94th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

A Brief History of the 94th BG (H)

The 94th Bomb Group was activated on the 15th June 1942 at McDill Field, FL. Initial training at a number of US bases began on 29th June 1942 and lasted until the end of March 1943. The air echelon began movement overseas on 1st April 1943. The ground element left for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 17th April 1943 and sailed on the Queen Elizabeth on 5th May 1943, arriving in Greenock on 11th May 1943.

The Group was initially based at Bassingbourn from Mid-April 1943 to May 1943, when it moved to Earls Colne. It was decided that the recently built Rougham Airfield was more suited to B-17 operations and so swapped bases with the B-26's of 322 squadron, who move from Rougham to Earls Colne. The Group remained at Bury St Edmunds from June 1943, departing finally on 12th December 1945.

The Group was composed of 331st, 332nd, 333rd and 410th Bombardment Squadrons and was assigned to the 8th Air Force in April 1943. The Group was under the command of Col. John G Moore from its inception on 15th June 1942 to 22nd June 1943, when a new Commanding Officer was assigned - Col Frederick W Castle, of whom more below.

During its time in England, the 94th BG (H) mounted a total of 324 operational missions, the first on 13th May 1943 and the last on 21st April 1945. The missions comprised 8884 sorties and a total bomb tonnage of 18,924 tons was dropped. A total of 153 aircraft were listed Missing In Action (MIA).

The group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for operations at Regensburg on 17th Aug 1943 and at Brunswick on 11th January 1944. The citation is documented further below on this page.

Following the end of the Second World War, the Group was scheduled for the occupational air forces in Germany but plans changed and the 94th remained in the UK during the latter part of 1945, flying "Nickle" Project missions, dropping leaflets over former occupied countries and to displaced persons in Germany.

The group was inactivated in December 1945 and allotted to the US Air Force Reserve. Later it was established as a light bomber group in 1949 and later as a carrier organisation flying C-119's.

Brigadier General Frederick W Castle

Every group had its own heroes, though they would certainly be the first to deny any such words. One radio operator expresses it like this "Remember as a radio operator I never copied radio signals while flying over the target flak . I did like everyone else on the plane just sat there tensed up. No bravery displayed, of course no panic either."

Just such a man was Col Castle. A natural leader of men - president of the Sperry Corporation, before the war. His motto was "Results count" and everything was secondary to that.

He had been promoted to Brigadier General and now led the 4th Bombardment Wing on a mission to bomb German troops at Arnhem on Christmas Eve, 1944. When his aircraft was struck, he ordered his crew to bail out and flew the aircraft away from American infantry on the ground, guiding the plane to an open field, where he spun and crashed, with the loss of his own life.

For this, General Castle was awarded the Congressional Medla of Honor. the United States highest award for gallantry.

A fuller version of General Castle's life story can be found on the 94th BG site.

The Lighter side

Even heroes have a sense of humour and in the most terrifying of circumstances, strange and even funny things can happen. Take Lt Trimble for example:

On the 5th January 1944 Captain Wedding of the 331st squadron led the group on a raid to Bordeaux. Lt Ken Trimble was a bombardier with George Kacsuta's crew and Truman Ball the Navigator. On the way back over the Brest Peninsula they came under attack. Ball was firing to the left and Trimble to the right from the nose of the B17.

They both ran out of ammunition. Each hurriedly reloaded a new belt and soon discovered that they had both loaded the same belt at opposite ends. Ball turned around and broke the belt in half with his hands. Trimble went on to shoot down a FW 190 at short range. When the fighting had stopped they contemplated what Ball had done.

For the rest of the way home they tried without success to break another belt. They could only conclude that the heat of battle must produce some super human strength.

(Story courtesy of Pete Langdon, RTA member)

Famous Raids

The names of Regensburg, Marienburg, Brunswick and many others will live down the centuries as great turning points and epic moments in the conduct of air warfare.

