BS Camden Arkansas nr.          
42-95828 B26B-45-MA     598 BS     U2-A     Kreihl's Cradle
42-95933 B26B-50-MA 02/03/1945 12838   Dutenhofen Wetzlar damaged by FW190s and abandoned by crew        
42-96052 B26B-55-MA     597 BS            
42-96078 B26B-55-MA     599 BS Rivenhall   6B-H     Slightly Dangerous
42-96091 B26B-55-MA                  
42-96093 B26B-55-MA 18/07/1944 - 596 BS Rivenhall, UK blew tire on t/o and undercarriage collapsed, destroyed by fire        
42-96110 B26B-55-MA 07/06/1944 - 599 BS Rye, Kent shot down by another aircraft        
42-96111 B26B-55-MA     597 BS     9F-Q     Flame McGoon
42-96114 B26B-55-MA     597 BS     9F-D     Dinah
42-96115 B26B-55-MA 15/02/1945   597 BS            
42-96118 B26B-55-MA 07/08/1944 7876 597 BS   shot down by flak        
42-96120 B26B-55-MA 24/06/1944 6197 597 BS     9F-R     Mama Liz
42-96121 B26B-55-MA 24/06/1944 6199 597 BS            
42-96122 B26B-55-MA 07/06/1944 - 597 BS Rye, Kent run away gun turret        
42-96123 B26B-55-MA     597 BS            
42-96124 B26B-55-MA     597 BS            
42-96127 B26B-55-MA 24/06/1944 6200 597 BS            
42-96129 B26B-55-MA 07/07/1944 6632 598 BS   shot down by flak U2-A     Sea Wolf II
42-96130 B26B-55-MA 20/02/1944 3006 598 BS South Alantic          
42-96132 B26B-55-MA 17/06/1944 - 598 BS Friston nr. forced landing        
42-96133 B26B-55-MA 24/06/1944                
42-96134 B26B-55-MA 25/12/1944   599 BS Rulles, Belgium Hit by flak and abandoned by crew 6B-N     Collect On Delivery
42-96135 B26B-55-MA 17/06/1944 - 599 BS Coggeshall, Essex forced landing        
42-96137 B26B-55-MA 13/05/1944   597 BS     9F-Y      
42-96138 B26B-55-MA 09/07/1944   598 BS   hit by fighters, crashed and burned U2-C     By Golly
42-96139 B26B-55-MA     598 BS     U2-D     Susan J
42-96141 B26B-55-MA     598 BS     U2-K     Leapin Lena
42-96142 B26B-55-MA     596 BS     X2-A     Dee Feater
42-96143 B26B-55-MA 08/05/1944 4429 596 BS   Shot down by flak        
42-96144 B26B-55-MA 23/12/1944 11483 599 BS St.Vith shot down, 7 + X2-C     Bank Night Betts
42-96146 B26B-55-MA     596 BS     X2-F     Mammy Yokum II
42-96148 B26B-55-MA     596 BS            
42-96150 B26B-55-MA     596 BS     X2-K     Hot Rock
42-96151 B26B-55-MA     596 BS            
42-96152 B26B-55-MA 06/04/1945   596 BS La Peronne crashed on t/o due to engine failure X2-M     Missouri Mule II
42-96153 B26B-55-MA     596 BS     X2-N     The Joker
42-96154 B26B-55-MA     596 BS            
42-96155 B26B-55-MA     596 BS     X2-P     The Bad Penny
42-96156 B26B-55-MA     596 BS            
42-96158 B26B-55-MA     598 BS     U2-J     Little Peedoff
42-96160 B26B-55-MA 18/03/1945 13140 598 BS Stadecken area, Germany shot down by flak       Billy Willy
42-96161 B26B-55-MA 24/06/1944   598 BS   shot down U2-M     Patty Kay
42-96162 B26B-55-MA     597 BS            
42-96163 B26B-55-MA     597 BS            
42-96165 B26B-55-MA     599 BS     6B-T     The Big Hairy Bird
42-96166 B26B-55-MA 24/05/1944   599 BS UK crashed        
42-96168 B26B-55-MA 03/08/1944 7870 599 BS   collided with 42-96169, spun and crashed        
42-96169 B26B-55-MA 03/08/1944 7870   A-13 collision with 42-96168, landed at A-13        
42-96171 B26B-55-MA     599 BS     6B-W     Bar Fly
42-96172 B26B-55-MA     599 BS            
42-96174 B26B-55-MA 11/05/1944   599 BS UK crashed        
42-96175 B26B-55-MA 11/05/1944   599 BS Grange Hill, Coggeshall, UK crashed        
42-96176 B26B-55-MA     599 BS     6B-O      
42-96177 B26B-55-MA 24/06/1944 6218 599 BS            
42-96181 B26B-55-MA     599 BS     6B-A     Draggin Lady
42-96182 B26B-55-MA 23/12/1944 11487 599 BS            
42-96183 B26B-55-MA     599 BS            
42-96186 B26B-55-MA     597 BS     9F-Y     Angels Playmate
