389th Bomber Group
Squadrons of the 389th BG
The Sky Scorpions
564th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy565th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
566th Bombardment Squadron -Heavy
567th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
Assigned 8th AAF: September 1942
Wing/Command Assignment
VII BC, 2 BW, 201 PCBW 11 Jun 1943
VII BC, 2 BD, 2 CBW 13 Sep 1943
2 BD, 2 CBW 8 Jan 1944
2 AD, 2 CBW 1 Jan 1945
VII BC, 2 BD, 2 CBW 13 Sep 1943
2 BD, 2 CBW 8 Jan 1944
2 AD, 2 CBW 1 Jan 1945
Combat Aircraft:
B-24D
B-24H
B-24J
B-24L
B-24M
B-24H
B-24J
B-24L
B-24M
Stations
HETHEL 11 June 1943 to 30 May 1945
Temporary stations in North Afica: Benghazi, Libya; 3 July 1943 to 25 Aug 1943, and Massicault, Tunis, 19 Sep 1943 to 3 October 1943.
Temporary stations in North Afica: Benghazi, Libya; 3 July 1943 to 25 Aug 1943, and Massicault, Tunis, 19 Sep 1943 to 3 October 1943.
Group COs
Col. Jack W. Wood 16 May 1943 to 29 Dec 1943
Col. Milton W. Arnold 30 Dec 1943 to 29 Mar 1944
Col. Robert B. Miller 29 Mar 1944 to 17 Aug 1944
Col. Ramsey D. Potts Jr. 17 Aug 1944 to 4 Dec 1944
Col. John B. Herboth Jr. 4 Dec 1944 to 7 Apr 1945, MIA
Lt. Col. Jack G. Merrell 14 Apr 1945 to Jun 1945
First Mission: 9 July 1943
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Missions: 321
Total Sorties: 7,579
Total Bomb Tonnage: 17,548 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 116
Col. Milton W. Arnold 30 Dec 1943 to 29 Mar 1944
Col. Robert B. Miller 29 Mar 1944 to 17 Aug 1944
Col. Ramsey D. Potts Jr. 17 Aug 1944 to 4 Dec 1944
Col. John B. Herboth Jr. 4 Dec 1944 to 7 Apr 1945, MIA
Lt. Col. Jack G. Merrell 14 Apr 1945 to Jun 1945
First Mission: 9 July 1943
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Missions: 321
Total Sorties: 7,579
Total Bomb Tonnage: 17,548 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 116
Major Awards:
Distinguished Unit Citation: 1 Aug 1943 Ploesti
Medal of Honor 2Lt Lloyd H. Hughes on 1 Aug 1943
Medal of Honor 2Lt Lloyd H. Hughes on 1 Aug 1943
Claims to Fame
One of three 8th Af B-24 groups that took part in the Ploesti mission.
At one time provided PFF aircraft for all 2 Bomb Division Groups.
564 Bomb Squadron was judged on efficiency the best in the European Theater of Operation in 1945.
At one time provided PFF aircraft for all 2 Bomb Division Groups.
564 Bomb Squadron was judged on efficiency the best in the European Theater of Operation in 1945.
Early History:
Activated 24 December 1942 at Davis-Monthan AAB, Arizonia . Physical formation
began at Biggs Field, Texas on 1 February 1943 under Lt. Col. David B. Lancaster.
Between 17 and 20 April 1943 they moved to Lowry Field, Colorado for final training.
The ground unit went to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and arrived on the 11th June
1943, and embarked on the Queen Elizabeth on the 30th of June 1943, and arrived
in Gourock on the 6th July 1943. The aircraft went overseas on the 13th June
1943 via Dow Field in Me., Goose Bay, Gander, Meeks Field, Iceland to Prestwick.
Subsequent History:
Redeployed to the US May/June 1945. First of the aircraft departed the United
Kingdom on 20 May 1945. Ground echelon sailed from Bristol on the USS Cristbal
on the 30th of May 1945, arriving in New York on the 8th of June 1945. Personnel
to Camp Kilmer and had 30 days R and R and on 12 June 1945 assembiling in Charleston
AAFd, South Carolina for transport duties but apparently they were not fully
manned. The Group was inactivated on the 13th of September 1945.