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25 JAN 43 Constituted as 404th Bombardment Group (Dive)
4 FEB 43 Activated at Army Air Base, Key Field, Meridian MS.
Cadre of 18 officers and 228 enlisted men was taken from
48th Bombardment Group (D), also located at Key Field.
Operational Status: Replacement Training Unit
CO - Lt.Col Lucius G. Drafts
6 FEB 43 S-1 Capt. Ralph E. Carroll S-2 1st Lt. Dudley W. Conner S-3 Maj. James C. Robinson, Jr. S-4 Capt. William B. Crow Medical - Maj. Oscar H. Comess Chaplain - Capt. Ralph A. Thompson
8 FEB 43 Squadrons - Commanding Officer & Operations Officer
620th - Capt. David D. Reed
2nd Lt. Freddie Hobrecht
621st - 1st Lt. Jack W. Ford
1st Lt. H. G. Larrick, Jr.
622nd - 1st Lt. H. F. Coverdale
2nd Lt. Jim B. White
623rd - 1st Lt. Alvin H. Ballard
2nd Lt. Clarence H. Doyle, Jr.
Airplanes: A-31, A-35, A-24. A-35's were grounded
and replaced by A-24.
6 MAY 43 CO - Lt.Col James Van G. Wilson
3 JUL 43 Moved to Congaree AAF, Congaree, SC, July 3-5
24 JUL 43 Airplanes: P-39Q - until 14 AUG 43
15 AUG 43 Redesignated 404th Fighter Bomber Group
Operational Status: Operational Training Unit
Squadrons - Renumbered:
506th (620th) - 1st Lt. Freddie Hobrecht
507th (621st) - 1st Lt. Clarence H. Doyle, Jr.
508th (622nd) - Capt. Burgain G. Hayes
623rd - Disbanded.
Personnel assigned to HQ, 506, 507, 508.
Airplanes: A-24
SEP-OCT 43 Group split for maneuvers:
Sept. 2 - 506th, 508th, and Group HQ moved by rail and air
to Burns AAF, Burns,Oregon. Upon arrival the
508th Squadron moved to Redmond, Oregon and was
attached to the 70th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
for the maneuvers.
Sept. 10 - 507th Squadron moved by air and rail to
Pollock, Louisiana
13 NOV 43 Group reassembled at Myrtle Beach, SC
Operational Status: Began conversion to Replacement Training Unit
Airplanes - Transition to P-39. Dive bomber pilots were being
shipped out. Fighter pilots did not begin arriving until January 44.
During December all but 5 A-24's were transferred out, and 45 P-39's were
transferred in.
1 DEC 43 455th Fighter Bomber Squadron constituted and activated.
27 JAN 44 Operational Status: Operational Training Unit Replaced another Group
CO - Lt.Col. Carroll W. McColpin
Deputy CO - Lt.Col. James K. Johnson
Squadrons --
506th - Maj. Harold G. Shook
507th - Maj. Clay Tice, Jr.
508th - Capt. Charles D. Burpee, Jr.(1/5/44)
Maj. Leo C. Moon (1/26/44)
455th -
24 FEB 43 455th Fighter Bomber Squadron transferred to the 408th Fighter Bomber
Group as a unit.
