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SSgt Thomas Kennedy, Jr.
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Kennedy, Thomas, Sr., CMSgt.
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Contact Info
Home Town Coolidge
Date of Passing Nov 15, 1988
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
1944-1945, AAF MOS 751, 307th Bombardment Group, Heavy
The 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated in 1942 by the Army Air Corps Combat Command after an attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States in war with Japan. In succeeding years, the 307th's participation in World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict proved it to be one of the most renowned bombing units in military annals.
On April 15, 1942, the 307th began operations as a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber unit at Geiger Field, Washington. Its first mission to guard the northwestern United States and Alaskan coasts against armed invasion prepared the group for its later role in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
After patrolling the coastline of America for five months, the 307th's B-17s were replaced with the famous B-24 "Liberators". Subsequently, the entire unit was transferred to Sioux City, Iowa, for a brief training period. After completing a three-week familiarization program, the 307th relocated its entire cadre and 35 bombers to Hamilton Field, California.
Three days later, the B-24s were deployed to Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. An old Norwegian freighter slowly transported the remainder of the group to its "Pacific Paradise". Upon arrival at Oahu, each of the groupâ??s four squadrons was assigned to different Hawaiian locations; the 370th to Kipapa, the 371st to Wheeler Field, the 372nd to Kabuka and the 424th to Mokaleia. Headquarters for the 307th was centered at Hickam Field. Finally settled at Oahu, 307th bombers began search and patrol missions over the surrounding Pacific area. Mantaining a 24-hour vigil, the bombers were to avert any naval attack against the Hawaiian Islands. Stations were eventually set up on Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides on Jan 13, 1943; Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on Aug 20, 1943; Los Negros, Admiralty Islands on Jun 1, 1944; Wake Island on Sep 3 ,1944; Morotai, New Guinea on Oct 17, 1944 and Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines on Aug 27, 1945.
Group bombers received their first taste of combat December 27, 1942. Twenty-seven of the groupâ??s aircraft were deployed from Oahu to Midway Island. From here, the B-24s staged their first attack against an enemy fortress on Wake Island. The enemy was taken by surprise during the predawn raid. Before Japanese units responded with a barrage of anti-aircraft fire, 307th bombers had blasted 90 percent of the Wake stronghold. All aircraft returned safely from what was considered the longest mass raid of that time. (It was from this that the 307th Bomb Group became known as "the Long Rangers").
The 307th moved to Guadalcanal in February 1943. From their new location on the largest of the Solomon Islands, Group bombers attacked fortified Japanese airfields and shipping installations within the Southwest Pacific. At Guadalcanal, round support troops were subjected to massive air attacks by enemy bomber and fighter aircraft. On a warm day in March 1943, three waves of Japanese planes blasted the airfield, causing the greatest number of 307th casualties during the war.
November 11, 1945, the 307th participated in the largest aerial strike of the South Pacific War. In conjunction with United States naval elements, group bombers pounded enemy war and merchant ships at Rabaul, New Guinea. Amdist swarms of Japanese "Zeros" and heavy anti-aircraft fired, 307th aircraft released their bombs, leaving the port of Rabaul in complete ruin.
Throughout the remainder of the war, 307th aircraft continued to cripple the debilitated enemy. Group elements neutralized Japanese forces at Yap, Truk, and Palau islands. Bombing strikes against Japanese shipping centers in the Philippines inhibited the enemy from gaining a further strong hold in the area. An unescorted attack by group aircraft against oil refineries at Balikapan, Borneo, October 3, 1944 helped assure an allied victory in the South Pacific.
Following V-J Day, 1945, 307th aircraft ferried former American war prisoners from Okinawa to Manila. No longer needed, the group returned to the states in December 1945 and was subsequently deactivated. With barely time to form cobwebs, the 307th Bombardment Group was reactivated August 4, 1946, and is still active today.
While in the Pacific, the 307th was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, one for an air strike against Truk on March 29, 1944 and another for a strike against the refineries at Borneo on October 3, 1944. The group was also awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its active role in the Philippines campaign.
Commanders. Capt Bill Jarvis, 1 May 1942; Col William A Matheny, 22 May 1942; Col Oliver S Picher, 19 Aug 1943; Col Glen R Birchard, 27 Oct 1943; Col Robert F Burnham, 28 Mar 1944; Col Clifford H Rees, Nov 1944-unkn. Col Richard T King Jr, 4 Aug 1946; Lt Col Clyde G Gillespie, 25 Aug 1946; Lt Col Frank L Davis, Sep 1946; Col John G Eriksen, 13 Jan 1947; Col Clifford Heflin, 12 Aug 1947; Lt Col John P Proctor, 15 Feb 1950; Col John A Hilger, 13 Mar 1950; Col John M Reynolds, Mar 1951; Col William H Hanson, Aug 1951; Col John C Jennison Jr, 14 Feb 1952; Col Raymond L Winn, May-16 Jun 1952.
Campaigns. World War II: Central Pacific; Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; 1st UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Truk, 29 Mar 1944; Borneo, 3 Oct 1944. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [Aug] 1950-[Jun 1952].
The 307th Bomb Group was part of the 13th Air Force and consisted
307th Bomb Group B-24
of the 370th, 371st, 372nd, and 424th Squadrons. The group was known as the "The Long Rangers" due to their long missions over long open stretches of the Pacific including missions to Truk, Yap, Palau, Philippines and Balikpapan, Borneo (the Ploesti raid of the Pacific warâ??the unescorted mission against vital oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo). Some of the missions were over 17 hour unescorted round trips over open water with no landmarks. However, the 307th Bomb Group never received the press, fame and accolades that we piled on the bomb groups in Europe due to their remote theatre of operation and the fact that many of their missions were controlled by the Navy
Chain of Command Served with 372nd Bomb Squadron, 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in the Pacific.
Other Memories Served as a B-24 Liberator Crew/Flight Chief for the last year of the war. Actions included supporting the Liberation of the Philippines and attacking (without escort) important oil refineries in Borneo.
