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

The following is a retyping of part of the official history of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH), in its monthly report provided for May 1945. This history is taken from AFHRA Microfilm Roll B0372, starting with frame 1432. 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 personnel strength of the unit did not undergo any major change during the month of May. This was our third month of training and crew positions, administrative officers, and other positions were more or less stablized and set. There was some switching of personnel between crews in an effort to place the best crews members possible in the designated "lead crews".

     There were no major change in the Group Table of Organization during the month of April [sic].

     As of 31 May, the units of the Group contained the following personnel: 1/

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

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     In comparison with the assigned personnel as of the 30th of April 1945, this a decrease of 38 officers and an increase of 25 enlisted men. Most of the shortages are among crew member positions, and it is hoped that these shortages will be filled at an early date.

     Of the assigned personnel of the Group as of the 31st of May 1945, 130 officers and 133 enlisted men were on temporary duty at other stations. For the most part, these mem were training at 247th Base Unit, APO #632, c/o Postmaster, Miami, Florida. A few men were at Radar and other service schools, enrolled in specialty studies.

     The S-1 is still endeavoring to obtain highly qualified personnel to fill the 2% quota for overages among enlisted men. These men will be placed in positions where it is felt they are most needed.

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II. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

     The most significant change during the month was the change in the Group Executive Officer. Lt. Col. Miles A. Connor was relieved as Group Executive Officer by Lt. Col. Henry Burr Jr. as directed by Group Special Order 126, paragraph 6, dated 10 May 1945. Col. Burr came to the Group from Staff and Command School at Fort Leavenworth, where he had been an instructor for sometime past. Lt. Col. Connor was transferred to the Base Unit of another station.

     The Organizational Chart of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH), SHAAF, Salina, Kansas as of 31 May 1945, is as follows:

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     During the month the Unit Personnel Section was organized and put under the direction of 2nd Lt. Richard M. Patterson. The Unit Personnel Section will, as is hoped, take the burden of administrative details off the hands of the squadron orderly rooms.

III. TRAINING

     The month of May showed the most progress in both flying training and technical training of any month to date. The training was aimed at completing the minimum requirements as set out by Army Air Forces and Second Air Force. 2/

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2/  1. Chart, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), Subject: Minimum Requirements 382nd Bomb Group, Technical Training, dated 26 May 1945.
     2. Chart, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), Subject: Minimum Requirements, 2nd Air Force, Technical Basic Training, dated 26 May 1945
     3. Chart, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), Subject: Percent of AAF Minimum Requirements Complete, dated 30 May 1945
     4. Chart, 382nd Bomb Gp (VH), Subject: Percent of Flying Time and Missions Completed, dated 30 May 1945
     5. Chart, 2AF, Subject: Crew Progress Chart - Flying Training (VH), dated 31 May 1945
     6. Chart, 2AF, Subject: Crew Progress Chart - Technical Training (VH), dated 25 May 1945

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     The progress in Technical Training was excellent. Most of first and second phase subjects were completed, and many third phase requirements were met. Flying training improved quite a bit during the month due to better weather and improved maintenance.

     During the month, the 464th Squadron and 872nd Squadron spent approximately two weeks in training at APO #632, c/o Postmaster, Miami, Florida. All of these periods were devoted to flying training and to maintenance training on the line. Along with the actual maintenance personnel, the crew members were required to help with the maintenance of their own plane, and it is felt that this experience will prove quite valuable. Much flying time was gained and quite a few minimum requirements were accomplished.

     Each squadron going to APO #632 took their entire operational staff plus some maintenance personnel as well as all crew members. Members of the Group Staff made inspection trip to APO #632 during the stay there of each squadron. Since the operations at APO #632 closely resembled actual field conditions the training there was throught to be of great value.

     As the crews made the flights to and from APO #632, they took advantage of the opportunity and completed 3,000 mile navigational missions. The training while at APO #632 consisted for the most part of camera bombing and radar missons. It was felt that the over water flights were of great value to the crews.

