 |
|
|
91st Bomb Group (Heavy) United States Army Air Corps
Memphis,
TN ,
USA
Latitude & Longitude:
35° 9' 3.99168",
-90° 3' 28.558908"
|
|
Tennessee State
Historical Marker
|
| |
| |
“The Memphis Belle” was the first of the many B-17s
assigned to the 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, and the first bomber to
complete 25 Missions In the European Theatre of Operation (ETO) during
World War II. It was retired from combat In 1943. The 91st was formed and
trained at Tampa, Florida, and Walla Walla, Washington, before departing in September 1942 for the ETO. Based at AF Station 121, Bassingbourn, England, and supported by 2,000 ground personnel, the 91st officers and enlisted airmen flew 9,591 B-17 combat sorties on 340 missions from 7 November 1942 thru 25 April 1945.
In the air battles for freedom, the 91st lost 197 B-17s and destroyed 420
of Adolf Hitler's German aircraft. Lost were 1010 combat crewmen (899
died and 111 missing in action); and over 960 crewmen became prisoners
of war. Two Distinguished Unit Citations were awarded the 91st for
missions on 4 March 1943 to Hamm, and 11 January 1944 to Oschersleben,
Germany. Another 91st B-17, “Nine-O-Nine,” completed a record 140
Missions by V.E. Day.
Last updated: 2/14/2015 15:17:00 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
91st Bomb Group (Heavy) United States Army Air Corps Historical Marker Location Map, Memphis, Tennessee Map
|
|
|
