History of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH)
March 1945

The following is a retyping of part of the official history of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH), in its monthly report provided for March 1945. This history is taken from AFHRA Microfilm Roll B0372, starting with frame 1286. Each page from the report is separated by a horizontal rule. All but the appendix of documents is provided.

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I. PERSONNEL

     The month of March resulted in a large increase in assigned personnel, due to the arrival of a number of our combat crews.

     The major Table of Organization change occurred in authorized enlisted personnel. The change authorized three Radar Mechanics (852) in each squadron. 1/

     As of the 31st of March, the Group has the following personnel:

     In comparison with the assigned personnel as of 28 February 1945, this is an increase of 200 officers and 265 enlisted men. 2/

     Of the assigned personnel of the Group, 18 officers and 93 enlisted men are on detached service. The majority of the men on detached service are attached to the 247th Advanced Base Unit, APO #632, c/o Postmaster, Miami, Florida.

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1/ 2AF Reporting Guide dated 31 March 1945.
2/ WD Form 127, Parts I and II, dated 31 March 1945 (Headquarters Squadron, 33rd Photo Lab, 420th Squadron, 464th Squadron, 872nd Squadron.)

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     A need for more personnel has been recognized by the 316th Bombardment Wing, and efforts are being put forth to obtain an overage on Table of Organization strength. The suggested plan would provide for a 2% overage increase in Group personnel. The increase was initiated in an effort to forsee replacement needs in our administrative personnel. It was felt that this would be difficult to accomplish overseas. The plan would not restrict us to specific men, but would enable us to select the different type personnel we felt we would need. In line with this a requisition was also forwarded to the Second Air Force requesting sufficient personnel to bring us up to our table of organization strength. This would then enable us to properly see where our greatest need lay.

     It is interesting to note that a number of newly assigned personnel of the Ground Echelon are being disqualified for overseas duty by our medical staff. As of 31 March 1945, 85 men have been disqualified. The causes for disqualification may be divided into 3 main groups: psychiatric problems (38 men), orthopedic problems (25 men), and miscellaneous problems (22 men).

     The organizational chart of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH), SHAAF, Salina, Kansas, of 31 March 1945, is as follows:

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II. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

     There was little change of any significance set-up of the Group.

     A number of visits were received from other headquarters for the purpose of inspecting the Group. Notable [...next page]

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among them were the visits of Colonel Schroeder and Lt. Colonel Burr, from Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Colonel Thomas J. DuBoss, Commanding General, 316th Bombardment Wing, and several of his Staff; and the Administrative Inspector from the 316th Bombardment Wing. A visit was also received from the Classification Audit Team of the 17th Bombardment Operational Training Wing.

     The need to help the 39th Bombardment Group (VH), hindered our organization somewhat. Our personnel spent some time helping them with their records and preparing them for the POM inspection. This hindered work on our own records. Lack of sufficient clerks contributed to our only main administrative problems - keeping our records up to date. The large number of men on detached service prevented the early screening of maintenance personnel.

III. TRAINING

     Combat crew training began officially on 15 March 1945. However, because of the availability of aircraft prior to that date a limited number of crews were able to begin training on 3 March 1945. The end of the month saw two weeks of air operational training securely tucked in the bag.

     During the month emphasis was placed on the training program over and above Second Air Force requirements. Daily morning and afternoon briefings are conducted and efforts have been made to make the rather dry transition briefings more interesting by the presentation of news summaries, [...next page]

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theatre orientation lectures, B-29 tactical poop, and personal equipment information.

     Problems in training were encountered this month from several unexpected sources. The principal problem was shortage of base instructors, primarily flight engineers. This cut down on flying time even more than the lack of ships due to maintenance difficulties. Improved maintenance, resulting in an increased number of ships available for flying, left us at times with ships available for flying, out unable to fly because of a lack of instructors. This problem arose because of the need to check out the flying personnel at the beginning of their training period. Work was also affected because of the presence of the 39th Bombardment Group (VH). The great amount of moving around required and the surplus of "bosses" slowed organization considerly.

