Bomb Group DI ID needed: Power for Peace

[Timberwolf]

Hi All,

 

Recently received this DI attached to a cap of a uniform I recently purchased. The motto seems to be for the 321st BG which served with the 12th AF, but my uniform is to a 8th AAF guy. Was curious to see if I could get a definitive answer, can't find any record of the 321st BG using this DI. Back is Myer NY marked.

 

 

Thanks for any info!

 

-Ben

[jguy1986]

Ben, sorry if this muddies the proverbial waters, so to speak, but I just found this out there on the Interwebz:

 

 

29th Bombardment Group

 

Constituted as 29th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Equipped with B-17's and B-18's. Trained and took part in aerial reviews. Flew patrol missions in the Caribbean area, Dec 1941-Jun 1942. Equipped with B-24's in 1942. Functioned as an operational training and later as a replacement training unit. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944.

 

Redesignated 29th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Prepared for overseas duty with B-29's. Moved to Guam, Dec 1944-Feb 1945, and assigned to Twentieth AF. Flew its first mission against Japan with an attack on Tokyo on 25 Feb 1945. Conducted a number of missions against strategic targets in Japan, operating in daylight and at high altitude to bomb factories, refineries, and other objectives. Beginning in Mar 1945, carried out incendiary raids on area targets, flying at night and at low altitude to complete the assignments. S/Sgt Henry E Erwin was awarded the Medal of Honor for action that saved his B-29 during a mission over Koriyama, Japan, on 12 Apr 1945. When a phosphorus smoke bomb exploded in the launching chute and shot back into the plane, Sgt Erwin picked up the burning bomb, carried it to a window, and threw it out. During the Allied assault on Okinawa, the group bombed airfields from which the enemy was sending out suicide planes against the invasion force. Received a DUC for an attack on an airfield at Omura, Japan, on 31 Mar 1945. Received second DUC for strikes on the industrial area of Shizuoka, the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Tamashima, and the Chigusa arsenal at Nagoya, in Jun 1945. After the war, dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners and participated in several show-of-force missions over Japan. Inactivated on Guam on 20 May 1946.

 

Squadrons. 6th: 1940-944; 1944-1946. 43rd (formerly 29th) 1940-1944; 1944-1946. 52d: 1940-1944; 1944-1946. 411th: 1942-1944. 761st (later 9th Reconnaissance): 1945-1946.

 

Stations. Langley Field, Va, 1 Feb 1940; MacDill Field, Fla, 21 May 1940; Gowen Field, Idaho, 25 Jun 1942-1 Apr 1944. Pratt AAFld, Kan, 1 Apr-7 Dec 1944; North Field, Guam, 17 Jan 1945-20 May 1946.

 

Campaigns. Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Western Pacific.

 

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Japan, 31 Mar 1945; Japan, 19-26 Jun 1945.

 

Insigne. Shield: Azure, a drop bomb and lightning flash saltirewise or. Motto: Power For Peace. (Approved 14 Oct 1940.)

[Johnny Signor]

Correct ID and a nice find too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[manayunkman]

Reminds me of this patch 13th AF Long Rangers

[Timberwolf]

Thanks for the info guys! The guy enlisted in '39 so I'm wondering if he kept his cap and one of his kids stuff the pin to years ago.

[jguy1986]

Thanks for the info guys! The guy enlisted in '39 so I'm wondering if he kept his cap and one of his kids stuff the pin to years ago.

Quite possible. Of course there's always the chance he saw the DI and just liked the design. I know I read a story or two on here about vets saying that nobody checked to make sure their DI's were actually for the unit to which they were assigned, so they just wore whatever they wanted. I hope you can figure it out, Ben!