NEED INFO ON B-17'S FLYING RECON MISSIONS DURING MIDWAY FROM HICKAM FIELD
 

I AM LOOKING FOR ANY INFORMATION ON 4 B-17 CREWS TRANSFERRED FROM THE 303rd BOMB GROUP, 360th BOMB SQUADRON TO THE 306th BOMB GROUP, 368th BOMB SQUADRON IN MAY OF 1942 AT HICKAM FIELD HAWAII. THESE FOUR CREWS WERE ATTACHED TO THE 11th BOMB GROUP, 98th BOMB SQUADRON FOR THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. THEY WERE TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE MAINLAND IN MID JUNE OF 1942, AFTER THE JAPANESE THREAT HAD BEEN ELIMINATED, AND WENT TO THURLEIGH, ENGLAND TO TAKE PART IN THE EUROPEAN AIR WAR.

I AM ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN ANY PICTURES, MISSION DATES, ETC. FOR THE LT WILLIAM RAPER CREW. WHERE WOULD I LOOK FOR INFORMATION? SO FAR, NONE OF THE 3 BOMB GROUP HISTORIANS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY INFO, OTHER THAN DATES OF TRANSFER TO AND FROM HAWAII. ANY ASSISTANCE AT ALL WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANKS,

ARTHUR CASTLE

ab_castle@hotmail.com
artpuke1@aol.com

Re: NEED INFO ON B-17'S FLYING RECON MISSIONS DURING MIDWAY FROM HICKAM FIELD
 

The following website may be of interest

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~hfhm/Roster/d_names.htm

Kind regards

Ross

Re: NEED INFO ON B-17'S FLYING RECON MISSIONS DURING MIDWAY FROM HICKAM FIELD
 

At the End of May , 42 16 B- 17 s from 303d BG arrived in Hawaii.
Assigned to the 98th BS. The 98th BS was just being established and
did not take part in Battle of Midway. The Squadron Stayed in Hawaii
until the first Group of B-17s , led by Col. Saunders , deployed to
New Caledonia July 17,42 for the Attack on Guadalcanal.
Mike

Re: NEED INFO ON B-17'S FLYING RECON MISSIONS DURING MIDWAY FROM HICKAM FIELD
 

Mike,

At least some of those 303rd BG B-17's flew patrol/recon missions from late May of '42 until June 15, 1942 from Hickam Field in Hawaii. See MACR 16123. I am looking for any details/info on the activities/patrol areas of those B-17s (specifically the crew piloted by Lt William Raper) from late May 42 until they were forced to ditch in the Pacific on June 15, 1942.

Thanks,

Art Catle