The official name of our organization is 401st Bombardment Group (H) Association, Inc. It is a non-profit association and has been granted tax free status under Section 401(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code, which relates to veterans' organizations.
The Association was founded in 1973 as a means of enabling the men who had served in the 401st Bomb Group in England during World War II to renew old friendships, relive their experiences and perpetuate the history and traditions of the Group, whose proud motto is "The Best Damned Outfit in the USAAF". The Association currently has a membership of over 1,000. Reunions are held bi-annually in even-numbered years, and a business meeting is held at each reunion at which officers are elected and other business is transacted. A quarterly newsletter called Poop from Group is mailed to all members.
Our Association does not end at the water's edge, but has international presence. An affiliated organization, the 401st Bomb Group Historical Society, helps to preserve the history and memory of the 401st in England as well. Though small in number, their contribution to our Association has been extraordinary, and for which we are grateful and indebted.
OUR HISTORY:
The formation of the Association was due largely to the efforts of Ralph W. (Rainbow) Trout, with the support and encouragement of General Harold W. Bowman, who had been the Group's commanding officer during training and the first year of combat. Trout, who had been co-pilot on Joe Cromer's crew, first located and assembled his crew mates, who traveled to the Group's old base at Deenethorpe, England, for a reunion. There, they were welcomed by a history-oriented group of young Englishmen who had organized themselves under the title of "401st Bombardment Group Historical Society".
In 1973, Trout's activities were brought to the attention of General Bowman, who had recently retired from the Air Force. Bowman also began a correspondence with Major General Jack Shotts, a former 401st pilot, about the possibility of forming an association of members of the Group. Upon meeting Trout, General Bowman asked whether he would organize a reunion of 401st veterans, which Trout agreed to with enthusiasm.
The first reunion of the Group was held at Harlingen, Texas, on August 5-8, 1974. A B-17 owned by the Confederate Air Force, located at Harlingen, was painted with 401st colors and provided nostalgic rides to many who attended the reunion. At the reunion, the Association was formally organized with General Bowman as President, General William T. Seawell as Vice President, Ralph Trout as Secretary and Treasurer, and Clyde A. Lewis as Assistant Secretary (Legal). (The details of the organization of the Association are set forth in General Bowman's Memoir, Birds of a Feather.)
General Bowman served as President of the Association until 1986, when he was succeeded by General Seawell. In August 2002, upon the resignation of General Seawell as President, Arthur R. Seder, Jr., who had been Vice President, was elected to succeed him and is the current President. From the Association's formation in 1974 until his death in 1996, Trout served as Secretary and Treasurer. Upon Trout's death, George Menzel was elected Secretary and Treasurer and publisher of the newsletter, positions he currently holds. Like Trout before him, Menzel publishes Poop from Group, organizes the biennial reunions of the Group, maintains its membership roll and handles its finances.
OUR MISSION:
The purposes for which the 401st Bombardment Group (H) Association, Inc. has been organized are as follows: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States; to foster and perpetuate the incidents, memories and spirit of the men who served in the 40lst Bombardment Group (H) of the Eighth Air Force, United States Army Air Force in World War II; to promote fellowship among our members; to arrange for and promote meetings and conventions of our members, their families and friends; to perpetuate the memory of our Group and its members by encouragement of historical research into the accomplishments of the Group and the military service of its members; and to preserve, or arrange for the preservation of documents, relics and records of the 40lst Bombardment Group (H) of the Eighth Air Force, United States Army Air Force.
