450th BOMB GROUP (VH) SECOND AIR FORCE HISTORY

REDEPLOYMENT/TRAINING JULY 1945

PERSONNEL

As regards the matter of "Personnel", both officer and enlisted, the newly designated Group was most fortunate. Fortunate, in that, it was to be compose not only of men who had established an enviable over seas record, but in addition, its replacements consisted of a goodly number of well-trained, highly efficient former Base Unit Personnel who were to a large extent anxious to obtain their overseas service. These composite factors resulted in a conscientious, well grounded smoothly working unit, commanded by Col. Ellsworth R. Jacoby, who carried over his office from the Mediterranean Theatre.

Assisting Col.Jacoby as Group Officers were Lt. Col. George E. Bergstrom, Jr., Executive Officer, who directed activities during the REB-3 and Squadron "J" preparatory period; Capt. Carter W. Riefner, Adj.; Capt. John Quinlan, Intelligence; 1st Lt. Carl El Gerber, Photo; 1st Lt. Charles L. Buck, Supply; Capt. Lewis London, Flight Surgeon; Capt Vincent Grannan, Chaplain; Capt. Joseph M. Elder, Special Service; 1st Lt. Benjamin T. Wade, Radar; 1st Lt. Paul E. Waggover, Weather; Capt. James O. Daughtry, Engineering; and Capt. James E. Barrett, Armament and Chemical.

Those officers assigned to the 720th Bombardment Squadron included Maj. Joseph R. Gump, Executive Officer; Capt. Ard E. Richardson, Jr., Adjutant; Capt. Edgar J. Wicker, Engineering; 1st Lt. Vernon E. Trimble, Intelligence and 1st Lt. Truman Be. Glendenning, Supply.

The 721st Bombardment Squadron's Officer Roster listed Capt. Edward W., Gardner, Executive Officer; Capt. Edwin P. Doty, Adjutant; 1st Lt. Roy E. Curtis, Engineering; 1st Lt. Roger K. Grag, Supply; and 1st Lt. Charles H. Wood, Intelligence. (Roster of Officers; Hq., 450th Bomb Gp. (VH); AAF, Harvard, Nebraska)

Not to be outdone, the 722nd Bombardment Squadron boasted as imposing an assigned Officer Strength as did the 720th and 721st. It consisted of Capt. Glower J. Bernhardt, Executive Officer; 1st Lt. Robert W. Bernett, Adjutant; Capt. Winton S. Youngblood, Aircraft Maintenance; 1st Lt. Ralph R. Bayer, Intelligence and 2nd Lt. Joseph A. Schaty, Jr., Supply.

Last Though far from least in a Very Heavy Bombardment Group was the 3rd Photo Laboratory whose Officer in Charge was 1st Lt. William B. Boutwell, Jr.

The total authorized strength as of 26 July 1945 consisted of 1,418 men – of which 102 were officers. By 31 July 1945 the assigned strength consisted of 94 Officers and 1,087 Enlisted Men.

With duty assignment activity and the beginning of training for overseas requirement, insufficiencies in several MOS's became apparent. Though there were others, MOS #345 (Automotive Equipment Operator) and MOS #901 (Maintenance Worker ) were the shortages most notably felt.

TRAINING

Two days after the redesignation of the Group – 28 July 1945 – a period of organized Ground Training was instituted to meet POM requirements. The instruction was of a most comprehensive nature and consisted of:

            Articles of War                         One Hour

            Small Arms                                           Eight Hours

            Chemical Warfare                                 Six Hours

            Medical                                                Seven Hours

            Jungle Warfare                         Two Hours

            Camouflage                                          Eight Hours

            Booby Trap & Explosives                     Four Hours

            Bivouac                                                Thirty-six Hours

            Intelligence                                           Five Hours

            Supply                                      One Hour

            Recognition                                          Four Hours

In addition, ten percent of the Ground Echelon were selected to be given six hours of Decontamination Training.

