20th AAF Insignia
314th BW Insignia
39th BG (VH) Insignia
The 20th Air Force's five wings were divided into 20 Bomb Groups.   This is the history of one of those Groups. The 39th - stationed on Guam, the southernmost island in the Marianas. The combat missions they flew against Japan ultimately brought them two prestigious Distinguished Unit Citations. Lesser known, however, are the individual stories - some joyous, some tragic - stored in the memory of each crewman.

Then, too, there are those on the ground that serviced the big bombers, and many others whos duties it was to provide innumerable vital needs that readied both the men and planes to for the next mission. All these components provided by men of unflinching patriotism, dedication and courage, commendably performed the tasks they were called upon to do. Together they contributed in great measure to the victory.

Some of these personal stories that have remained in obsecurity for over 65 years are finally revealed in this gripping and overdue history ... 

Hopefully, one thing that will emerge from it all. When an aging veteran of our Group is asked by his grand-children:

"What did you do in World War II, Grampa?"

He can answer with boundless pride and satisfaction:
"I served in the 39th Bomb Group."
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In Memory of the 39ers who fought
and Never Came Home!

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Robert L. Addleman
Gerald W. Annsdale
Raymond E. Barczak
David W. Bar
Clarence W. Beevers
William F. Blackington
Arthur C. Bowman
Jesse H. Chaffin
Harry W. Clark
Irving A Cohen
Kenneth Coli
Harris E. Collins. Jr.
Joseph F. Connolly. Jr.
Bertrand H. Constantine
Charles B. Coutts
John W. Courtney
Jack B. Covington
David R. Curry
William T. Davenport, Jr.
Lawrence H. Devine
David P. Donahoo, Jr.
Gerald A. Drouin
Roy V. Duncan
Kenneth E. Durham
Smith L. Edwards
James M. Engholdt
William T. Findley
Claude M. Fisher
Milford G. Fredertburg
Esteban Garcia, Jr.
Fred C. Graesslin
Milford F. Haines
Donald H. Haynes
Ralph H. Hazel
Astor G. Hero
Donald Q. Hopkins
 Robert L. Hickey
Melvin J. Howard
Milton Jacobs
William G. Joyce
Edward M. Kanick
Odie A. Kelly
Reece Killpack
Cornelius W. Kobler
Howard Kolbert
Aaron M. Kopit
Gerhard J. Keuhler
Walter E. Kurasowicz
Frederick D. Langham
Carl R. Larson
Gerald M. Levinson
Harold W. Lockwood
Marvin H. Long
Clare A. Lovelace
Jim A. McCandless
Maurice G. McCormack
James I. McLatchy
Charles Markowitz
Jasper Martinez, Jr.
Henry T. Matthaus
Joe B. Medina
Edward J. Mose, Jr.
Phillip S. Munson
Peter G. Navarra
Joseph B. Neden. Jr.
Ernest E. Nyhoken, Jr.
John D. O' Reilly
Clarence G. Ogden
Alexander Orionchek
Richard E. Paquette
Justin J. Patsey
Benjamin L. Powell
 Maurice J. Powsner
John A. Rauzi
Eugene C. Reck
Stewart J. Reid
William A. Reith
George W. Roberts
Walter C. Roessig, Jr.
Ernest T. Rogers
Walter M. Rusin
Carlton W. Russell
Robert J. Sabol
Hammond D. Sadler
Anthony Scaffidi
Richard J. Sloane
Jack W. Smith
William J. Southhall, Jr.
John C. Sprosty, Jr.
Harry F. Stallings, Jr.
Mervin L. Stanton
Raymond M. Stoll
Robert W. Swartz
Lawrence J. Toeppe
Albert P. Tomasetti
Leon Tomberg
Paul D. Trujillo
Thomas C. Ulrich
John Venturelli
Conrad E. Vogt
Jack G. Wampack
Austin L. Wible
John C. Wilkin
Myron D. Williams
Joe D. Wilson
Thomas P. Winteringer
Luther Woods
William L. Wood

39th Bomb Group (VH) News...
Update: 2013 Reunion Packets have been mailed !!! - Association Members you should have received your packet  [more]
Major General Leo C. Lewis, (then Major) Airplane Commander, Crew 8, 60th BS has taken his Final Flight on 21 July, 2012 - [more]
Update: Photos have been added to the 2010 Reunion section
Update: 2012 Reunion Packets have been mailed !!! [more]
12 Reunion Packets have been mailed !!! [more]
Congratulations to David H. Fisher, Radio Operator, P-55 - He was elected President of the 39th Bomb Group Association - [more]
Old News From 16 Jan 2007 to 31 July 2011 Click Here

[ What's New ]
314th BW Section
Updated 3 Feb 2008

Click Photo to Enlarge
Click Photo to Enlarge

CAN YOU ID THESE MEN?

