12 Nov 306th BG Website

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The 306th Bomb Group (Heavy) official website

When my son Johnny and I attended the 306th BG reunion in Savannah last month we were privileged to meet Dr. Vernon L. Williams, one of the directors of the Bomb Group’s Historical Association.  Our earlier introduction to Dr. Williams, a couple years ago, was when we watched his documentary films about Thurleigh, the East Anglia home of the 306th BG during World War II.

We soon learned that he is also the editor of the 306th Echoes newsletter and webmaster of the 306th Bomb Group official website, www.306bg.us.  When he’s not working on the 306th Dr. Williams is on the faculty of Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas and is Director of the East Anglia Air War Archives. Not only that he travels to Africa two or three times each year to work for the construction of homes for orphaned children. Whew!

On the first day of the conference, Dr. Williams went over all the changes being made to the 306th official website. The goal is that it will be an invaluable resource for historians. It has been for me already!  I want to stress that this has been a labor of love by Dr. Williams and his ACU interns.  It is an ongoing project, and we have seen significant progress this year!  Some of the highlights:

Archives
  • Aircraft Records
  • Mission Reports – 1942 but other years are coming
  • Squadron Diaries – for years I have wanted the 368th BS Combat Diary. Now I have it!  There are also diaries for the 367th, the 369th and the 423rd Bombardment Squadrons.

On 6 July 1944 Princess Elizabeth, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Jimmy Doolittle at Thurleigh Airfield – from the 306th BG website collection.

Photo Albums – There is a treasure trove here including photos of the visit of King George VI and Princess Elizabeth and the B-17 “Rose of York.”

 
Videos – clips on Thurleigh and the surrounding area.
 
An extraordinary tribute to the memory of the airmen who flew from Thurleigh and all over the surrounding area.  It’s the only museum of its kind.
 
Echoes – the quarterly newsletter of the 306th BG Association. Most of the issues are available online including some of the earliest ones. These are being added gradually as they are retrieved and scanned.

I know I can speak for all of us who are in any way associated with the 306th BG family when I say a huge Thank You to Dr. Williams for all your hard work on our behalf!

If you are on Facebook please join our Group “306th Bomb Group – First Over Germany.”

Google

 

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4 Comments
  • Charlotte Brown
    Posted at 22:06h, 12 June

    My half brother was in the 368th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group. I believe he was tail gunner. His name was Donald C. Brower. I was wondering if anyone might have some info on him. He married an English girl who was in the WAF. I do have a picture of him in uniform.

    Thank you

  • Pat DiGeorge
    Posted at 08:12h, 14 June

    Charlotte, I encourage you to join our group on Facebook group 306th Bomb Group-First over Germany. We have a lot of active contributors. Post your Dad’s photo there.

  • Richard Marquez
    Posted at 15:09h, 03 October

    My uncle TSgt Porfirio J Marquez was the radio operator on the Rose of York’s fatal last flight and trying to research any information for a scrap book I’m making about his service in the war.

  • Pat DiGeorge
    Posted at 10:10h, 05 October

    Richard, please join our Facebook group 306th Bomb Group – First over Germany. I promise you’ll find a lot of information.

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