The 6th Bomb Group

This is NOT an official website of the 6th Bomb Group Association. The creators of that Association were dedicated members and spouses of members of the real 6th Bomb Group. If you are interested in joining the 6th Bomb Group Association, click to email Warren Higgins.

The 2011 Reunion is being held on Sep 8-11 at the Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island Hotel in sunny San Diego, California.  Details are in the June 2011 newsletter.  Here are some notes/reminders:

• Register with the Hilton by Aug 8 to receive a special room rate of $109 (plus tax) per night for single/double room or $209 (plus tax) for a suite.  Their phone number is (619) 291-6700.

• Send in your Registration Form and check ASAP to Glenda Richards.

• When you arrive, call the hotel at the number above and they will send a shuttle.

• Registration begins at 3pm on Thursday and the hospitality room opens at 5pm.

• Friday and Saturday are busy days with a city tour and a memorial service on Friday and a visit to the USS Midway and banquet on Saturday.

• Chaplain Jim Hays will conduct a Sunday morning service at 9am.

Veterans and families and friends of veterans are encouraged to attend.

This professionally produced DVD contains a pictorial record (over 450 photos) of the 6th Bomb Group.  The DVD covers the period from activation to the end of the war, including crew pictures, pictures of Tinian, The price is $30 (including shipping).  Make the checks payable to "6th Bomb Group Association" and mail your order to: WBW, Inc., 29277 Garrard Avenue, Frontenac, MN 55026.

The Association has arranged for a reprint of the Pirate's Log.  Even if you have the original, this book is a collector's item with higher resolution pictures and better paper stock than the original.  The price is $25 for members and $40 for non-members (the $40 includes a one-year membership).  Add $3 for shipping and handling (on multiple books, add $1 each).  Make the checks payable to "6th Bomb Group Association" and mail your order to: WBW, Inc., 29277 Garrard Avenue, Frontenac, MN 55026.

The 2011 Reunion was held on Sep 9-12 in Dayton, Ohio - the birthplace of aviation.

Oct 29-Nov 1, 2009 - Las Cruces, NM.  Took tours of the White Sands Missile Range, the Trinity bomb test site and the Farm and Ranch Museum along with several memorable meals, including lunch at the Owl Club and dinner at the Double Eagle Restaurant.  The Group was also honored by the citizens of San Antonio and of Las Cruces, who dedicated a monument honoring the 6BG.  John Creek, Jr. and his family once again outdid themselves by acting as hosts and handling the arrangements for the reunion, including many visits to AF security to obtain the necessary clearances for the trip to the Trinity bomb test site.

Oct 23-26, 2008 - Midland, TX.  Took a tour of "Fifi", the Petroleum Museum and enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Midland, including a Texas barbeque.  John Creek, Jr., who was  a resident of Midland, did an excellent job in making the arrangements.

2007 - Washington, DC.  Visited the Smithsonian and the "Enola Gay".

2006 - Wichita, KS.  The group unsuccessfully tried to take a tour of "Doc", but had a nice tour of the new Wichita Air Museum.

Apr 29-May 1, 2004 - Savannah, GA

Oct 04-07, 2002 - Nashville, TN.

I am slowly making additional changes to the website, including regular changes to the personnel list, as information becomes available.  Here are some of the bigger changes (with latest changes first):

Mar 2012

• Added picture of Plane #66 ditched off Iwo Jima.

Jan 2012

• Added pictures of "Battling Betty" and Crew.

Oct 2011

• Added reports of training incidents (bottom of page).

• Added "The Last Flight of Crew #3918", a narrative of their POW mission to China.

Sep 2011

• Added listing for Crews #2420, #2421, #2422, #2423, #2424.

Dec 2010

• Added link to "6th Bomb Group Gear" website of Steve Dananay, son of Sgt Milan E. Dananay (Right Gunner, "Blind Date/Lady's Delight", 24BS).

Sep 2010

• Added color pictures of "The Spirit of Sammy", "Snugglebunny", "Earthquake McGoon" and "Flak Alley Sally" taken by George E. Staley of the Smithsonian Institution.

Aug 2010

• Added picture of "Tinny Ann".

• Added picture of Crew #2402, (possibly) Crew #2413, and early picture of Crew #3914.

• Identified a few crew chiefs.

• Added discussion and picture of Grand Island plaque in training.

Mar 2010

• Added menu link to color pictures, including collection of 1/Lt 1/Lt Percy U. Tucker.

• Added many crew pictures from the "Historical Record of the 6th Bomb Group".

