17th Bomb Group

The purpose of this page is to commemorate those often unheralded but intrepid young men who fought the B-26 Marauder (medium bomber) in WWII and the B-26 Invader (light bomber) during the Korean War.

The history of the 452nd BW and the 17th BW in Korea are so intertwined as to be inseparable.

 

17th Bomb Group (M) WWII

The 17th Bomb Group is the only combat organization to fight all three of the Asis powers (Japan,Italy, and Germany) on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe). The 17th also supplied the crews who flew the the heroic Doolittle Raid against Japan in April 1942.

452nd Bomb Wing (L)

The 452nd Bomb Wing is the only reserve combat organization to be called to active duty as a unit during the Korean War. It flew its first combat mission 77 days after being called to active duty.

17th Bomb Wing (L)

The 17th Bomb Wing (L) was activated to replace the 452nd when its term of service was up in May 1952. It flew one of the last if not the last missions of the Korean War.

Note:

1.  Most Korean War pictures were taken by C.O. Smith and are not copies of copyrighted photos. Credit will be given to those submitting pictures and stories. They will be replaced by pictures submitted from the membership.

2.  Web Manager's Comments: I have started the ball rolling with some of my pictures and my stories. I do not intend for this to be MY page. Send me your pictures and your stories and I shall delete mine and use yours.

 

 

 

The Last Combat Mission for 34th Bomb Squadron

Message From: Roy L. Johnson on 2000-10-10

Unit: 34th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Wing Mar 1953 to Jan 1954.

 

Comments: I flew on the last mission, as the flight engineer. The pilot was 1st Lt. Herbert Atkins, co-pilot was Capt. Paul Oman, navigator was 1st Lt. Lees Broome, SHORAN operator in back was Capt. Max Richman . I still hate that jump seat. The Aircraft was BC-658 (D LETTER ON TAIL) named 'NOBODY'S DARLING'. We dropped at 2059 Hours and then headed home. Crossed over the front lines and saw all kinds of fireworks, checked out of North Korea with K-55 crystal ball and landed at K-9 at 2255. Air Force Public Relations people took pictures as we taxied in and parked. One picture of us in front of the ship is in a British pub. (AIR ENTHUSIAST issue 24 July 1984) in a article about B-26's in the Korea war.

Since I had only 13 combat mission in I wasn't eligible for rotation so I stayed until Jan 1954 flying practice missions to Mun-do, maintenance flights to Miho, low-level intruder flights to Japan to test their radar intercept.

I spent the remainder of my hitch at Luke AFB as a flight engineer with a TB-26 tow-target detachment attached to a fighter training wing flying F-84 E & G's and teaching new U.S. & foreign pilots air-to air gunnery.

I Retired in 1986 as a systems tech. from AT&T.