United States. Army Air Forces. Bomb Group, 449th

Scope and Contents

This collection includes photographs and documents pertaining to aerial operations over Europe during World War II. Lt. Herman Simler flew over 30 bombing missions over Europe during his service. The squadrons specified in this collection are the 8th Army Air Force, the 15th Army Air Force, and the 716th-719th bomber squadrons.

Scope and Contents This collection includes primarily the personal papers of U.S. Army Air Corps T/Sgt. Jack B. Newman, 717th Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group, from his time as a prisoner of war in Krems, Austria during World War II. A diary, provided by the American YMCA, contains artwork, poetry, and other writings from Newman's time in the camp. Letters received by family members and friends are also included, as well as miscellaneous loose pages found within the diary. The story of how the B-24 bomber, "Thunder Bay Babe," upon which he served as a radio operator, was hit by flak and shot down is located in multiple folders within the collection. Correspondence between Peter G....

Content Description

This collection relates to Technical Sergeant Frank Watkins, who served with the 449th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force, in Italy during World War II. The B-24 bomber on which Watkins was a crew was shot down over Regensburg, Germany. Watkins was captured and spent than 15 months as a prisoner of war. This collection includes mostly personal letters written to an aunt (1944-1946), from his time as a POW through his repatriation.