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29th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)

The 29th Bombardment Sqaudron operated during World War II as part of the Sixth Air Force in the Carribean Theater. It flew B-24 Liberator bombwers on anti-submarine patrols to protect the Panama Canal.

On 2 January 1943 the Commanding Officer of Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Arizona unofficially activated by a Verbal Order nine flight crews for possible overseas assignment. On 1 March 1943, Special order #60 created the squadron officially and designated it as Squadron ‘X’.

The personnel of the squadron were, up to that date, part of the 60th Bombardment Squadron, a First Phase Training Unit. The three crews of the 60th had been "static", acting as training personnel, while the other six crews had just completed Third Phase Training. All nine crews had been checked out in the B-24 "Liberator".

Captain Richard W. Kline became Commanding Officer of the squadron that departed from Davis-Monthan Field on 3 March 1943 and arrived at Camp Harahan, New Orleans on 6 March 1943.

The entire squadron remained at Camp Harahan until 13 March 1943. The time was spent in physical training and preparing squadron and personal equipment for overseas shipment.

On 3 March 1943 the "Advance Party", consisting of four officers and S/Sgt. Melvin Naron proceeded to the U.S.Army Transport "John Clemm", where arrangements were made for the quartering and feeding of the squadron while at sea. The balance of the squadron embarked at Chalmette Slip, Jackson Barracks Area, on 22 March 1943.

Twelve days later, on 3 April 1943, at about 1500 hours, the transport passed through the Submarine Net guarding the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. The squadron disembarked at Colon, Canal Zone, and traveled across the Isthmus by train to Howard Field. After lunch the squadron went on to Anton, R. de P. where it became part of the 29th Bombardment Squadron. On 12 April 1943 the flight crews were detached and sent to Rio Hato Air Base for OT and RU training. This training would later prove to be of great value for the unit as a Patrol Squadron. On 12 May 1943, pursuant to Secret Movement Order #3, Annex "All, VI Bomber Command, VI Air Force, the entire squadron , excepting three full combat crews, proceeded to Balboa, Canal Zone where they embarked on the U.S. Army Transport "Frederick C. Johnson" and headed for the Galapagos Islands. The three flight crews of Capt. Carver, Lt. Lange and Lt. Hansen flew to the "Rock" in B24D’s on 13 May 1943. The transport arrived at Seymour Bay, Galapagos Islands on 15 Hay 1943. This was to be the squadron’s first permanent station while in the 6th Air Force. On 14 May.1943 a new phase began for the squadron when Capt. Carver and his navigator joined Capt. P.A.Koening for an eight hour patrol over the Pacific. These were the first two officers of the 29th Squadron to participate in a patrol. Capt. Koening was from the 45 B.S.

Starting on 16 May 1943, the 29th Bomb Squadron officers flew patrols carrying enlisted crew members from the 45th Bombardment Squadron. The -first date the 29th took over all patrols with only their own combat crews aboard was on 23 May 1943. Capt. Carver, Capt. Bailey, Lt. Lange and Lt. Knight commanded the first four official patrols. These patrols were flown from the Galapagos Islands to Guatemala City and back. The 74th Bomb Squadron, stationed in Guatemala City would fly alternate routes with the 29th, each staying at the other’s base overnight.

On 8 June 1943, Maj. Harvey Hogan relieved Capt. Kline as Commanding officer of the 29th. Maj. Hogan, formerly a A-20 .pilot quickly adapted himself to heavy bombardment and the B-24s. Capt. Kline remained with the squadron as A-3 until he was transferred to VI Bomber Command at a latter date.

On 8 July 1943, three planes and crews under the command of Capt. Bailey, Capt. Carver and Lt. Hansen were sent to Vernon Field, Jamaica. The purpose of this trip was to shadow the U.S. Aircraft Carrier Yorktown and its escort of three destroyers. Recent enemy submarine activity in the area prompted this action for the protection of the ships. The ships were en-route to the Canal. The first plane contacting the ships was commanded by Capt. carver and remained in the air for nine hours until relieved by Capt. Bailey. The three aircraft returned to Guatemala City on 11 July 1943.

On 24 July 1943 the Navy Squadron V.P.206 took over all combat patrols initiating from "Beta" (The Rock). The 29th took over the patrol duties on 25 August 1943 when the Navy was ordered to the Atlantic side.

On 1 August 1943 , the squadron began taking the B-24s to Albrook Field for a re-modification of the stabilizer and completion of many T.O. requirements. Each plane required about three weeks in the Zone for these modifications. Both officers and enlisted men participated in helping the people at the Panama Air Depot and gained valuable experience and knowledge about the aircraft. This work was completed in about six weeks.

