Wreath laying by veterans of
the 394TH Bomb Group USAAF
FONFA ADDRESS – 16-JUNE 2003
THE VETERAN
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organiser,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
HONOURED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, GOOD AFTERNOON.
THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW FOREST AIRFIELDS WELCOME YOU ALL TO SHARE IN THIS CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE AND GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE 394TH BOMB GROUP OF THE 9TH US AIR FORCE OPERATING FROM STATION 455, AS THIS AIRFIELD WAS KNOWN TO THEM.
FOR SIX WEEKS IN THE CRITICAL SUMMER OF 1944, 584,585, 586, AND 587 SQUADRONS FLEW INTENSIVE SORTIES IN SUPPORT OF THE ALLIED ARMIES ADVANCING INTO FRANCE. THE AIRCRAFT THEY FLEW WERE THE MARTIN B26 MARAUDERS, WHICH HAD ACQUIRED AN UNFORTUNATE REPUTATION IN THEIR EARLY DAYS, RESULTING IN THE NICK-NAME OF "WIDOW MAKERS". THIS NAME HOWEVER, IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE, WAS SOON LAID TO REST AND THE MARAUDER ENDED ITS WARTIME DUTIES WITH THE BEST OPERATIONAL RECORD OF ANY MEDIUM BOMBER IN THE USAF.
THE 394TH EARNED A DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION AND ONE OF ITS PILOTS, CAPTAIN DARREL LINDSEY, WON A CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOUR, THE EQUIVALENT OF THE BRITISH V.C., WHILE FLYING FROM HOLMSLEY ON A MISSION FROM WHICH HE FAILED TO RETURN. THIS WAS THE ONLY DECORATION OF THIS ORDER TO BE AWARDED IN THE NINTH AIR FORCE.
THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS UNIT DURING ITS STAY AT HOLMSLEY IS REMARKABLE AND IT IS WITH HUMBLE GRATITUDE THAT WE REMEMBER TODAY, NOT ONLY THOSE WHO FLEW BUT ALL THE GROUND STAFF AND SUPPORT ECHELONS WITHOUT WHOM NO PLANE COULD HAVE TAKEN TO THE AIR.
LITTLE DID I REALISE THAT AS A LAD OF FIFTEEN, WATCHING THE MARAUDERS, I WOULD IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME, MEET SOME OF THOSE WHO SERVED. IT IS INDEED AN HONOUR AND A PRIVILEGE TO DO SO.
IN THOSE FATEFUL DAYS THE FLAGS OF OUR TWO GREAT NATIONS FLEW PROUDLY SIDE BY SIDE AND AS ALLIES, WE ACHIEVED MUCH, FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY. DESPITE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, THE BOND THAT WAS FORGED ON THE ANVIL OF WAR HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AND TODAY THAT UNITY REMAINS A FORMIDABLE FORCE FOR THE GOOD OF THE WORLD.
MAY GOD GRANT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND GREAT BRITAIN ALWAYS STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, HANDS CLASPED IN FRIENDSHIP IN THE PURSUIT OF THOSE QUALITIES WE TOGETHER HOLD DEAR, AND MAY HE BLESS OUR ENDEAVOURS
Les White JP
394th Bombardment Group
| Constituted as 394th Bombardment Group
(Medium) on 15 Feb 1943. Activated on 5 Mar 1943. Trained
with B-26's. Moved to England, Feb-Mar 1944, and assigned to Ninth AF.
Entered combat in Mar 1944 and helped to prepare for the invasion of
Normandy by hitting V-weapon sites, marshalling yards, bridges, airdromes,
and gun emplacements. On D-Day, 6 Jun, bombed gun positions at Cherbourg;
afterward, struck communications, fuel supplies, and strong points in
support of the Normandy campaign. Aided the breakthrough at St Lo by
bombing targets in the area on 25 Jul 1944. Received a DUC for operations
from 7 to 9 Aug 1944 when the group made five attacks against strongly
fortified targets in northern France, knocking out an ammunition dump and
four railroad bridges. Capt Darrell R Lindsey was awarded the Medal of
Honor for leading a formation of B-26's over one of these bridges on 9
Aug. During the flight, Lindsey's plane was hit and the right engine burst
into flames. Knowing that the gasoline tanks could explode at any moment,
he continued to lead the formation until the bomb run had been made, then
ordered his crew to bail out. The bombardier, the last man to leave the
plane, offered to lower the wheels so that Lindsey might escape through
the nose of the aircraft, but realizing that this could throw the plane
into a spin and hinder the bombardier's chances to escape, Lindsey refused
the offer and remained with his B-26 until it crashed. After moving to the
Continent late in Aug 1944, the group hit strong points at Brest and then
began to operate against targets in Germany. Took part in the Battle of
the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, by hitting communications to deprive the
enemy of supplies and reinforcements. Bombed transportation, storage
facilities, and other objectives until the war ended; also dropped
propaganda leaflets. Remained in the theater to serve with United States
Air Forces in Europe as part of the army of occupation.
Redesignated 394th Bombardment Group (Light) in Dec 1945. Began
training with A-26's. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the
US on 15 Feb 1946. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946.
Redesignated 106th Bombardment Group (Light). Allotted to ANG (NY) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 21 Mar 1947. Redesignated 106th Composite Group in Nov 1950, and 106th Bombardment Group (Light) in Feb 1951. Ordered to active service on 1 Mar 1951. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Redesignated 106th Bombardment Group (Medium) in May 1951. Equipped with B-29's. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952. Returned to ANG (NY) on 1 Dec 1952. Redesignated 106th Bombardment Group (Light). Squadrons
Stations
Commanders
Campaigns
Decorations:
Insigne: Shield: Azure, a clenched fist terminating in displayed dexter demi-wing of an eagle, the first grasping a torch, all sable fimbriated argent, flames gules fimbriated of the last. Motto: READINESS STRENGTHENS LIBERTY. (Approved 15 Apr 1954.) |