The schedule for training was both adequate and sufficient. Each unit instruction period was given three times, once for each Squadron. A fourth period for the purpose of "make-ups" completed the program. A rather large number of Recognition Classes was occasioned by the necessity of limiting attendance to fifty men per class.

By 31 July, training was in full swing with the following percentages of minimum training requirements having been completed:

            Headquarters Squadron                        10%

            720th Bombardment Squadron  37%

            721st Bombardment Squadron  21%

            722ND Bombardment Squadron              3%

            3rd Photo Laboratory                27%

Thus, in a three day period, an average of 20% of required POM training had been successfully completed, in addition to the 50 Calibre A.A. at Barstow, California to attend same. 

In order to further attain the highest possible overall efficiency, additional measures were taken. Where ever practicable under the existing situation of space and equipment shortages, foundations were laid for additional on-the-job training of personnel. Since it was apparent that an abundance of information and knowledge, both theoretical and practical, could be gained from close association with the operations of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH) (also assigned to this station) such association was undertaken wherever practicable with exceedingly gratifying results.

The 450th bombardment Group (VH) was well on its way to attaining its objective.

SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE

There are many unglorified, complicate, though vital tasks in the efficient operation of a Group, and the Office of Supply finds itself well at the head of the list. At best the job is a difficult one, and the Supply Officer of the 450th found himself no exception to the rule.

One of the major problems that presented itself was the disposition of T.A.T. equipment which had been returned from Italy and had to be processed under the supervision of Group and Squadron Supply Officers. An acute shortage of storage facilities served to add to the difficulty of the job on hand. Supply officers estimated that supply space was but one quarter the amount necessary to adequately cope with the situation. Practically every article in the huge mass of material had seen extensive service in the E.T.O. and after thorough and minute inspection was for the most part, judiciously decided to be unfit for further overseas use.

Personal property and its proper disposal posed another problem that had to be solved, and expediency provides the deciding factor of disposal. If the owner, their addresses, or their friend, could be located, their effects were promptly sent to them. Incases where articles were not tagged, or where their owners could not be located, Special Services found itself the recipient of some for either personal use or disposal.

Group supply personnel suggested that in the future, all property returned from overseas be sent to a Reclamation Center for processing.

FACILITIES

The inadequacy of proper facilities proved, in general, to be the major deterrent to the efficient operation of the Group. While such lack, can in no way be attributed to the station or any of its personnel – it was never the less existent. The cause was to be found in the congestion of organizations stationed on the field. In addition to the 244 Base Unit there were present, and in some form or another of operation, the 562nd Service Group; the Air Echelon of the 382nd Bombardment Group; remnants of personnel from the 376th Bombardment Group and of course, the newly reconstituted 450th Bombardment Group (VH).

The effect of the aforementioned congestion resulted in the following:

            1. One building of "Day Room" type construction was occupied as Group Headquarters a similar structure housed the combined Orderly Rooms of the 720th, 721st and 722nd Squadrons. Still another was assigned for use by Group Supply.

            2. Four barracks were taken over by enlisted personnel. Those men who could not be housed there – and they consisted of more than one squadron – found housing as best they could. On 28 July, partial relief was found when the enlisted men of the 721st Squadron moved to a tent area erected on the north end of the field.

            3. Mess facilities were decidedly poor a small unoccupied Mess Hall was reopened and prepared for use by the 450th Group. The 721st Squadron, now were barracked quite some distance from their Mess Hall. At best, this proved inadequate for there was a decided limitation as regards storage space and other necessary mess facilities. Hot water did not become available until an outside steam engine was finally set up for that purpose.

            4. Despite the best efforts of all concerned, the lack of typewriters, general office equipment and office space did impede the efficiency of operation of the Group.

In view of the above it was felt that a lesser concentration of units and their personnel would have been desirable and resulted in overall more efficient operation.

MORALE

On the whole, the morale of the Group was high. As has been previously mentioned, a large percentage of the personnel were eager to finally obtain overseas service. Their anticipation of such overseas movement did much to keep morale at a high plane despite the annoyance and lack of facilities encountered.