Squadron and Missions
Squadron:
Chester had enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He was originally put in the 91st Bomb Group of The Ragged Irregulars. The 91st Bombardment Group was started in Harding Field, Louisiana on April 15, 1942. The 91st then went to MacDill Field, Florida for their first phase of training. The 91st was assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla Walla, Washington for the second and third phases of training. Starting on September 1st, 1942, the group was re-assigned to 8th Air Force and began preparation for overseas deployment. The air squadron left Walla Walla for Gowen Field, Idaho on the 24th of August 1942, in order to receive their B-17s. The 91st then relocated to England.
The 91st Bomb Group is comprised of four Bomb Squadrons, 322nd, 323rd, 324th, and 401st. The 91st flew 340 missions between the 7th November, 1942 and 25th April, 1945. The 91st dropped 22,142 tons of bombs all across Europe during this time period.
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northampton shire, from November 1943, to June 1945. By the end of the war the 401st Bomb Group had flown and carried out over 254 combat mission. The 401st flew 10 missions in 1943, 178 missions in 1944, and 66 missions in 1945. The 401st had the best bombing accuracy record among B-17 groups in the Eight Air Force. They were also the first group in ETO to complete 100 combat missions in 7 months. They had claimed over 193 confirmed enemy aircraft takedowns, and over 1800 enemy aircrafts damaged. The total confirmed kills the 401st had was 1,078.
The 91st Bombardment Group Entered combat in November 1942 and concentrated its attacks on submarine pens, ship-building yards, harbors, and dock facilities until mid-1943. During this period, also struck airdromes, factories, and communications. From the middle of 1943 until the war ended, engaged chiefly in attacks on aircraft factories, airdromes, and oil facilities. Specific targets included airfields at Villacoublay and Oldenburg, aircraft factories in Oranienburg and Brussels, chemical industries in Leverkusen and Peenemunde, ball-bearing plants in Schweinfurt, and other industries in Ludwigshafen, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Wilhelmshaven.
Expanding its operations to include interdictory and support missions, the group contributed to the Normandy invasion by bombing gun emplacements and troop concentrations near the beachhead area in June 1944; aided the St Lo breakthrough by attacking enemy troop positions, 24-25 July 1944; supported troops on the front lines near Caen in August 1944; attacked communications near the battle area during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-Jan 1945; and assisted the push across the Rhine by striking airfields, bridges, and railroads near the front lines in the spring of 1945.
Chester had enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He was originally put in the 91st Bomb Group of The Ragged Irregulars. The 91st Bombardment Group was started in Harding Field, Louisiana on April 15, 1942. The 91st then went to MacDill Field, Florida for their first phase of training. The 91st was assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla Walla, Washington for the second and third phases of training. Starting on September 1st, 1942, the group was re-assigned to 8th Air Force and began preparation for overseas deployment. The air squadron left Walla Walla for Gowen Field, Idaho on the 24th of August 1942, in order to receive their B-17s. The 91st then relocated to England.
The 91st Bomb Group is comprised of four Bomb Squadrons, 322nd, 323rd, 324th, and 401st. The 91st flew 340 missions between the 7th November, 1942 and 25th April, 1945. The 91st dropped 22,142 tons of bombs all across Europe during this time period.
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northampton shire, from November 1943, to June 1945. By the end of the war the 401st Bomb Group had flown and carried out over 254 combat mission. The 401st flew 10 missions in 1943, 178 missions in 1944, and 66 missions in 1945. The 401st had the best bombing accuracy record among B-17 groups in the Eight Air Force. They were also the first group in ETO to complete 100 combat missions in 7 months. They had claimed over 193 confirmed enemy aircraft takedowns, and over 1800 enemy aircrafts damaged. The total confirmed kills the 401st had was 1,078.
The 91st Bombardment Group Entered combat in November 1942 and concentrated its attacks on submarine pens, ship-building yards, harbors, and dock facilities until mid-1943. During this period, also struck airdromes, factories, and communications. From the middle of 1943 until the war ended, engaged chiefly in attacks on aircraft factories, airdromes, and oil facilities. Specific targets included airfields at Villacoublay and Oldenburg, aircraft factories in Oranienburg and Brussels, chemical industries in Leverkusen and Peenemunde, ball-bearing plants in Schweinfurt, and other industries in Ludwigshafen, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Wilhelmshaven.
Expanding its operations to include interdictory and support missions, the group contributed to the Normandy invasion by bombing gun emplacements and troop concentrations near the beachhead area in June 1944; aided the St Lo breakthrough by attacking enemy troop positions, 24-25 July 1944; supported troops on the front lines near Caen in August 1944; attacked communications near the battle area during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-Jan 1945; and assisted the push across the Rhine by striking airfields, bridges, and railroads near the front lines in the spring of 1945.