Books and films of interest; from unit histories to general history. Many of these books contain either references or pictures of the 301st BG planes or personnel.
Guide to publications for researching the 301st Bomb Group in World War II.
{Bracketed} capital letter abbreviations used in other places on this site.
{W} = "Who Fears?" The 301st In War and Peace 1942-1979 by Kenneth P. Werrell (Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX, ISBN 0-87833-025-9 Taylor Issue, Library of Congress Catalog 90-72025, First Printing 1991) (287 pages, hardbound, navy blue w/ gold lettering)
This book has the first 125 pages (8 chapters) of text has 129 photos (on 9" x 12" glossy stock) dealing with the history of the Group up through 1945 with their use of B-17s. There are 12 pages of detailed Endnotes for just the first 8 chapters between pages 157 and 169. There are 8 appendices dealing with the abbreviations, aircraft/crew losses, mission chronology and summary, and tail markings between pages 172 and 192. Pages 194 thru 200 have untitled photo collages with approximately 109 of these photographs depicting B-17s or their crews. Pages 202 thru 287 are biographies of 301st veterans with an average of 5 or 6 per page, most showing a "then and now" photograph.
{F} = THE B-17 FLYING FORTRESS STORY by Roger A. Freeman with David Osborne, (Distributed in USA by Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810 ISBN 1 85409 522 6, Copyright 1998, 320 pages softbound, black book end w/white and red lettering).
This book dedicates its first 69 pages to a very good general history of the development of the B-17 thru all models with specifications, and detailed serial number breakdowns. Pages 70 thru 319 give individual histories of every one of the 12,731 B-17s built. These histories give initial delivery dates and bases/or Group/Squadrons of assignments, and final fate if known. Nose art names are given if known. Pilot's last name and mission along with MACR number given if aircraft lost in combat. These will also list number of crew KIA, POW, etc. and crash location as known. There are approx. 148 B-17 photos and eleven pages of drawings. None of the photos are of 301st BG aircraft.
{N} = B-17 NOSE ART NAME DIRECTORY by Wallace R. Forman (Copyright 1996 Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., ISBN 1-883809-14-2, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 95-72893. 96 pages, softbound. U.S. $14.95. Phalanx Publishing, an imprint of: Specialty Press Publishers and Wholesalers, 11481 Kost Dam Road, North Branch, MN 56056; 1-800-895-4585. (White, black lettering and B&W photo on both covers).
This directory has an alphabetical list of over 8,200 B-17s with some sort of name identification. The author lists the Bomb Group and Squadron along with serial number where known and also notes if he has a picture of the airplane in his collection. There are many 301st BG B-17s that are not listed in this book but where they are listed the entries are mostly correct. Pages 49 thru 64 have 32 half-page photos of B-17s, but no 301st BG aircraft are depicted.
{5W} = 5th Wing History of Aircraft Assigned by Richard E. Drain
Drain's book is a listing of the 5th Bomb Wing B-17s. There are no illustrations. The book may no longer be in print, but a CD version is available currently. The data on the CD is comprehensive and is well organized. It can be quickly scanned for specifics with basic search tools. The pages for all of the 301st Bomb Group B-17s are ordered by tail number (the first "4"of all serial numbers is dropped). Aircraft names are given where known, along with a good history of dates, Group transfers, losses, and final fate. When lost in combat the last names of all crew members and their fate is listed along with mission, crash location, MACR #, etc. There are alphabetical cross-references by Aircraft Name, and listings of mission dates and targets as well.
Dick Drain
1715 Briarwood Terrace
Springfield OH 4504-1511
ph 937-399-6681
{PS} = Pride of Seattle-The Story of the First 300 B-17Fs by Steve Birdsall, Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1115 Crowley Drive, Carrolton, TX 75011-501010 (ISBN 0-89747-389-2; 64-pages softbound).
This glossy stock 8-1/2" x 11" book does a nice job of telling some of the story of the B-17Fs used by the 97th and 301st Bomb Groups with serials between 41-24342 and 41-24628. These two Bomb Groups are dealt with on just 15 pages of the book but there are 16 photos of 301st BG aircraft and 2 color painted right side views on page 32.