13 MAR 44 By train to Camp Shanks, POE staging area
22 MAR 44 Boarded Sterling Castle with 4 other fighter groups
23 MAR 44 Sailed for England
3 APR 44 Arrived Liverpool
4 APR 44 Arrived by train at Winkton (Station 414)
1 MAY 44 Operational status -- OPERATIONAL
13 JUN 44 Redesignated 404th Fighter Group
CO - Lt.Col. Carroll W. McColpin
Deputy CO - Lt.Col. James K. Johnson
Squadrons --
506th - Maj. Harold G. Shook
A/C Ident 4K; Call sign TUBA
507th - Maj. Clay Tice
A/C Ident Y8; Call sign NEPTUNE
508th - Maj. Leo C. Moon
A/C Ident 7J; Call sign ROBERT
Group Call Sign PROVERB
Airplanes: P-47
3-6 JUL 44 Moved to Chippelle - Normandy (A-5)
Call Signs:
506th PINTAIL
507th CROCUS
508th GRANITE
Group OCEAN
3 SEP 44 Moved to Brιtigny, France (A-48) - Shared with 365th Fighter Group
17 SEP 44 Moved to Juvincourt, France (A-68) - Shared with 365th Fighter Group
1 OCT 44 Moved to St. Trond, Belgium (A-92) - Shared with 48th Fighter Group
CO - Lt.Col. Carroll W. McColpin
Deputy CO - Lt.Col. Leo C. Moon
Squadrons -
506th - Maj. Joseph H. Sherwood, Jr. (from 508th)
507th - Maj. Howard L. Galbreath
508th - Maj. George McLaughlin (from 506th)
25 NOV 44 CO - Lt.Col. Leo C. Moon
Deputy CO - Lt. Col. Howard L. Galbreath
Squadrons -
506th - Maj. Harry G. Peterson
507th - Maj. James A. Mullins
508th - Maj. Robert J. Garrigan (from 506th)
1 APR 45 Moved to Kelz, Germany (Y-54)
10 APR 45 Moved to Fritzlar, Germany (Y-86) - Shared with 365th Fighter Group 20 APR 45 CO - Lt.Col. John R. Murphy (from 365th FG) 23 JUN 45 Moved to Stuttgart, Germany (R-50) JUL 45 Moved to Camp New York, Reims to begin return to ZI 10 AUG 45 Moved to Camp Top Hat, Antwerp 30 AUG 45 Boarded Montclair Victory - Destination Boston, ETA 7 SEP 5 SEP 45 Destination changed to Hampton Roads 8 SEP 45 Arrived Newport News - Camp Patrick Henry All personnel granted leave. Many were separated from service at various locations as they returned home. Remainder reassambled at Drew Field to be reassigned or separated from service on points. 9 NOV 45 404th Fighter Group Deactivated - Drew Field, Tampa, FL
24 May 46 404th Fighter Group redesignated 137th Fighter Group. Allocated to Oklahoma ANG
Aces were:
(scores in the group only- some scored victories while flying in other groups)
| HQ: | J. Johnson (1) | |
| 508th FS: | J. Wainwright (6 in a day) | |
| Air Force Assigned to: | 9th AF (March. '44 - end WWII) |
| Stations flown from: | Winkton, England (March '44 - June '44) |
| Chapelle, France (June '44 - Aug '44) | |
| Bretigny, France (Aug. '44 - Sept. '44) | |
| Juvincourt, France (Sept. '44 - Oct. '44) | |
| St. Trond, Belgium (Oct. '44 - March '45) | |
| Keltz, Germany (March '45 - April '45) | |
| Fritzlar, Germany (April '45 - June '45) | |
| Stuggart, Germany (June '45) | |
| Campaigns: | American Theater |
| Air Offensive, Europe | |
| Normandy | |
| Northern France | |
| Rhineland | |
| Arnennes-Alsace | |
| Central Europe | |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 10 Spet. '44 |
| French Croix de Guerre with Palm- 29,30,31 July '44 | |
| Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgium Army - 6 June to 30 Sept '44 | |
| Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgium Army - 1 Oct '44 | |
| Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgium Army - 18 Dec. '44 to 15 Jan '45 | |
| Belgium Fourragere | |
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506th F.S. |
507th F.S. |
508th F.S. |
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| Squadron Codes - | 4K | Y8 | 7J |
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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Aa view through the hangar at Fritzlar
Germany, showing two 506th P-47's. It was taken in 1945 by Bill Lee of the
507th. 404th F.G. photo |
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Col. James Mullins P-47 "Snorting Bull
3rd". He was the CO of the 507th following Clay Tice. Bill Lee took this
picture at St. Trond Belgium in 1944. 404th F.G. photo |
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Clay Tice's P-47, "Elsie". He was the
CO of the 507th when it went overseas. This picture was taken in front of
the 507th hangar in St. Trond by Bill Lee in 1944. 404th F.G. photo |
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The right side of the cowl of Tice's
P-47. Bill Lee took this picture in St. Trond, Belgium in 1944. 404th F.G. photo |
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Hal Shook and his P47 at Winkton in
1944.
