The 307th Bombardment Group

Note from Pat Ranfranz: I'm in the process of moving the content on this page to the new 307th Bomb Group web site at www.307bg.org.. The new 307th Bomb Group web site will host all 307th related content and I'll keep this site (my Missing Air Crew Project) focused on items that relate to my uncle's loss and the other American planes and men lost over Yap.

Please share your 307th BG stories, documents, and pictures: Your legacy should not be lost in an attic, or stored in a garage, where it may later be disposed of as trash. Ask your children, your grand-children and even your great grand-children to participate in this effort to preserve your history. Please submit 307th Bomb Group information and pictures to: Patrick Ranfranz, 3165 Victoria St, Shoreview, MN 55126 or email: pat@missingaircrew.com . Documents and photos will be returned on request.

307th Bombardment Group History Constituted as 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Apr 1942. Trained and flew patrols off the west coast, first in B-17's and later in B-24's. Moved to Hawaii, Oct-Nov 1942, and assigned to Seventh AF. Trained and flew patrol and search missions. Attacked Wake Island, Dec 1942-Jan 1943, by staging through Midway. Moved to Guadalcanal in Feb 1943 and assigned to Thirteenth AF. Served in combat, primarily in the South and Southwest Pacific, until the war ended. Attacked Japanese airfields, installations, and shipping in the Solomons and Bismarcks. Helped to neutralize enemy bases on Yap and in the Truk and Palau Islands. Received a DUC for an unescorted, daylight attack on heavily defended airfields in the Truk Islands on 29 Mar 1944. Supported operations in the Philippines by striking Japanese shipping in the southern Philippines and by bombing airfields on Leyte, Luzon, Negros, Ceram, and Halmahera. Also took part in Allied air operations against the Netherlands Indies by hitting airfields, shipping, and installations. Received a DUC for an unescorted mission against vital oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo, on 3 Oct 1944. Supported Australian forces on Borneo and bombed targets in French Indochina during the last three months of the war. Flew patrol missions along the Asiatic mainland and ferried liberated prisoners from Okinawa to Manila after V-J Day. Returned to the US, Dec 1945-Jan 1946. Inactivated on 18 Jan 1946. Overview source: ArmyAirForce.com

Submit comments about this site

Web Site Terms of Use: This web site authorizes you to view materials solely for your personal, non-commercial use. You may not sell or modify the material or reproduce, display, distribute, or otherwise use the material in any way for any public or commercial purpose without the written permission of the web site owner. pat@missingaircrew.com