{R} = The Raven (official newsletter of the 301st Bomb Group/Wings Association) Available for $5.00/year membership fee thru: Daniel O. Oredson, 1176 Pontiac St., Denver, CO 80220-3042. The newsletter has three issues per year including January, May, and September. A Membership Book is generally published every other calendar year (due a year late this coming year 2004 now) and is available for an additional $5.00 postage paid. The 2001 edition had 104 pages (100 of member's names, addresses, and phone numbers with Squadron affiliation. 3 pages of addresses for information sources, 1 page of E-mail addresses). By writing a letter to the Editor of the newsletter information concerning specific 301st BG personnel, particular aircraft, bases, or missions can be requested from the membership.
{H} = History of the 419th Bomb Squadron (H) 1942-1945 and 1961-1964 by Joe C. Baxley, Jr., ©1992, 214 pages, hardbound in light blue binding, 9-1/4" tall by 6-1/4" wide. Published by Gateway Press, Inc., 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 in 1992.
This is a good chronological history as taken from the 419th War Diary and from the existent combat folders. It is complimented with personal diary excerpts from many crewmen, crew chiefs, and other ex-419th contributors. There is a non-exhaustive index but many of the page numbers given are strangely a few pages off with no particular pattern seen for the inconsistency. Some of the tail numbers given were never 301st BG B-17s but these were probably transcription errors from the time of their original recording, or due to the very difficult to read original onion paper from the War Dairy. The only real illustrations in the book are black and white representations of the 8th, 12th, and 15th Air Force emblems across from page one.
The book can be hard to find today but is well worth its usual $25.00 price. Copies may be available from the author direct:
Joe Baxley
787 Gaither Road
Sykesville, MD 21784
(410)-489-2690
{UHB} = USAAF HEAVY BOMBER UNITS ETO & MTO 1942-45 by Jerry Scutts
Osprey Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0 85045 131 0, © 1977 (softbound, 48 pages)
This book is a good short introduction to how the B-17s and B-24s were used in the European and Mediterranean Theaters with a thoughtful display of 41 photographs and 10 color art plates (one a 2-page spread 6-view of a B-17G) for the subject. The book only measures 7-1/4" by 9-3/4" and has photos of just two 301st B-17s.
{FFU} = B-17 FLYING FORTRESS UNITS OF THE MTO by William N. Hess
Osprey Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0 84176 580 5, © 2003 (softbound, 96 pages, 9-3/4" H x 7-1/4" W x 5/16" thick).
The author flew 16 missions as an aerial gunner in B-17s with the 340th BS/97th BG in 1944. This excellent book has 11 photos of 301st BG B-17s (4 from 32nd, 3 from 352nd, 1 from 353rd, and 3 from 419th Bomb Squadrons) and 10 color artist air-brushed side views, followed with 10 close-up nose art views of eight 32nd BS B-17s and one each 352 and 353rd BS ships. The text is well written and the book is nicely indexed.
{KR} = FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE STORY by Kenn C. Rust, © 1976 An Historical Aviation Album Publication, LCCC No. 76-17673; ISBN 911852-79-4
This book is helpful for general history and the aircraft markings of the 15th Air Force. There are one or two photos of 301st BG B-17s.
{TFS} = THE FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE STORY, © 1986 by The Fifteenth Air Force Association, March Air force Base, California. Printed in U.S.A. by Taylor Publishing Company Dallas, Texas. The hardbound book is described as having 224 pages, in 12" x 9-1/4" format.
It is not known how much coverage of the 301st Bomb Group is given in this book.
{CM} = FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE COMBAT MARKINGS 1943-1945 by E.A. Munday, A Beaumont Publication, 11 Bath Street, London EC1; Printed by Clarke, Doble & Brendon Ltd., Oakfield Press, Plymouth Devon. ©E.A. Munday. (No copyright date or ISBN)
The subject of markings on the 15th AF aircraft is well covered. There is just one photo of a 301st BG B-17. The book has only about 30 pages.
{C} = Claims to Fame-The B-17 Flying Fortress by Steve Birdsall & Roger A. Freeman
This book deals with various interesting B-17 stories by chapter from many theatres of operation during the war. Just one or two chapters deal with any B-17 that had served at all with the 301st Bomb Group. The book can often be found on an inter-library loan.