Hal Shook photo |
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Hal Shook at Winkton in 1944.
Hal Shook photo |
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Hal Shook in his P47 at Winkton in
1944.
Hal Shook photo |
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Hal Shook photo |
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Colonel Carroll W (Red) McColpin,
Commanding officer of the 404th Fighter Bomber Group (Fighter Group from 13
June 1944). Its taken in May 1944 in the cockpit of his P47D Razorback Jug
Y8-A serial 225888. The picture is believed to be at Station 414 at Winkton
in Hampshire, England UK.
404th F.G. photo |
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Col. McColpin's brand new P47D, Y8-A
serial 226414 named "Little Squirt". From the pristine paint it might be a
delivery day photograph. The chequerboard was possibly red and white. The
picture is believed to be at Station 414 at Winkton in Hampshire, England UK
in June 1944.
404th F.G. photo |
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another picture of McColpin's P47
"Short Squirt"
404th F.G. photo |
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Robert E. Williams in the 508th
Squadron of the 404th Fighter Group, thus the 7J on the side. This was taken
at Fritzlar, Germany in 1945. Crew chief was Al Torbergson.
Robert Willaims photo |
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404th F.G. P47's being loaded with ammo
404th F.G. photo |
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Andrew F. Wilson photo |
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Andrew F. Wilson photo |
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a P47 on the westerly runway at Winkton,
Station 414
404th F.G. photo |
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Kemal Saied's P-47D-30RE 7J*U, serial #
432794. The insignia on the cowl we called a "Tin Hornet" is actually a
Thunderbird
Kemal Saied photo |
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A picture of Jugs taking off at A-92,
St. Trond, Belgium. The lead plane is Kemal Saied, 7J*U. In the background
are several damaged bombers, B-17s and B-24s that landed at our field
because it was one of the first friendly fields after leving enemy
territory.
Kemal Saied photo |
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404th F.G. ready room... note the text
on the wall in the background!
Kemal Saied photo |
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Scan of the Commanding Officers from
the 404th history book.. sent in by the 404th F.G.
404th F.G. photo |
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Scan of the deputy Commanding Officers
from the 404th history book.. sent in by the 404th F.G.
404th F.G. photo |
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Thunderbolts of the 404th F.G.
undergoing servicing in an ex-Luftwaffe hangar in Fritzlar, Germany in the
spring of 1945.
USAF Museum Photo |
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P-47's of the 404th F.G. at an
abandoned Luftwaffe Airfieldin Fritzlar, Germany in the spring of 1945. 4K =
506th F.S., Y8 = 507th F.S.
USAF Museum Photo |
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508th Squadron hangar at St. Trond,
Belgium. The two trailers at the left housed squadron Operations and
Intelligience. The next building is the pilots Ready/Briefing Room. The
Parachute Room is next and then the hangar just big enough to hold one
P-47. The hangar is camouflaged to look like a barn or farmhouse.
Kemal Saied photo |
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possibly a RCAF 418 (City of Edmonton )
Squadron Mk 6 night fighter at RAF Holmsley South, 3 miles east of Winkton (
and the location of the closest showers - also in the early days at Winkton
the supplier of electricity and teleprinter services).
Andrew F Wilson Photo |
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a visiting Cessna UC78 Bobcat
communications and administration aircraft. In the background is what looks
like an Airspeed Oxford, a British light transport aand communications
aircraft used by the USAAF in the UK.
