My PDF File on Darwin Ritchey - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Kathy Johnson translated log book with B-24 ship number information
The 15th Air Force was formed in November 1943 for the purpose of using southern Italy as a base of operations for a strategic air force,
equipped with long-range, heavy bombers, capable of reaching targets in central and eastern Europe that lay beyond the range of the 8th
Air Force operating from bases in England.
15th Air Force contained 21, heavy-bombardment groups organized into five wings.
the 5th, 47th, 49th, 55th, and 304th
The 5th Wing consisted of six, heavy-bombardment groups: the 2nd, BG, 97th BG, 99th BG, 301st BG, 463rd BG and the 483rd BG
The 47th Wing consisted of four, heavy-bombardment groups: the 98th BG, the 376th BG, the 449th BG and the 450th BG.
The 49th Wing
consisted of three, heavy-bombardment groups:
the 451st BG, 461st and the 484th BG
The 55th Wing consisted of four, heavy-bombardment groups: the 460th BG, 464th BG, 465th BG and the 485th BG
The 304th Wing consisted of four, heavy-bombardment groups: the 454th BG, the 455th BG, the 456th BG and the 459th BG.
The 449th Bomb Group was composed of four Squadrons -- the 716th, 717th, 718th, and 719th
The 459th Bomb Group was composed of four Squadrons – the 756th, 757th, 758th, 759th.
Tail Marking of the 758th
