I am looking for info on the 501st bomb gp 485th sqdr.  from my grandfathers report of separation, it says he was a member.  all we know about him is he was a belly gunner in the south pacific i think.  i don't even know what kind of plane he was even on.i'm lost, if there is any one who could help, i would greatly appreciate it.  my grandfathers name was sgt. cecil agers.  thanks, robert hudgins

I have found Cpl Cecil W Ager (possibly a mispelling) in the 315th Bomb Wing Association book, as a member of the 485th Bomb Squadron, 501st Bomb Group.  Unfortunately, I can't find anything more referencing him.

This wing/group/squadron flew B-29s and did not have a belly gunner.  Perhaps if your grandfather had referenced experience as a belly gunner, this was during his gunners training.  The B-29s flown by the 315th Bomb Wing were only equipped with a tail gun.
 
Click on the link in my sig block below for a webpage relating to the 315th Bomb Wing.  There are sub links for each of the four bomb groups in the wing.

Larry
SMSgt, USAF Retired

http://www.315bw.org

larry,
thanks for your response.  i have a few questions.  1.  would this be the twentieth airforce.  2.the book that you got this out of, would it still be in print.
3.  on papers received from uncle sam, one page says he got this ribbon with a bronze star and the other says he got this ribbon with a battle star.  are they one in the same.  and last, the nose art that comes up on your website, would that have been on his airplane if he was even on one.  thanks robert

Robert,
 
I have some lineage info on the 501st BG and 485 BS on my website.  Yes, these were 20th AF units.  As for the "nose art" on Larry's site, if you're referring to the page on the 485th BS, that's the unit's insignia, not the noseart for an individual aircraft.  Some units did put their insignia on their a/c as noseart.  Larry may be able to answer this re. the 485th's aircraft.
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

Robert...The aircraft that flew in the Pacific with a ball turret had to be the B-24....there were several Bomb Groups in the Pacific that operated with the B-24.
 
5th AAF....19th, 22nd,43rd, 90th, 380th. ( Phillipines,Autralia, and througout western Pacific)
7th AAF......11th,  30th, 494th  (Hawaiian, altho throughout central, and western Pacific)
10th AAF....7th,  (China-Burma-India)
13th AAF....5th,11th,307th, & 868th Bomb Squadron (From Solomons to Philippines south and southwest Pacific)
14th AAF....308th (Operated in China-Burma-India, but mostly in China)
 
20th AF had only B-29s and escort fighters assigned.
 
It is possible that there was a mistake on his paperwork...but then again, he may be referring to his training on the B-24.
 
Please try to post as much information as you have available...are there any old letters from overseas with his return address...the Bomb Group and Squadron will be there.
 
We are here to assist you, however, we need as much information as you can have available.
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

jim,
thanks for your reply.  all that i know about his military career is that he was in the 501st bomb group 485 squadron.  i know that he was in the air offensive japan and the eastern mandates.  his military occupational specialty and no was special vehicle 932.  all of this info i am getting of off the report of separation.  robert

Robert - Jim P,
The 20th AF did Operate B - 24s.
In 1/45 the 55th Recon Long Range Weather Squadron
was assigned to 20th AF.
Operated B - 24 L & M Models
Mike
 

Mike...I will have to take your word for it, as Maurer does not show a 55th Weather Recon Squadron.
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

Jim,

It was constituted as the 655th Bombardment Sq, Reconnaissance, which I don't believe is in Maurer either.  I've got some info on my site at http://www.cbi-history.com/part_ic.html#504.

Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

Thanks Gary....I have marked your website in my favorites....it truly is a work of art, and an excellent reference.
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

ORIGINAL: soulwinner

 1.  would this be the twentieth airforce.
 2.the book that you got this out of, would it still be in print.
3.  on papers received from uncle sam, one page says he got this ribbon with a bronze star and the other says he got this ribbon with a battle star.  are they one in the same. 
 and last, the nose art that comes up on your website, would that have been on his airplane if he was even on one.

 
1.  As Gary indicated, yes it was the 20th Air Force.
 
2.  No, the book is no longer in print. 
 
3.  I can't really answer this question without knowing which of the ribbons (or medals) you are referring to.  The stars would look the same, but I believe that a battle star was what was awarded with a campaign ribbon and a bronze star device (not to be confused with the Bronze Star Medal) authorized as an additional award of a previously awarded medal.  For instance, if he received an Air Medal, a second award of the same medal would be indicated by a bronze star device.
 
Lastly, as Gary also indicated, if you are referring to the bird on the bomb looking at a radar scope, that was the unit insignia, not nose art.

Larry
SMSgt, USAF Retired

http://www.315bw.org

Jim,
 
You're embarrassing me!    Thanx for the kind words.  You guys (the vets) are the best.  I (son of a vet) am just riding your coat tails.
 
Larry,
 
Have you seen (or looked for) the book on eBay or abebooks or any of the other used book sites?  I haven't yet - just curious if you knew of a source.
 
Robert,
 
I'd guess that he received a BRONZE star.  Out of curiousity, if you have a way to scan those 2 pages (showing Bronze and Battle stars) and posting them, it'd be helpful.  At a minimum, there should be form numbers at the bottom of the pages.  Could you provide those form numbers if not the actual scans?  Thanx!
 
Gary

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/

Jim P-
The 55th LRWRS was attached to XXI Bomber Command.
Flight A - Guam
Flight B - Iwo Jima
Flight C - Okinawa
Photos and Info in Books:
Twentieth Air Force Strory - Kenn Rust
Log of the Liberators - Steve Birdsall
Mike

The book is titled "A New Chapter in Air Power" edited by George Harrington and William Leasure.  I have seen copies available at a couple of on line booksellers.  Prices ranged from $150-$175.  There is no ISBN number.  It seems to have been created and published for members of the 315th Bomb Wing Association.  The company that produced it is:
 
Monarch Systems
P.O. Box 3103
Mansfield, Ohio 44904

Larry
SMSgt, USAF Retired

http://www.315bw.org

Hello from France,
 
I search for bombers who have my name in nose-art. I found a B-17G and a B-29B
 
I'm looking for information on this B-29B serial 42-63749 “BELLE OF MARTINEZ “ 501BG – 485BS.
 
If anyone can help me ?
 
Sincerely,
Thierry Martinez (France)