Comments on: World War II: Eighth Air Force Raid on Schweinfurt

By: David Strong

David Strong — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:06:23 +0000

If you are looking for information on the 306th Bomber Group, the Kalamazoo Air Zoo Museum has probably the most complete record of information on the 306th. My father, R. A. Strong (a Kalamazoo native), was the secretary and publisher for the 306th BG Association for over 30 years, as well as the author of “First over Germany”. He turned over most of his research to the Air Zoo 3 years ago. He will also be turning over his card index on flying 306th personnel (probably the most complete you’ll ever see) to the 8th Air Force Museum, Savannah, GA sometime this fall (2009).

By: S. Moyer

S. Moyer — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:10:19 +0000

My father Tsgt Ed Fox flew with the 306BG, 369squadron and was wounded on the second Schweinfurt raid. I know George Roberts through the Second Schweinfurt Memorial Association. I am the educational director for the group and since yours is a recent posting I will see if I can get in touch with George and have him offer a response. Valor Studios came to our reunion last Oct in Pooler, GA and that is where the signing of “Almost Home” took place. If you have been to the museum there you may have seen the “Rose of York” jacket on display. I believe that is George Robert’s. Valor Studios does such important work – we are lucky to have them here in Pennsylvania.

By: Della Norris

Della Norris — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:20:42 +0000

I am responding to the email from George Roberts on Feb.,19 2009. I was researching George in the hopes of finding out some information on my Uncle Harry, Harry C. Moore(Flight Engineer)I believe with the 306thBG 367th BS. He was on the “Rose of York”, along with “Impatient Virgin” and “Belle of the Blue”. They also flew the Schweinfurt(First over Germany)mission. That’s about all I know. I have been researching for some time now, and read about you on the Gil Cohen website with the “Almost Home” painting. Very nice!
If you please, if you know of him, I would greatly appreciate any information.

Sincerely!………..Della Norris

By: George G. Roberts

George G. Roberts — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:37:13 +0000

An excellent article about the “Black Thursday” mission. There are a few questionable errors: First, the 96th Bomb Group of the 3rd Division flew out of Snetterton Heath rather than rather than Grafton Underwood, their original base. Second the 305th BG out of Chelveston lost 13 and had three get back to base. Third: The 306th BG had 10 shot down, three got back to base and two crashed in the UK. You may ask how do I know? I was the radio operator on the 306th plane “Cavalier” which was the only plane from the 367th Squadron to reach the target and get back to base. This was my fourth mission. I went on to fly 31 missions, the final 16 on the “Rose of York”, a plane that was lost over the North Sea after I had completed my combat tour.

By: Festus Boozer

Festus Boozer — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:12:52 +0000

I have often wondered if preemptive american bomber strikes against German Fighter fuel depots, runways and other ground resources thus hindering the murderous “turkey shoot” that went unhindered against approaching American bombers heading for Schweinfurt. It seems to me that crippling German defensive resources preceding the attacks at Schweinfurt, A single success at knocking out German fighter fuel depots, runways and fighter bases would seem to have caused a major disruption to German defenses of Schweinfurt, would have significantly reduced both the range and number of fighters that availed themselves of refueling and returning to battle and engaging American bombers approaching and leaving the Schweinfurt region. Perhaps this was considered and but nont chosen however the reason escapes me.

This tactic was employed by American air forces proceeding the brief air war preceding air strikes in Granada,Panama and repeated in the Gulf war. While such an initial attack would surely have resulted in many bomber losses in an initial bombing run against fuel, runways and Germain fighter resources, I have often wondered if such a strike against German fighter defenses followed closely by an attack at Schweinfurt, would have denied the Germans much of their ability to mount a 300 fighter armada against an American offensive strike on the strategic ball bearing facility.

By: Douglas Reid

Douglas Reid — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:14:08 +0000

This will be of interest to my Uncle Lary, who flew with the8th

By: Douglas Reid

Douglas Reid — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:09:24 +0000

This will be interesting to my Uncle Larry, who flew with the Mighty 8th.