{97B} = THE HOUR HAS COME - THE 97th BOMBARDMENT GROUP by Thomas F. Gulley, Chairman, EDMUND Hicks, Ph.D., William McClintock, Lt. Col. (Ret.), Jerry Blackmer, D.D.S., Christopher J. Karas, Lt. Col. (Ret.); LCCN 93-060460, © 1993 by The 97th Bomb Group Association, Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX , 9-1/8" x 12-1/4" x ¾" Hardcover, 256 pages.
Though strictly a history of the 97th Bomb Group, there are many photos of 301st BG aircraft that transferred from or to in 1942-43, such as PLUTOCRAT(E), Special Delivery, OPISSONYA, and Jenny Lou. Good maps, photos, and other data, which are representative of any similar work that would document the 301st.
{HBC} = HOME BY CHRISTMAS? The story of U.S. 8th/15th Air Force Airmen at War by Martin W. Bowman published in the UK by Patrick Stephens, Wellingborough, 1987. 159 pages, 150+ illus. ISBN 0-85059-834-6, 8" x 9-1/2", Hardcover w/dustjacket.
This book is said to be mostly about a 301st BG veteran but that information has not been confirmed.
{WBY} = WILD BLUE YONDER An Adventure of Hitler's Hostages by Leslie J. Tyler
© 1992, Crystal Publishing, P.O. Box 177,Grawn, Michigan 49637. ISBN 0-9631159-0-1
143 pages, softbound in 5-1/2" wide x 8-1/2" tall format. 7 photographs.
A very well done personal account of the men who flew with and alongside the author, a 353rd Bomb Squadron Navigator who flew eighteen missions between December 1944 and March 15,1945, when his crew was downed by flak. Nine men of his crew bailed out but were captured the same day by the Germans and were POWs for 45 days.
{TWF} = THOSE WHO FALL By John Muirhead. New York: Random House, 1986 and/or New York: Pocket Books, 1988. Paperback, 276 pages.
It has been described as a 301st BG, 32nd BS B-17 pilot's personal account of war in the air and his POW experience. He was shot down by enemy fighters in the B-17G-15-DL, 42-37813 on June 23, 1944.
{IRI} = As I Remember It: An Informal History of a B-17 Pilot Stationed in North Africa & Italy During WWII by A. G. (Jack) Cline. The author was with the 352nd Bomb Squadron. Davenport, IA: A. G. and Mavis J. Cline, 1997. Large Print. 178 pages, lots of pictures and pages from the training manuals.
Ordering:
Cost: $14.00
Mavis Cline
626 W. Rusholme
Davenport, IA 52803
563-323-9343.
{AOG} = In and Above the Olive Groves: The Personal Remembrances of a World War II B-17 Pilot by James M. McGarry, Albany, NY: Privately Printed, 1995. James McGarry flew 29 missions with the 301st Bomb Group.
{TSC} = The Shadow Casters by Arthur B. Unruh
The May 2000 issue of The Raven had a first letter by the author speaking of his time in the 301st BG, 32nd BS. This letter said he had finished writing the book. Arthur flew his first six missions as a tail gunner, then forty-four more as a right waist gunner. He was in Italy from February to September 1944. The book is based on daily journals and the records in his possession. The author lives (as of 2001) at 17432 Smokey Point Blvd., #47, Arlington, Washington 98223-8720. His phone is (360)-659-9601
{SHL} = Soaring High and Enjoying Life-Memoirs of an Air Force Pilot by Fred N. Stahl. It is double-spaced typewritten text on one side only, bound in a hardcover (approx. 8-1/2" x 11") edition by Papermill Printing in Spokane. 138 pages, some photos.
The May 2002 issue of The Raven published a letter to the editor from this 301st BG, 352nd BS veteran pilot. That letter announced that his book had been recently published. It reflects the early history of the 301st. The author's address is 1405 W. Country Club Ct., Spokane, Washington 99218. His phone is (509)-468-0823. Basically just pages 25 through 52 deal with his time in the 301st BG or training immediately before that.