On 26 September 1943 the Air Medal was awarded to all crew members who had flown a total of at least 200 hours of combat patrol time. The award was based on meritorious achievement while participating in long range patrol flights over the Pacific and Caribbean approaches to the Panama Canal.

On 25 August 1943 Lt. Hansen and his crew left the Rock for San Antonio, Texas. The purpose of this trip was to have the latest and most up to date radar equipment installed in the aircraft. The average time for this installation was about 30 days and all of the squadron aircraft were equipped by 19 January 1944.

The first fatal crash involving a 29th Bomb Squadron aircraft happened on 15 October 1943. A Navy B-24D was reported as overdue on a flight in the area of Cocos Island on Oct. 14, 1943. The next day three B-24s from the 29th were ordered-to the area to search for the missing plane. B-24 # 41-23799 was sent directly to Cocos Island, it’s specific mission being to survey the island for the possible crash of the missing PBY. At 1550 G.C.T., 15 October 1943 information was received that the B-24D was down at sea, had been located, and was being shadowed. During the search B-24 #799 was not heard from after reporting in at 1500 G.C.T. A search was initiated on 16 October 1943 at 1230 G.C.T. using three Navy PBMs and two B-24s. A life raft was sighted by one of. the PBMs and also by a 29th B-24. No one was aboard the raft. There were as many as seventeen heavy bombers from various squadrons involved in the search.

On 21 October 1943 the 29th was ordered to resume their normal patrol missions and leave the search activities to the Navy. On 23 October 1943, at 1500 G.C.T., Lt. W.R. Knight while on patrol deviated from his course to scan Cocos Island which had been "closed in" during the time of the search by the B-24s. Visibility was unlimited, and on passing over the island, wreckage was sighted, located near the crest of the highest peak on the west side of the island. The wreckage was about 100 feet below the crest of a spur ridge. VI B.C. was notified of the crash position. On 2 November 1943, after nine days of hard work, a ground rescue party reached the site of the crash. All crew members were killed in the crash. The crew consisted of the following men:

1st. Lt. Lester R. Ackeberg Pilot 2nd. Lt. Robert E. Moore Co-Pilot 2nd. Lt. Owen F. Camp Bombardier 2nd. Lt. Charles J. Sweeney Navigator T/Sgt. Francis X. Thanner Jr. S/Sgt. Richard E. French Sgt. Glen F. Day Sgt. James C. Plemons Sgt. Herman E. Sherdon Cpl. Edward A. Kostrzewa The entire crew of the downed B-24 were posthumously awarded the Soldiers Medal for their actions in searching for the downed PBY.

About once a month a "C.P.X." had been called by the VI Bomber Command. These exercises, under full alert status, simulated actual combat interception problems. An alert was usually called for all bomber squadrons in the area. This involved interception by patrolling planes of friendly carriers or cruisers on their way to the Canal. As an example of such a mission, the following took place: On 22 November 1943, the 29th B.S. was fully alerted at 2020 G.C.T. A carrier was intercepted at 02-30’ south and 82-10’ west on a course of 360 degrees at 15 knots. Five B-24s from the squadron took off and landed at Salinas, Ecuador, the same evening, most of the mission being a night formation flight. 1st Lt. Roy H. Crow. squadron navigator, led the flight throughout the three-day period. The five B-24s under Maj. Harvey Hogan spent 23 Nov. 1943 making simulated bombing runs on various ships in the group of Navy vessels.

On the afternoon of 24 November 1943 twelve planes of the squadron under the command of Maj. Hogan were again on a mission to find U.S. Navy ships in the area and make simulated attacks against them. The weather grew worse and they were ordered to David. The squadron was then ordered to Rio Hato and were briefed on information of enemy submarines on the Atlantic side which were responsible for sinking ships that day. Search patterns were laid out to be flown the following day, November 25, Thanksgiving Day to seal all attempts of the submarines to escape the area. During the briefing, Lt. Sumnicht appeared with his crew and made the following announcement: They were on their one-ship search of the sinkings and damaged an enemy submarine at 11 10’N, 79 10’W. Lt. Arnold, the bombardier, said they had suddenly broken through a cloud layer to discover a surfaced submarine below them. It was dusk, and evidently the sub .commander had felt safe in surfacing. The sub immediately began to dive, and so did the B-24. Unfortunately the bomb bay doors would not open on the first run. The plane circled, (by this time the sub was just going under the surface) and dropped a pattern of six, six-hundred-fifty pound depth charges in front of the wake. Though not claiming to have sunk the U-boat, Lt. Sumnicht and Arnold stated that it must have certainly suffered damage. For the next few days all tracks of the search area were flown without a sign of the sub or further attacks.