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Contact Info
Home Town Adamsville, Alabama
Last Address Leeds, Alabama
Date of Passing Jan 16, 2002
Location of Interment Elmwood Cemetery - Birmingham, Alabama
AFSC/MOS AAF MOS 756-Radio Operator, MOS (AAF Radio Operator and Mechanic)
Base, Station or City
Pratt Army Airfield, KS, Apr-Dec 1944; North Field, Guam, Jan-Apr 1945
State/Country
Guam
Patch
29th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy Details
The 29th Bomb Group was activated on February 1, 1940 at Langley Field, Virginia. It was comprised of the 6th, 43rd, 52nd, and 411th bomb squadrons. The 411th inactivated on May 20th 1944. On April 1, 1944, the 29th Bomb Group (H) was redesignated as the 29th Bomb Group (VH).
After training at Langley Field, the group moved to MacDill Field, Florida. In conjunction with the U.S. Navy, they flew patrol missions in the Caribbean. On June 20, 1942, the group moved to Govern Field, Idaho to train personnel to become combat crews with ground and air training. After training 22 Bomb Groups, the 29th moved to Pratt, Kansas to begin training as a B-29 combat unit.
On May 29, 1944 Col. Carl R. Storrie assumed command and the air and ground training began. The training was very intense and at Pratt as well as in Puerto Rico and Cuba. The ground crews completed their training and staging, and they arrived on Guam between February 15 and 26, 1945.
A total of 66 combat missions were flown having both day and night raids. In addition, there were flights for air-sea rescue (Dumbo), weather reconnaissance, and radar scope. The targets varied from air fields, aircraft factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, and industrial areas.
The first mission was to Tokyo on February 25, 1945 and the last mission was on August 15, 1945. Then, the group flew supplies on mercy missions to the POW camps in Japan. Finally, and with great honor, the 29th Bomb Group participated in the "Show of Force Mission" over Tokyo Bay and the battleship U.S.S. Missouri.
The men of the 29th Bomb Group served proudly, and their bravery was recognized by many awards. The greatest award, the Medal of Honor, was awarded for bravery on a mission to Koriyama Japan to:
Sgt. Henry M. Erwin
April 19, 1945
20TH Airforce - 314th Wing Guam
Other Awards
2 Destinguished Unit Citations
3 Silver Stars
2 Soldier Medals
372 Distinguished Flying Crosses
49 Oak Leaf Clusters to the DFC
1,450 Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medals
Many Purple Hearts
The cost to the 29th Bomb Group was enormous in terms of human lives. Two crews were lost in training. an additional crew, which ditched near Japan, was picked up by a U.S. submarine. While in combat, the bomb group lost 18 more crews, and at war's end, there were a handful of men who were POW's.
The men or the 29th Bomb Group served proudly and their bravery was recognized by many awards. The greatest award THE MEDAL OF HONOR was awarded to Henry E. (Red) Erwin
MEDAL OF HONOR: HENRY E. ERWIN
Distinguished Service Cross: George (Tony) Simeral
7 Silver Stars: 1 with oakleaf
372 Distinguished Flying Crosses: 49 With Oakleafs
722 Air Medals: 1,450 With Oakleafs
2 Soldiers Medal 49 Bronze Star Medals
243 Purple Hearts 2 Distinguished Unit Citations
two 29th Bomb Group Boeing B-29 Superfortresses either headed to, or returning from, a mission over Japan in early 1945.
