The 380th history is not only enormous but extremely fascinating.
While stationed at Fenton Field they made devestating raids
on Japanese oil refineries, airfields and shipping. After
the war in the pacific ceased a Senior Staff Officer from
HQ of the Imperial Japanese Air force stated that he believed
that "the heavy American bombers, with their great defensive
power and amazing aggressiveness in battle
. were fundamentally
responsible for the defeat of Japan".(1)
The 380th Bombardment Group were equipped with B24 Liberators,
these huge 4 engine bombers had a wingspan of 110 feet and
a total of 67 feet in length. They were capable of flying
speeds of up to 300 mph and it was said that the Liberator
could fly faster, higher and farther than any other bomber
available. More B24's were built during WWII than any other
aircraft, the Ford plant at Willow Run, at its peak were making
a Liberator every 55 minutes costing around $137,000.
B24 Liberator, Brown collection |
The 380th had been scheduled to go to England in mid-April
1943 but because of an appeal from General Kenney of the 5th
AF to General Arnold, Commanding General of USAAF, and President
Roosevelt it was redirected to Australia and the Southwest
Pacific Area.
The 380th conducted numerous and successful sorties against
the Japanese from Fenton and made the longest bombing missions
during WW11, for which they received two Unit citations and
these were recommended by General Macarthur and George C Kenney.
During its stay in Australia, the 380th:
· Flew 954 missions comprising 4,393 sorties over the
whole of the East Indies and New Guinea, now Indonesia.
· Flew the longest bombing missions of WWII to Balikpapan,
Borneo, and Surabaya, Java.
· The initial cadre was 38, B-24 aircraft with a
total of 137 used while in Australia. Of the latter, 44 were
lost due directly or indirectly to enemy combat action, and
34 to non-combat causes (accidents, salvage and transfer to
other groups; four were transferred to RAAF).
· The 380th trained 52 Australian crews in the combat
operation of the B-24, along with their associated ground
staff. These crews flew as full crews in ours and their own
aircraft in mixed formations with the 380th crews. Following
this training, these crews were the cadres for the B-24 Liberator
Squadrons of the RAAF.
· The 380th operated with Section 22 and SOA (Z Force)
units as required as part of our regular combat duties in
carrying out radar intelligence and Special Operations missions.
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Nose art, Sandra Kay named after a crew members daughter.
'Sandra Kay' completed 130 combat missions.
Howes collection.
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Information kindly provided by 380th Bomb Group Association.
Author Ted Williams
Resources
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