V Bomber Command | 90th Bombardment Group (H) | 5th AAF CBI | Theater-made patches

1,132 · August 6, 2017

V Bomber Command | 90th Bombardment Group (H) | 5th AAF CBI

The Headquarters Squadron of the Fifth Bomber Command had its birth in Townsville, Australia on September 5, 1942. Facing the heavy task of getting several bombing groups as well as itself to coordinate, the Command naturally had its days of bewilderment and hectic preparation. The first offices were set up in an old four-story stone building just one block off Flinder's Street, the main thoroughfare of Townsville, a city of some 60,000 population. It was in this old building where Fifth Bomber Command came to life. Townsville is an important seaport far north on the Eastern coast of Australia. With a natural harbour and a fine large airport it provided a natural staging point and jumping-off location for New Guinea and other islands which were quickly being infiltrated by the Japanese. Had the Japanese landed in Australia's north country Townsville would have been the main point for American and Australian planes to stage their attacks. Fortunately their airplanes only came within a few miles north of the city early in July, 1942.

V Bomber Command

Theater made. Incised leather, hand painted.

I spent several days in Queensland, Australia and specifically Townsville, Cairns and the nearly rain forest, while on a Scuba vacation to the Great Barrier Reef. The map below illustrates the extent of the threat Australia faced.

Darwin, another interesting town I visited, was bombed during the war. The Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, on 19 February 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. On that day, 242 Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked the town, ships in Darwin's harbour and the town's two airfields in an attempt to prevent the Allies from using them as bases to contest the invasion of Timor and Java during World War II. More than half of Darwin's civilian population left the area permanently, during or immediately after the attack. The two Japanese air raids were the first, and largest, of more than 100 air raids against Australia during 1942–43.

Bob Hope was at Biak on 25 August 1944 putting on a special show for the Air Corps. He is seen in the "Jolly Rogers" staff car holding a captured Japanese flag presented to him.

Actress Carole Landis must've been a big hit with the men of the 90th Bomb Group. Carole is standing in front of the tail of B-24J, #44-40340, "Buck Benny Rides Again" at Hollandia in August 1944.

90th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

The 90th Bomb Group was initially assigned in 1942 to the Seventh Air Force. Later that year, assigned to V Bomber Command, Fifth Air Force and flew the B-24 Liberator in campaigns of the southwest Pacific. The four squadrons assigned to it during World War II were:

319 - "Asterperious"
320 - "Moby Dick"
321 - "Bombs Away"
400 - "The Black Pirates"

The Bomb Group's Jolly Roger skull and crossed bombs logo, used for each squadron distinguished by its assigned squadron color, reportedly was designed by the 90th Bomb Group's commander, Col. Arthur Rogers. The Group was known as the Jolly Rogers.

Theater made. Australian embroidered on wool. Blue - 319th BS; Red - 320th BS; Green - 321st BS and Black - 400th BS.