     A potential psychological problem was initially created by the removal of enlisted flight engineers and their replacement by rated pilots - some with more flying time than the pilots. Another problem was created by their joining the outfit after training had begun and the need for them to make up a great deal of training. The men themselves solved the problem by intelligently realizing the importance of their work and by making every effort to become good flight engineers.

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This attitude was quickly noticed and appreciated by the other crew members, resulting in smooth teamwork.

     In an effort to improve maintenance, the individual crew members' knowledge of the B-29, and to bring about a better understanding between air and ground crews, the practice was set-up of having stand-by crews work on grounded planes. Over-all knowledge and relationships were definitely improved.

     Other units are carrying on with necessary training for both air and ground echelon personnel. The Medical Staff found that the Radio Operators were not properly trained for the job medical aid men for their crews. A Program of Instruction, in accordance with Army Air Forces Orders 3/, is in progress to correct this situation. Classes will total 20 hours and will include general principles of first aid and anatomy, wounds, burns, infections, bandaging, use of contents of kits, fractures and sprains, movement of casualties, hemorrage, shock, and intravenous technique in administration of Plasma. A questionaire has been devised covering the various subjects and will be used to test the men upon completion of the course.

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3/  AAF Ltr. 50-56 Hq, AAF, Washington, D.C., Subject: Advanced First Aid Training for AAF Personnel, 7 Oct 44.

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     The 33rd Photo Lab has initiated a program whereby all of their personnel will be trained to handle all the various jobs in the lab. A U-1 Darkroom Kit, the type we will use overseas, has been set up and is being used under simulated combat conditions.

     In an effort to spur interest in training and improve the overall pattern, a system of selecting the best Squadron of the Week has been started. 4/ The 420th Bombardment Squadron (VH) was the proud recipient of the plaque for the first three weeks and was just nosed out by the 872nd Bombardment Squadron (VH) the fourth week.

     Attached are ground school and flying training reports which give the training situation in more detail. 5/

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4/  Ltr, Office of the Air Inspector, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), SHAAF, Salina, Kansas, dtd 3 Mar 45, Subject: "Award to the Outstanding Squadron of the Week."
5/  1. Ltr, Hq, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), Subject: Basic Training, to: CO, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), dtd 24 Mar 45.
     2. Chart, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), Subject: Percent of Flying Time and Missions Completed, dtd 30 Mar 45.
     3. Chart, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), Subject: Percent of AAF Minimum Requirements Complete, dtd 30 Mar 45.
     4. Chart, 2AF, Subject: Crew Progress Chart - Flying Training (Very Heavy), dated 30 Mar 45.
     5. Chart, 2AF, Subject: Crew Progress Chart - Technical Training (Very Heavy), dated 30 Mar 45.

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IV. MAINTENANCE

     The maintenance situation this month has improved considerably. As noted before, the training of the Group was hurt more by the lack of instructors than by the lack of planes. Statistics show that, as an average, each aircraft was available for flying 6.8 hours per day during the month. While we have no comparable figures for February we do know that this exceeded the in-commision time per aircraft per day for that month.

     The need to help the 39th Bombardment Group (VH) with their fly-aways created some maintenance difficulties and interfered with some of our own work. A great deal of our maintenance personnel were required to properly prepare the fly-aways and this resulted in a limited number of men available to work on our own aircraft.

     The work of the crews and the crew chiefs has improved greatly and, again it must be repeated, is evident in the increased number of ships available for flying. It would be impossible to give any true picture of the ships available for flying as the number changed from day to day as ships went in and out of commission.

V. SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT

     Supplies and equipment are constantly being gathered for use overseas. A great deal of the work is Supply has been centered around the packing and crating of this overseas equipment. The general over-all supply situation is considered [...next page]

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good. The Group is well equiped and has not been bothered by any major supply problems.