Famous Planes

Just as every group had its heroes, so it had its famous aircraft, planes that would come home time after time after time, when all the odds were against them. So it was with the 94th. It was the custom for the crews to name these B-17愀 and thay are generally better known by these names than by any other form of identification. "Frenesi", "Mission Mistress", "Yo is my ideal", and "Idiot's Delight" are all names which conjure up memories of the times and events that happened.

Unit Citations

The most public form of recognition for the 94th BG came in the form of the two Distinguished Unit Citations awarded for operations in Regensburg and Brunswick. The citation for the Brunswick operation is reproduced below:

No other words are necessary.

(G.O. General Orders )

( Number 30 ) *

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington 25, D.C.,8 April 1944

Section

BATTLE HONORS--Citations of units------------------------------------------- X1

XI-- BATTLE HONORS. - As authorized by Executive Order No. 9306 (sec. I, Bull 22, WD, 1943) superceding Executive Order No. 9705 (sec. III, Bull 11, WD, 1942), citations of the following units by the Commanding General, Eighth Air Force, under the provisions of section IV Circular No 333, War Department, 1943, in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction, are confirmed.

The citations read as follows:

The 94th Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy in connection with the bombing operation over Brunswick, Germany, 11 January 1944. On this 1,032-miles flight of 5 hours and 20 minutes the target was the Muhlenbau-u Industrie A. G. bomber components factory. After assembling through multiple layers of cloud the 94th Bomardment Group (H) led the 4th Combat Bombardment Wing through the antiaircraft defenses of Amsterdam, Lembruck, Wolfenbuttel, and Hanover. Twenty five miles from Brunswick a message was received recalling the airborne forces because of adverse weather conditions over home bases.

Unable to verify the order, the 94th Bomardment Group (H) continued on the briefed course. In the target area accurate antiaircraft fire and hostile fighters consisting of ME. 210愀, JU. 88愀, ME. 110愀, F.W. 190愀 and ME. 109愀 damaged all but one aircraft of the formation. On the initial approach to the target the objective could not be clearly identified. Consequently the group courageously executed a 360 degree turn alone, through exceedingly heavy concentrations of artillery fire and rockets, after the other two units originally composing the Combat Bombardment Wing had completed their single runs and started the return trip to England. Despite vicious enemy fighter attacks the 94th Bombardment Group (H) skillfully made a second run, successfully bombing the target from high altitude.

Forty-five and one-half tons of explosive bombs were dropped by the group, 73 percent of the bombs striking within 1,000 feet, and 100 percent within 2,000 feet, of the preassigned aiming point. On its return flight, when enemy fighter attacks were most intense, the 94th Bombardment Group (H) was without the cumulative fire power and mutual protection afforded by the combined elements of a combat bombardment wing. Outnumbered three to one by hostile fighters and with all but one of its aircraft damaged, this group returned to home bases with the loss of but seven aircraft. Flying against a 90-mile an hour head wind, the ground speed of the unit was dangerously reduced. Skill and airmanship in manouver rallied some of the damaged stragglers and maintained the defensive formation. The 94th Bombardment Group (H) is officially credited with the destruction of eight enemy aircraft, four probables, and six damaged.

Gallantly fighting its way to and from the target this force distinguished itself by conspicous battle action, overcoming unusually difficult and hazardous conditions. Personnel of this unit expertly performed their duties with determined coolness and precision despite formidable screens of intense opposing fire and continous fighter attacks upon their own aircraft. All involved had demonstrated courage, strength, and heroic decision in battle. Through a display of extraordinary heroism and exemplary devotion to duty above and beyond that all other units participating in the same engagement, and by striking a decisive blow at hostile industries, the 94th Bombardment Group (H) rendered a truly outstanding service, which reflects the highest credit on itself and the Army Air Forces.

By order of the Secretary of War:
OFFICIAL
ROBERT H. DUNLOP,

G. C. MARSHALL
Chief of Staff.

Brigadier General, Acting the Adjutant General.