{FOF} = FORTRESS FIGHTERS by William F. Somers © 2000 Somers Printing, Inc., 304 South Rockford Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281. ISBN 0-9705799-1-8
The book has 284 pages, and is softbound in 6" wide x 9" tall format. There are over 50 photographs, plus reproduced documents, some maps, a mission list, cutaway drawing, etc.
The author was a top turret gunner/engineer with the 15th Air Force, 99th Bomb Group, 348th Bomb Squadron. He flew 30 missions between 18 November 1944 and 25 April 1945 on a dozen documented aircraft. Two of these 348th Squadron B-17Gs (43-38411 and 44-6704) also spent time in the 301st BG. In eleven of the eighteen chapters other veterans contributed their stories. These men included three others from the 348th BS, two from the 346th BS, three from the 347th BS, one from the 463rd BG, and one from the 483rd BG. Well done with a variety of perspectives from 15th Air Force B-17 crewmen.
{AFJ} = AMERICAN FLIGHT JACKETS by Jon A. Maguire & John P. Conway. ISBN 0-7643-1065-8 (A Schiffer Military History 2nd Edition). This one really has very little about the 301st BG in particular, but page 265 has an interesting look at the original genuine bomber jacket of 419th BS pilot William A. Schultz featuring his B-17G "Stricktly Business" [spelling (sic)].
{FF} = B-17 FLYING FORTRESS by H.P. Willmott Published in the U.S. by Chartwell Books, Inc., a division of Book Sales, Inc., Secaucus, New Jersey ISBN 0-89009-318-0 LCC No. 79=57103 © 1980.
{BF} = B-17 FLYING FORTRESS The Symbol of Second World War Air Power by Frederick A. Johnsen Published in the U.S. by McGraw-Hill ISBN 0-07-134445- © 2000.
Page 94 lower left has photo of 419th BS B-17G, 44-6451 over the Alps.
50th ANNIVERSARY BOEING B-7 Flying Fortress 1935-1985 by Peter M. Bowers
A Museum of Flight Publication © 1985.
Pages 73-75 cover 12th & 15th AF tail markings.
The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany. by Stephen E. Ambrose. ©2001. ISBN: 0-7432-0339-9 Page: 143. The 456th Bomb Group which arrived at Cerignola in January 1944. They were fed by the 301st BG mess kitchen until they established their own.
MAGAZINE/PERIODICAL articles on the 301st BG:
AIR & SPACE Smithsonian August/September 2001 (Volume 16 Number 3)
"THE REUNION" -A World War II bomber pilot, his fighter escort, and one whopper of a coincidence. By John Fleischman. pages 26-29 The 32nd Bomb Squadron pilot Herbert M. Heilbrun flew B-17G-50-DL, 44-6362 "Jack HALEY'S COMET" among others. He was amazingly reunited with Tuskegee Airmen 332nd FG P-51 Mustang pilot John Leahr, a former 2nd Grade classmate and local Cincinnati kid who flew escort on his bomber missions.
The Cincinnati Enquirer January 3, 2002 pages A1 and A8
A TALE OF TWO PILOTS -50 years after WWII, two men find race is no longer a barrier. by Howard Wilkinson. This was a shorter article about the same subject above.
AIR CLASSICS November and December 2001 issues (Vol. 37, No.'s 11 & 12)
By Dave John "WAIST GUNNER" This was a two-part article written by Waist Gunner/Radio Operator Dave John of the 353rd Bomb Squadron. He was aboard B-7G-50-DL, 44-6363, shot down 13 October 1944. The story of his training, the mission he was shot down on, and the German POW camps he survived. November 2001 issue pages 28-31. December 2001 issue pages 14-19, 62-63.
FlyPast March 2004 (No. 272) 'Ghost' FORTRESS by Szymon Serwatka
An illustrated aricle on pages 60-63 about B-7G-50-DL, 44-6407, "Miss BeHaven" of the 32nd Bomb Squadron which flew on auto-pilot without her all-bailed-out crew186 miles from Myslenice , Poland to Krotoszyn, Poland where she bellylanded flat and relatively smooth in a farmer's field.
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