     During the month, the Second Air Force Inspector General Team made a special inspection of the Group, placing emphasis on the training done by the Group. At the end of the inspection the Inspector General held a critique with the Grup and Squadron Staffs and at this meeting it was stated by the Inspector General that with the exception of a few [...next page]

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minor deficiencies, the Group was in excellent shape.

     As has been mentioned before, every effort was made during the month by the Group to place the most proficient crew members in the lead crews. This resulted in the switching of quite a few crews members, especially among navigators, bombardiers and CFC gunners. Great emphasis is being laid on the importance and proper training of the lead crews.

     Plans for the "fourth phase" technical training to be planned and carried through by the Group have been completed. 3/ This training consists of subjects above the requirements as set up by the Army Air Forces and Second Air Force, which the Group Staff thought would be beneficial to the crew members. Each department and section head prepared and presented to Group S-3, his idea of subjects that should be taught by his department, and these ideas were consolidated by Group S-3 into a definite training program and presented to the Commanding Officer, this program was established. After study and approval by the Commanding Officer, this program was established as the "fourth phase" of our training. The plans for "fourth phase" training also include flight training as well as technical training.

IV. MAINTENANCE

     The overall maintenance picture for the month was better than at any time during the training period of the Group. Maintenance was slow and curtailed flying to some extent during the first part of the month, but during the latter part of the month a marked improvement took place. Since the maintenance section has been working under a comparatively new system (as explained in last month's history under MAINTENANCE, page 6) numberous minor problems and difficulties had to be ironed out. During the latter part of the month these difficulties [...next page]

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were overcome and the maintenance section became a smooth working and efficient organization. The closest harmony exists between the Base personnel and Group personnel of the maintenance section.

     The maintenance section has still been working under the handicap of having men and planes at APO #632 as well as at this base. The training at APO #632 will be completed during the coming month and it is felt that when this handicap is removed, maintenance will no longer be a limiting factor in our flight training program.

V. SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT

     In the main, most of the supplies and equipment have been obtained and packed for overseas shipment. S-4 was able to obtain many of the supplies needed to begin immediate operations and each department and section was able to secure a quantity of supplies for their use at the future destination. One procurement party was sent to Patterson Field, Ohio where they were able to obtain many items of equipment which could not be gotten through local supply channels.

     S-4 has been able to obtain authority to ship overseas such excess items as additional field telephones, laundry units, memo machines, typewriters etc. It is felt that the possession of these additional items will be of great value to the Group.

     Equipment and supplies necessary to begin immediate operations when our oversea destination is reached will be shipped TAT (to accompany troops), and morale equipment will be shipped as a special Project and will arrive later.

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     The S-4 section has been very helpful to the men of the organization by putting out poop sheets to officers and enlisted men suggesting items to be taken overseas and suggesting how these items should be packed.

VI. FACILITIES

     The physical set-up of the Group has not been changed during the month.

VII. MORALE

     The morale of the 382nd Bombardment Group (VH) has always been exceptionally high, but during the month of May, morale seemed even better than before. It is felt that the fact that everyone was busy on a definite job plus more available planes and more accomplished flying time, was a definite boost to morale.

     The Officers Club and Enlisted Club which were organized the previous month, completed plans for oversea operation. Both clubs sent representatives to several larger cities to procure the necessary equipment to be shipped overseas. This entailed quite a bit of work as the equipment had first to be located and then the necessary priority had to be obtained in order to make the purchase. Most of the needed materials have been purchased and should soon be received for packing. The officers and enlisted men have included in their clubs as members the officers and men of the 366th Service Group. These two organizations will be combined for overseas operations.

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     Special Service has been quite active during the month. There was a marked interest shown by the men in signing up for courses in the United States Armed Forces Institute. Also several parties were sponsored during the month by Special Service.

     With the lengthening of daylight much interest has been shown in the newly organized softball league. There are nine teams entered by the Group and the schedule calls for each team to play two games per week.

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

Return to the tribute page for the 382nd Bombardment Group

Transcribed by Kevin Anderson on 11 June 2006
(Last corrected 12 June 2006)
Original typographic errors were left in.
All remaining transcription errors are my own.