42-96191 B26B-55-MA 25/04/1945   597 BS Venlo crashed during landing, crew safe TQ-M   9F-N The Milk Run Special
42-96192 B26B-55-MA     599 BS     6B-K      
42-96193 B26B-55-MA 09/07/1944   599 BS Hailsham, Essex UK forced landing, fuel starvation        
42-96194 B26B-55-MA     597 BS            
42-96196 B26B-55-MA 08/06/1944 - 597 BS Whitehall Farm,UK forced landing        
42-96197 B26B-55-MA 10/03/1945   596 BS UK crashed        
42-96201 B26B-55-MA 23/12/1944   599 BS   shot down 6B-L     Blind Date
42-96204 B26B-55-MA     596 BS     X2-X      
42-96219 B26B-55-MA                  
42-96274 B26F-1-MA                  
42-96276 B26F-1-MA     557 BS   survived the war, 69 missions KS-N     Miss Behavin
42-96278 B26F-1-MA 11/08/1944       shot down by flak        
42-96280 B26F-1-MA 23/12/1944 11349 597 BS   mia 9F-      
42-96283 B26F-1-MA     599 BS     6B-Y      
42-96288 B26F-1-MA 30/11/1944 - 596 BS   crashed X2-Q      
42-96289 B26F-1-MA 09/08/1944 7788 599 BS   shot down by flak 6B-      
42-96297 B26F-1-MA                  
42-96302 B26F-1-MA                  
42-96306 B26F-1-MA 28/03/1945 13519              
42-96308 B26F-1-MA                  
42-96315 B26F-1-MA 02/02/1945   598 BS   damaged by flak and abandoned        
42-107605 B26C-45-MO                  
43-34115 B26G-1-MA                  
43-34116 B26G-1-MA 06/08/1944 7874     shot down by flak        
43-34117 B26G-1-MA 22/01/1945   598 BS   fuelstarvation, abandoned by crew U2-S     Hi Ho Silver
43-34118 B26G-1-MA     598 BS     U2-N      
43-34122 B26G-1-MA 13/03/1945 13098 598 BS            
43-34126 B26G-1-MA 01/08/1944 9808 598 BS France shot down by Luftwaffe fighters        
43-34127 B26G-1-MA                  
43-34136 B26G-1-MA 23/12/1944 13039     shot down by Luftwaffe fighter        
43-34139 B26G-1-MA 23/12/1944 11986 599 BS     6B-Z     Toot Sweet
43-34158 B26G-1-MA     598 BS     U2-W     Sea Wolf IV
43-34159 B26G-1-MA 23/12/1944 11897              
43-34169 B26G-1-MA     599 BS     6B-J     Hun Concious
43-34185 B26G-1-MA 23/12/1944 11898              
43-34188 B26G-1-MA 10/08/1944 7789 599 BS   shot down by flak        
43-34201 B26G-1-MA 22/01/1945     Bois de Buire, France hit by flak over Our River Bridge, 2 +       Where's It At ?
43-34217 B26G-5-MA 04/12/1944   598 BS   abandoned by crew        
43-34221 B26G-5-MA 23/12/1944 11549     engine caught fire, crew bailed out        
43-34228 B26G-5-MA 25/02/1945   587 BS   collided with 42-96044 and both crashed        
43-34288 B26G-5-MA     596 BS     X2-J     Just Dreamin
43-34290 B26G-5-MA 02/12/1944       engine caught fire and crew bailed out        
43-34312 B26G-5-MA                  
43-34314 B26G-5-MA     587 BS           B-Calm
43-34335 B26G-5-MA     596 BS     X2-B     Dee Feater II
43-34359 B26G-5-MA 02/02/1945       crew bailed out        
43-34401 B26G-5-MA     597 BS     9F-K      
43-34405 B26G-5-MA 25/12/1944 12525 599 BS   shot down by flak        
43-34410 B26G-5-MA 22/02/1945 12689     believed shot down by Bf109's        
43-34430 B26G-10-MA 23/12/1944 11985 599 BS   mia        
43-34434 B26G-10-MA 23/12/1944 11490     mia        
43-34450 B26G-10-MA                  
43-34566 B26G-11-MA     597 BS     9F-O     El Lobo
44-67868 B26G-15-MA                 Kwitchter Bitchin
44-67878 B26G-15-MA                  
44-67897 B26G-15-MA 13/03/1945 - 597 BS Charleroi airfield crashlanded   9F-F      
44-67983 B26G-20-MA           -X      
44-67989 B26G-20-MA                  
44-68080 B26G-20-MA     597 BS     9F-Z     Double Breasted
44-68138 B26G-25-MA     599 BS     6B-H      
44-68149 B26G-25-MA                  
44-68154 B26G-25-MA                  
  B26     597 BS     9F-     Holy Moses

 

 
  
   
 
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