Hello Everyone,
I have been researching the veterans from my home town of Leicester, MA. who died in service during WW II. One of these men is Sgt. George J. Poirier Jr., 30BS 19BG. He was KIA on June 10, 1945 when his aircraft was shot down 15 miles off the coast of Japan south of Tokyo, MACR 14614. He was a gunner in the Capt. Odell Woods crew. They arrived in Guam around April 1945. Sgt. Poirier was drafted and entered service on November 10, 1943. In August 1944 he was based at McCook Field, Lincoln, NE. In October 1944 his mailing address was as follows.

Provisional Aircrew, T Det., Squadron A-5, Cochran Field, Macon, GA.

Based on this address does anyone know what type of training he received at Cochran Field? I know Cochran Field was a pilot training base. So what type of training could he have received here?

Thank you,
Patrick

Patrick,
 
I may be able to fill in a few details about Sgt. Poirier. When he was assigned to McCook Army Airfield (in McCook, Nebraska, not Lincoln) he was likely a member of the 9th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). The reference to Lincoln may refer to high-altitude training. Sixteen crews were surplused from the 9th and sent to Pyote AAF, Texas in September of '44 due to a shortage of B-29s at McCook and a change in Group organization manning tables. Cochran was located very near to Warner-Robbins, and I believe that Sgt. Poirier and his crewmates may have been assigned to Cochrane while awaiting further assignment. Warner-Robbins was a Second Air Force station as were all b-29 Phase Training Bases. The assignment to the 19th would have been made when facilities were available for proper training of the entire Group.
 
Hope this helps,
Scott

Thank you Scott,
Where did you get that information from? Was there other training done at Lincoln, NE.? I know McCook Field was not very far from Lincoln and the photo I have of Sgt. Poirier was taken in Lincoln. He is wearing a leather flight jacket with his aerial gunner wings attached. I received the photo from his youngest sister with whom I have been in contact with. She was in high school when he was KIA. I have given her all the information I have found on her brother, MACR, enlistment records, memorials where his name appears, etc. Any further information I can find on what he was doing and where would be welcome.

Patrick

Patrick,
 
Glad to help in any way I can. The information I have came primarily from the Official Base History of McCook AAF and the 9th Bomb Group History book published after the war. I'm currently working towards publishing a book on all Nebraska air fields, and I've been to Maxwell several times researching them.
 
As to the distance between McCook and Lincoln, it is 240 miles between the two, but men were often sent to Lincoln for specialized courses and high-altitude work. Lincoln also served as a crew assembly station for a short time and this may have been why Sgt. Poirier was there.
 
As to Cochrane Field, I can't put my hands on any paperwork supporting my belief, but I have seen something in print that referred to Warner Robbins sending surplus men to other fields, Cochrane being one, until they could be processed at Warner Robbins.
 
I'll be working out at AFHRA in the early spring and will try to find more if I can.
 
Happy New Year!
Scott