Jul 2009

• Added copy of April 2nd Order requiring removal of female nose art from aircraft.

• Added pictures of "Jolly Roger", "White Mistress", "Little Jeff" and "Holton's Hellions".

• Added page for "Battlin' Betty".

• Added page for Crew #40r2.

Jun 2009

• Added crew picture for Crew #2409.

Jan 2009

• Added crew picture for Crew #3908.

Dec 2008

• Added information for "The Cultured Vulture" and Crew #3918.

• Added pictures and information for "Snugglebunny" and Crews #3908 and #3908B.

Nov 2008

• Added pictures of "Grider Gal" and Plane 44.

• Adding a separate page for each air crew and moving pictures and information from the airplane pages.  Please feel free to submit material, pictures, anecdotes and to point out any errors.

Oct 2008

• Added additional information on take-off procedures and mission profiles based on information provided by Virgil Morgan.

• Added postwar picture of "Trigger Mortis".

Aug 2008

• Added picture of "Look Homeward Angel".

May 2008

• Added picture of Sgt Angel M. Ocasio to "In Memoriam".

November 2007

• Added more pictures of aircraft and crew for "El Pajaro de la Guerra".

• Added picture of "Patty Sue".

October 2007

• Added picture of crew of "Flak Alley Sally".

• Added picture of crew of "The Peacemaker".

September 2007

• Added pictures and names of plane and crew for Tokyo Trolley II.

May 2007

• Added picture of Christian Boehm's model to B-29 Models.

April 2007

• Added more information about the "Bataan Avenger".

• Revised description of B-29 page, separating page into several sub-pages and adding pictures of B-29 Construction.

• On Mission #5, added Capt Clay's description of how his B-29 gunners sank two enemy freighters.

March 2007

• On Air Crew Tasks, added color picture of typical air crew and replaced inaccurate cutaway view of aircraft.

• Added description of May 25th mission from Diary of Lt Don Kearney, Navigator on "Reamatroid"

• Added several pictures from collection of Terry Tucker Rhodes, daughter of 1/Lt Percy Tucker, including "B-29", "Rattle N' Roll", "Plane #58" (color), "Plane #61", "Little Giant", "In Memoriam" and "Training".

• Added better description of radar operator station.

February 2007

• Added color pictures of "Lady Annabelle" and corrected aircraft number to "63" (not "60").

December 2006

• Added "Those They Left Behind" to "In Memoriam".

• Added page for [Unknown] aircraft of Lt Bernard A. Casaurang

• Added information on Air Service Groups to "Organization" and "Links" page.

November 2006

• Added names and pictures of crew of "Trigger Mortis" and "Trigger Mortis II".

• Added David Wilhelm pictures to "Patricia Lynn", "Forever Amber", "Typical Mission", "In Memoriam", and "Ground Personnel".

• Added picture of Sgt Robert Beller to "In Memoriam".

October 2006

• Added link to The Northern Mariana Islands: WWII and Today.

• Added link to 509th Composite Group.

• Added picture of "Blind Date/Lady's Delight".

September 2006

• Added more pictures of "The Cultured Vulture" and "Flak Alley Sally".

• Added "Radar View of Aug 8 Mission to Yawata Steel Works".

August 2006

• Corrected information on Soldiers Medal and on Army Commendation Ribbon.

• Added information on Ground Crews

• Added information on upcoming 6th BG reunion (below).

July 2006

• Updated information on "Jake's Jernt" and "Here's Lucky".

June 2006

• Updated "Honors and Awards" page.

• Created new section on "Recreations" that includes restored B-29s, models and flight simulations.

• Links page updated to include reference to Project Tinian

May 2006

• Added pictures of "El Pajaro de la Guerra" and crew.

• Added picture to discussion of radarman.

• Added large topographic map of Tinian (bottom of Tinian page).

April 2006

• Corrected information on bomb bay tanks and added picture on B-29.

• Added picture of "Look Homeward Angel"

• Added new information regarding cause of losses on May 23-24 Mission.

• Added new information regarding crew of "Big Joe" and April 15 Mission.

• Added a new page discussing Japanese Air Defenses.

Mar 2006

• Added color picture of Crew #2404 at the officer's club at Mather AFB.

Feb 2006

• Added pictures for "Irish Lullaby" and "White Mistress".

This webpage is here only because a lot a people have been willing to share their experiences and pictures, or the experiences and pictures of their parents, spouse, in-laws, and even strangers who have helpful information to share. I am still missing the names of many of the planes and flight and ground crews. Please keep your pictures and stories coming!!!