Still a work in progress, thought I would share what I have so far.
Can't forget our fallen, ever.

 

Still a work in progress, thought I would share what I have so far.
Can't forget our fallen, ever.

Awesome Den308!

My one Uncle was over there helping with the B-17's

 

My Great Uncle, Warren Cerrone flew B-17s in the 8th, in the 385th Bomb Wing. 36 missions total, as follows:

Date	Target	Crew	B-17	Tail Number
28-Jul-43​	Oscherleben	Cerrone	Lady Liz	42-5902
12-Aug-43​	Bonn	Cerrone	Lady Liz	42-5902
15-Aug-43​	Vitryen-Artois	Cerrone	Lady Liz	42-5902
27-Aug-43​	Watten	Cerrone	Winnie The Pooh	42-3422
6-Sep-43​	Dieppe	Cerrone	Nan B	42-3355
9-Sep-43​	Beavais	Cerrone	Slo-Jo	42-30168
23-Sep-43​	Kerlin	Cerrone	Lady Liz	42-5902
2-Oct-43​	Emden	Cerrone	Lady Liz	42-5902
8-Oct-43​	Bremen	Cerrone	Lady Liz	42-5902
10-Oct-43​	Munster	Cerrone	Lady Liz	42-5902
14-Oct-43​	Schweinfurt	Cerrone	Slo-Jo	42-30168
20-Oct-43​	Duren	Cerrone	Lady Liz	42-5902
3-Nov-43​	Wlhelmhaven	Cerrone	Mary Ellen III	42-30816
5-Nov-43​	GelsenKirchen	Cerrone	Mary Ellen III	42-30816
26-Nov-43​	Paris	Castle	Picadilly Queen	42-30251
11-Jan-44​	Osnabruck	Cerrone	No name recorded	42-39908
3-Feb-44​	Wilhelmshaven	Cerrone	Rum Dum	42-31378
6-Feb-44​	Brux	Cerrone	No name recorded	42-39908
22-Mar-44​	Berlin	Cerrone	Unknown	PFF
20-Apr-44​	V2 Site	West	Satan's Mate	42-31677
3-Jun-44​	LePortal	Matuna	Queen of the Skies	42-97681
8-Jun-44​	Nantes	Koenig	Mickey II	42-31833
19-Jun-44​	St.Jean D'A	Falkenstine	Wee Willie Wilber	42-102465
24-Jun-44​	Wessermunde	Batty	Unknown	PFF
13-Jul-44​	Munich	Thompson	Jeanie Ricky	42-31786
15-Oct-44​	Cologne	Hayes	Honey-Chile	43-37857
5-Nov-44​	Ludwigshaven	McCarthy	Honey-Chile	43-37857
12-Dec-44​	Darmstadt	Johnson	Hell N Haze	44-8345
30-Dec-44​	Mannheim	Mawer	Hell N Haze	44-8345
13-Jan-45​	Mainz	Immel	Hell N Haze	44-8345
10-Mar-45​	Soest	Bloomberg	Barbara Lee	44-8487
19-Mar-45​	Jena	Marince	Barbara Lee	44-8487
4-Apr-45​	Kiel	Bloomberg	Target For Tonight	44-8810
16-Apr-45​	Royan	Baldwin	Wild Goose	44-8361

His initial plane, the Lady Liz crash landed later in the war.

Slo Jo survived.

Rum Dum eventually crash landed as well.

The Greatest Generation.

 

That is a really cool project you are working on. Looking forward to seeing more progress pics.

 

Jeff and Shooting sight, thank you for the replies with the history. It’s good to be able to read about the actual deeds and see photos of those who did.
Thank you.

 

Was fortunate to fly in Nine-O-Nine before she was destroyed in a crash a few years back. Those planes were very loud inside and shaky. Nothing like we are accustomed to in modern aircraft. Really brave crews knowing there were some bad odds of coming back safely. Thanks for posts.

 

What's the story on the colorful markings on the P-38? Squadron codes seem to be for 479FG but I've never seen red and yellow on one before. Thanks!

 

My own scheme, took my que from the Mustang, the P-47 is accurate and did fly, the P-51 is mostly accurate.

 

My grandfather was a B-24 nose-gunner/togglier of the 466th Bomb Group (H) of the 8th Air Force stationed out of Attlebridge, England, a part of the 2nd Air Division.

If you ever get a chance to visit Norwhich, England, they have a 2nd Air Division Memorial Library which holds a treasure-trove of information.

 

Bomb loaders are a nice touch

 

 

@Duce You should try to score a copy of this before they're gone. A little expensive, BUT, well worth it!
Liberators over Norwich: The 458th Bomb Group (H), 8th USAAF at Horsham St. Faith, 1944-1945: Mackay, Ron: 9780764335150: Amazon.com: Books

My Dad & my Godfather used to "banter back & forth" about B-24, OR B-17 (my Godfather's plane) being "THE BEST HEAVY BOMBER ever made"! 😂

 

Here are some photos from the 493rd BG 8th Air Force.
B17G-80-BO "Ulpy" was assigned to my father, Lt. C.L. Pace.
Ulpy was shot down by flak over Ludwigshaven Germany 11/05/1944.
Fortunately for Dad and his crew, they had that day off. Unfortunately for another crew they were working that day.

 

Had an uncle, (RIP), who was in the 8th. He was a B-17 navigator , awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for action during "The Big Week." He kept a large piece of flak in the presentation case. Came thru the aircraft, barely missed him.

 

Den308 nice diarama, please post some more photos when you are done. It has been 30 years since I activly build plastic models, both armor and aircraft. Still have a closet full of unbuilt models in 1:48 and 1:72 scale.

My dad was in the 13th Airforce 1944 in Italy 721 Bomb Sq, 450 Bomb Gp as a Co-Pilot on a B24

 

the names and nose art has always interested me.
“bottoms up“ is pretty good. Here is one od my favorites.

 

Something on the serous side. Its just a (poor copy) of a printed page that was probably on a bulliten board at gunnery school for training gunners. When the 8th first started flying it was quickly found out that aircrew gunnery training was lacking, and apparently, (at least by the author) the students needed a attitude adjustment.

 

Just flew on “Yankee Lady” this past weekend at the WWII air show at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum at Reading PA...spectacular event!!!!
Spectacular experience in a ‘17G.
I urge you all to make a pilgrimage to The Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, GA, right outside Savannah, where the 8th was born. Terrific museum with the pristine “City of Savannah” in residence. Great displays and docents, occasional vets, just beautiful. Check ‘em out!!!

Home

www.mightyeighth.org

 

To put things in perspective about the sacrifices made by the men of the 8th Air Force, they lost more men KIA than the USMC in World War 2. That's a lot of men. May God rest their souls. (And I say that to mean the men of the 8th Air Force and Marines).

 

Amen.

 

Thanks to all for replies and pictures!!! I love hearing and reading the stories behind the planes and crews, it was a tough go and our men need to be remembered.

 

Adding to last year's post since there were many great photos and stories added. Updated the photos on the opening post and here are some more.

 

Still short a proper ambulance.

 

I like the pilot smoking a cigarette right next to the fuel truck with "No Smoking" painted on it while they are fueling his P-38.......Classic...