Andrew F Wilson Photo |
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FW190 atthe 404th base- It
was flown by Gefreiter Walter Wagner, of JG4 and is (was) White 11, a
FW190A-8 of 5 Staffel II/JG4. The poor guy apparently mistook his intended
target of LeCulot and attacked either/both St Trond and American ground
forces around Bastogne, and then force landed at St Trond thinking it was
LeCulot. His unit took very heavy casualties that day, 17 pilots dead,
missing and wounded plus a further 6 as POWs, 42% casualties and less than
10 planes serviceable that night. The plane's codes are OO(L, which one book describes dramatically as standing for OH OH Hell, though St Trond was a Belgian base and OO is the Belgian national code for aircraft registration purposes. On the port cowl there remains what looks like a Luftwaffe unit crest, presumably JG4. 404th F.G. photo |
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photo courtesy of Stephen Tueller |
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photo courtesy of Stephen Tueller |
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photo courtesy of Stephen Tueller |
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My father, Capt. Mullins, with his
second aircraft.
courtesy Steve Mullins |
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This photo of battle damage to his
aircraft was taken by my dad and sent to mother during the war. Dad's
handwriting in upper left. I don't know the mission or time of the incident.
courtesy Steve Mullins |
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This is of Dad's Second P-47. His first
bubble top version. The color shot you already have posted on your site was
his third. courtesy Steve Mullins |
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My dad took this photo of Bob Green's
(same squadron) burning AC after landing with bombs still attached to the
wing. Dad and Bob flew high G maneuvers, and dad even used his wing to bump
Bob's wing in an attempt to shake the fragmentation bombs loose w/o success.
Dad wanted Bob to bail out, but Bob chose to 'save the plane'. He was
understandably nervous, made a rough landing, and was killed when the bombs
detonated on landing. This took place on June 25, 1944. The squadron was
flying missions from the Winkton base at this time.
courtesy Steve Mullins |
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Hal Shook's new P47D25 Bubbletop 4K*R
"Rae" serial 226465
Photo courtesy of Hal Shook |
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Photo courtesy of Hal Shook |
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Photo courtesy of Hal Shook |
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Photo courtesy of Hal Shook |
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These shots are believed to be in and
around Clockhouse Copse, the small wood on the south eastern side of the
airfield.
Photo courtesy of Hal Shook |
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Photo courtesy of Hal Shook |
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Damaged P-47
after an emergency landing.
John Simon photo |
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Damaged P-47
after an emergency landing.
John Simon photo |
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Damaged P-47
after an emergency landing.
John Simon photo |
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A group of 13
officers at a Communications refresher course at Drew Field, Tampa, FL -
December 1943.LT Charles Higgins is the man at the upper left. The picture
also includes LT Jack Eggers. Photo courtesy of Chuck Higgins |
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A chateau used as
Group HQ Photo courtesy of Chuck Higgins |
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BOQ at Myrtle
Beach, SC Photo courtesy of Chuck Higgins |
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A scan of the
official message to 404th announcing unconditional surrender of Germany Photo courtesy of Chuck Higgins |
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Lloyd Geist, Sr.
of the 508th
Photo courtesy of Lloyd Geist, Jr. |
Do you have any info, data or material on this group you would like to see added to this page? Please email me and I would be happy to add it for you.
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All photos, and scanned images thereof, are owned by the person(s) listed in the photo caption, and used gratefully WITH PERMISSION on Web-Birds.com. No commercial use of these images is permitted without the written consent of the rightful owner. and Web-Birds.Com. Please ask before posting any images to another website.
Data for this page was found and used from the following publications-
Robert E. Williams 404th member and Newsletter Editor
This site contains information on the history
of the 404th in England, of the Winkton ALG, memories of the people of the
surrounding villages and background information on the historical, geographical
and aviation environment within which Winkton ALG was built and the 404th
operated.
(another 404th site run by John Levesley)
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