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Assigned 8th AAF: April 1943
Winged Warriorâ?? and â??Kimmie Karâ?? also survived the war intact. Both were later scrapped in Kingman, Arizona. â??Winged Warrior,â?? a B-17G of the 95th Bomb Group, was piloted by Robert Newman on nine of his twenty-nine missions during the war. â??Kimmie Karâ?? was piloted by Myron Doxon on at least thirteen missions during his tour. â??Kimmie Karâ?? was named after Doxonâ??s daughter. Newman also flew â??Kimmie Karâ?? on one mission. Both Newman and Doxon survived the war and are now retired. Newman lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Doxon in Seattle, Washington. â??Winged Warriorâ?? and â??Kimmie Karâ?? also survived the war intact. Both were later scrapped in Kingman, Arizona.
Wing/Command Assignment
VIII BC, 4 BW, 402 PCBW 12 May 1943Â
VIII BC, 4 BW, 401 PCBW 6 June 1943Â
VIII BC, 3 BD, 13 CBW 13 Se 1943Â
3 BD, 13 CBW 8 Jan 1944Â
3 AD, 13 CBW 1 Jan 1945Â
Combat Aircraft:
B-17FÂ
B-17GÂ
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Stations
ALCONBURY 15 April 1943 to June 1943Â
FRAMLINGHAM 12 May 1943 to 15 June 1943Â
HORHAM 15 June 1943 to 3 August 1945Â
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Group COs
Col. Alfred A. Kessler 23 Oct 1942 to 22 Jun 1943Â
Col John K. Gerhart 22 Jun 1943 to 28 Apr 1944Â
Col Chester P. Gilger 29 Apr 1944 to 9 May 1944Â
Col. Karl Truesdell Jr. 10 May 1944 to 14 Dec 1944Â
Col. Jack E. Shuck 15 Dec 1944 to 27 Apr 1945Â
Lt. Col. Robert H. Stuart 28 Apr 1945 to Jun 1945Â
First Mission: 13 May 1943Â
Last Mission: 20 Apr 1945Â
Missions: 320Â
Total Sorties: 8,903Â
Total Bomb Tonnage: 19,769 TonsÂ
Aircraft MIA: 157Â
Loses: 39Â
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Major Awards:
Three Distinguished Unit Citations: 17 Aug 1943; Regensburg, and 10 Oct 1943 Munster, and 4 Mar 1944 BerlinÂ
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Claims to Fame
Only 8AF group awarded three DUCs (See Above)
Highest total claims of enemy aircraft destroyed of all 8AF Bomb Groups-425 aircraftÂ
First AAF group to bomb Berlin
Last Aircraft lost by 8AF on a mission went down in sea on 7 May 1945Â
First 8AF General Killed in Action while flying with this group on 13 Jun 1943Â
Activated 15th June 1942 at Barkesdale Field, Louisiana, the 95th BG did not commence operations until late August 1942 at Geiger Field, Washington. On 31st October, 1942, they moved, temporarily, to Ephrata, Washington, returning to Geiger Field on 24th November, 1942.
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Final training took place at Rapid City Air Force Base from 14th December, 1942 until 11th March, 1942.
Taking the southern route, via Florida, Trinidad, Brazil, Dakar and Marrakesh, they arrived in the U.K. in early April 1943.
The ground echelon arrived at Camp Kilmer on 21st April, 1943, sailing on the Queen Elizabeth 5th May 1943, and arrived at Greenock 11th May.
The Group was stationed at Alconbury 15th April and then At Framlingham from 12th May to 15th June, 1943. The stay at Horham lasted until 19th June, 1945, when the aircraft departed, ariving at Bradley Field, Connecticut 21st and 26th June, 1945.
The ground crews sailed from Greenock, again on the Queen Elizabeth, arriving in the U.S. 11th August, 1945. They were based at Sioux Army Field and de-activated 28th August 1945.
During the 1950s, the group was activated as a heavy bomber group with B-36s, later converting to B-52's. The group was finally deactivated in 1967.
During operations from Horham, the 95th completed a total of 321 missions (including 6 food drops totalling 456.5 tons). The total bomb tonnage was 19,769.2 tons, of which 211.1 tons consisted of supplies dropped to resistance groups in Europe. Aircraft losses consisted of 157 missing in action and 39 other operational losses. The last 8th Air Force lost on a mission was from the 95th BG, crashing into the sea 7th May 1945.
During their distinguished service, the 95th was the first to bomb Berlin (4th March 1944) and received three unit citations:
Distinguished Unit Citation: Regensburg 17 Aug 43
Distinguished Unit Citation: Munster 10 Oct 43
Distinguished Unit Citation: Berlin 4 Mar 44
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