L to R: #4 Theron W. Worsham (shirtless man)- Crew Chief P-22; Others Unknown

 

CAN YOU ID THIS B-29?

This plane is NOT P-22 (Strato Wolf II) the legend is too faded
to answer any questions other than ground crew
Please email: updates@39th.org

CAN YOU ID THESE MEN?

The above photo appeared in the March 15, 1999 edition of the Wall Street Journal in an add for MetLife® describing their then 130 yrs of service. As you can see from the tail of the B-29 on the left - it shows a Square P. If you can ID these men, please email updates@39th.org

Thanks to Sgt Ed Kornblith, 60th BS, Bombsight Mech for providing the advertisement. (March 6, 2005)

If you can ID these men, Please email: updates@39th.org

39th ball cap

39th Bomb Group Baseball Cap

  • Adjustable size
  • Front solid fabric
  • Mesh back

Cost is $15.00 plus $5.00 (S/H) = $20.00 total anywhere in the USA.

Checks should made payable to: Robert Weiler

Orders w/check should be sent to:
Robert Weiler
3543 Coronado Drive # 705
Sarasota, FL. 34231-7443
Contact:
For a more complete listing - see the What's New Page
New Pages Added:
Crew 57: Ground Crew 57 page
Dedication Page: Sgt Vinson G. Fowlkes, CFC Gunner, Romspert Crew
Profile Page: 2nd Lt Cecil E. Davis, Pilot, 1st Replacement Crew 6
Profile Page: Cpl Vernon Ingram, LG, Romspert Crew
Dedication: Pfc Frank R. Heberling, Armorer, 62nd BS
Dedication: 1st Lt Walter E. Fauerso, FE, P-29
Dedication: S/Sgt Robert R. Malinoski, Radio Op, P-48
Ordnance Section added for 61st, 62nd & HQ Squadrons
62nd BS Armament Section Page
2010 Reunion Photos: Photos from ALL events now online
Dedication: 2nd Lt Urban F. Thinnes, Bomb, Romspert Crew
Dedication: 2nd Lt Edward A. Romspert, A/C, Romspert Crew
Dedication: 1st Lt Carroll G. Snustad, AC, P-56
Dedication: Capt Thomas E. Collins, AEO, 62nd BS
Crew 2: Award of DFC
Crew 17: Award of DFC
Mission Diary: Sgt Albert L. Kyler, TG, P-17
Dedication: S/Sgt Edward F. Kornblith, 60th BS, Mech
Dedication: Capt Joe Glickman, Admin Ofcr-61st BS
Crew 21: MACR 14425 added to section
Crew 16: MACR 14367 added to section
Reunion: 2009 Reunion Information has been added to the web site
Dedication: S/Sgt Carmen A. Catanese, Mech, P-49
Dedication: 1st Lt Sheldon E. Elliott, Nav, P-51
Dedication: 1st Lt Harry B. Eddy, Bomb, P-57
Dedication: Capt Eugene S. Land , AC, Repl P-26
Dedication: 1st Lt James L. Taylor, Bomb, P-27
Dedication: 1st Lt Louis L. Orenbuch, FE, P-47
Crew 44: Award of Distinguished Flying Cross
Dedication: Sgt Norman L. Stokes, Airplane Pwr Plant Mech 60th BS
Reunion: 2008 Photos
Dedication: Capt Anthony Quesada, Radar, P-27
Dedication: 1st Lt John B. Keliiaa, Pilot, P-49
Dedication: 1st Lt Joseph E. Smith, Crew 13, FE/Grp FE