     Quite some time was taken up at the beginning of the month by the need to aid the 39th Bombardment Group (VH) Air Echelon in packing and processing. Approximately 40 percent of the Supply Officer's time, during the month, was spent in handling problems dealing with the processing of the personnel of the Air Echelon of the 39th Bombardment Group (VH). Typical of the activities carried on for the 39th Bombardment Group (VH) was a checklist for clothing and equipment which our Supply Officer prepared. Shortages of clothing and equipment were reported to the Army Air Force, Herington, Kansas so that they would be prepared to fill in the shortages upon the arrival of the Group.

VI. FACILITIES

     With the departure of the 39th Bombardment Group (VH), the buildings which we had shared with them became completely ours. The "new broom" was wielded and changes and additions were rapidly accomplished.

     Staff members, acting as Housekeeping units, painted operations offices, briefing room, and other parts of the physical property. Alert rooms (Combination coffee and doughnut shop, reading room, and war room) were set up [...next page]

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by the Intelligence Officers of each Squadron. These serve as an excellent meeting place for the men and provide a means for the dissemination of certain material to all the men.

     The basic physical set-up of the Group, other than the addition of new barracks for our crew members, has not changed.

VII. MORALE

     The morale of any unit is reflected not only in the number of activities undertaken, but in the manner in which they are pursued and supported. The Group Special Services Officers have continued their ambitious and successful programs by initiating a number of new projects this month.

     Plans for a Group Show are now under way and the writing and casting of the unit is proceeding satisfactorily. The tentative opening date has been set for a 4 May 1945. The show is being sponsored by the "War Dads" of McPherson, Kansas, and already arrangements have been made for showings on the base and in McPherson. It is hoped that other showings will be held in nearby towns.

     Efforts have also been made to set up a weekly Group "Information and Education Bulletin", but have run into some Regulation snags. The Base Air Inspector has [...next page]

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interpreted 2AF Regulation 34-1, 29 January 1945, to include our Information and Education Bulletin under the new official publications permitted on a base. Under this regulation we are not permitted to publish the Group "Bulletin" because the base already has an official publication. A convoy of approximately 100 enlisted men were entertained at a party held nthe Wichita USO. The 872nd Bombardment Squadron (VH) gave a very successful party for their Squadron Sweetheart, Miss Margie Grant, of Salina, Kansas. In line with our organizing spree, a Group Choir has been started by the Chaplain, and it is hoped that it will continue growing until it has at least 100 men in it. Their first appearance will be at Group Services on Easter Sunday, 1 April 1945.

     Problems encountered in the organization of an Officers' and Enlisted Men's Club for overseas are rapidly being ironed out, and an early date has been set for the election of club officers to represent the men. The main problem encountered has been the organization of the men into the club and that problem is expected to be solved upon the election of club officers.

     Both bowling leagues are now in the second half of the tournament, with the officers of the 872nd Bombardment Squadron (VH) and the enlisted men of the 420th Bombardment [...next page]

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Squadron (VH) carrying off top honors in the first half of their respective leagues. Volleyball teams are being organized for both officers and enlisted men to participate in a planned base tournament. The cooperation of the Base and Group in activities such as these has been excellent.

     Moving out a little from Base activities, the Group entered four men in the eliminations of the 2AF Boxing Tournament held at Topeka, Kansas. Our only successful contender was Pfc Lawrence Gettelman, in the 175 pound class. Prior to this a combined Base and Group team has lost a match to a team from the Boeing Aircraft Plant in Wichita, Kansas.

     The advent of good weather has been prepared for by the erection of outdoor volleyball courts and horseshoe pits in each Squadron Area.

This is the end of the March 1945 report for the 382nd Bomb Group (VH).

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Transcribed by Kevin Anderson on 12 June 2006
(Last corrected 13 June 2006)
Original typographic errors were left in.
All remaining transcription errors are my own.