Updated Pages:
Crew 06: 1st Lt Warren C. Foster, Navigator, (and P-17 Repl Nav) added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 48: S/Sgt Robert R. Malinoski, Radio Op, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
1st Lt Garvin Kowalke, Pilot (P21); AC (Repl P21), added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 49: 1st Lt Warren H. McDowell, Radar, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 17: S/Sgt William H. Fleischman, Radio Op, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Romspert Crew: 2nd Lt Urban F. Thinnes, Bomb, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Orders Page: GO 107 Sec 1 XXIst BC - Award of DFC Miranda & Price Crew 13
Crew 29: 1st Lt Walter E. Fauerso, FE, Nav, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
61st BS: 1st Lt. Jack Tishkoff, Radar, RCM, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 06: S/Sgt Raymond L. Schwartz, Radio Op, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 59: S/Sgt Marvin J. Rodich, Crew Chief, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 17: Sgt Albert L. Kyler, TG, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 33: 1st Lt Frederick W. Dock, Nav, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 33: F/O John J. Peny, FE, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 30: S/Sgt James E. Schwoegler, Radio Op, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Orders Page: GO 53 4 Sept 1945 Award of DFC added to site
Sgt Aldon D. Evans, 60th BS, Mech added to Final Flight Honor
Crew 42: Sgt Richard Barczak, TG, IDed in photo
62nd BS: Pfc Salvatore Navilio, Mech, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 32: Sgt Winston W. Smalling, Radio Op, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
61st BS: Pfc Robert S. Murphy, Mech, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
WOC: Capt Kenneth T. Trow, AC, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 7: 1st Lt William E. Badgley, Bomb, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
61st BS: Capt Joe Glickman, Admin Ofcr, added to Final Flight Honor Roll
Sht Metal: Cpl Robert L. McCoy, 60th BS to Final Flight Honor Roll
Sht Metal: Pfc Eugene J. Palombo, 60th BS to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 58: 1st Lt Robert D. Brace, Nav, Dedication Page Updated
Crew 58: 1st Lt Robert D. Brace, Nav, to Final Flight Honor Roll
Crew 33: S/Sgt Harold Krumnow, Radio Op to Final Flight Honor Roll


39th BG Veterans:

We want and need your experiences ... adding your remembrances to our site not only preserves your memories but helps fill the gaps in our group's history. Daily family members of 39ers contact us asking "What did my father, uncle, great grandfather etc do in the 39th BG?" For some we have the answers .. for others we are not sure because the particular records are not available. With your memories added to site, they are able to read your experiences in your words .. if you are not the type to share with family about your WWII Days. After your gone .. it will be too late! You ARE the Greatest Generation no one can knows better than you .. what you went through - the hardship you endured ... the price you paid in defending our freedoms so many years ago.

Do you have any updates to existing information? We're interested in that as well.

Make sure we have your email address so we can contact you regarding your Association's news as well as web site updates.

Visit the Contact Us Page for the right person to reach. You can also contact the Association Officers by checking the Association Page


The Blackened Canteen
This book is about 5 Americans, Jack O’Connor, Monroe Cohen, Ken Colli, Newton Towle all who were crewmen on B-29’s who were killed in a mid-air collision on June 20, 1945 and buried by Fukumatsu Itoh alongside of the 2000 Japanese killed in the raid and Richard Fiske, the bugler on the battleship West Virginia when it was sunk at Pearl Harbor and three Japanese, Hiroya Sugano, 12 years old when his city was bombed in 1945, Takeshi Maeda, the navigator on the torpedo bomber that sank the West Virginia and Fukumatsu Itoh, a city councilman and Buddhist Priest. Only two survive today, Dr. Sugano, who is 74 and Takeshi Maeda, who is 89.
Webmaster's note: The two B-29's involved in the mid-air collision were 39th Bomb Group (VH)'s Crew 42 and the 29th Bomb Group (VH)'s Everdon Crew.

Military Orders:

We're looking for copies of military orders that pertain to the 39th Bomb Group (VH) (HQ, 60th, 61st and the 62nd Bomb Squadron). We are also looking for copies of orders pertaining to the 314th Bomb Wing, Headquarters as our web site has dedicated a section to these fine men who served. [ more ]

Veterans & Families of 39th Veterans:
The 39th BG Web site has a Yahoo Group so that you may share your experiences with each other and/or family members of a 39th BG Veteran can learn more about what their loved one did during their service. Subscribe by using the sign-up box or Click here to learn more from the help page located on the 39th site. 
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