46th Bomb Sqn in 1942 (Muroc, Hammer Field, Alameda NAS)
Tue Jan 10, 2023 5:15 pm
Does anyone have information on the 46th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) during 1942?
I am researching a crew which, fresh out of training, would have joined the squadron in early 1942 (Robert L. Williams, the pilot, finished his Advanced Flying Training at Kelly Field in November 1941). I would like to find the date that they joined the 46th and any information on the antisubmarine sorties over the Pacific Ocean that they would have participated in. During 1942 the squadron was based at Muroc Bombing Range, Hammer Field and Alameda and Cherry Point Naval Air Stations.
The crew members were:
Robert L. Williams (pilot)
Joseph W. Hanley (copilot)
Milton L. Remling (navigator)
Charles R. Teer (bombardier)
Glen O. Wichner (1st radio operator)
James P. Beggs (2nd radio operator)
Jesse A. Wallace (1st engineer)
Major T. Callahan (2nd engineer)
Vincent L. Stuart (radar operator)
Eddie P. Rush (tail gunner)
The 46th BS became the 22nd Antisubmarine Squadron and, from Cherry Point and Bluethenthal, hunted U-boats in the Western Atlantic. This is probably where the attached photo of the crew was taken (source: Roy Tebbutt, Carpetbagger Aviation Museum). In August 1943 the squadron moved to Dunkeswell, England to attack the enemy in the Bay of Biscay. After antisubmarine work was handed over to the Navy in October 1943, the 22nd was disbanded. Many of the flight crews, including that of Williams, were transferred to the 36th BS of the 482nd BG at Alconbury, England. This squadron had just been formed by the Office of Strategic Services (later, the CIA) to clandestinely drop agents and equipment by night into enemy-occupied France. Unfortunately, Williams and his crew were killed during a navigation exercise on December 27th 1943 when their recently-modified B-24D flew into high ground on Dartmoor, England, near where I used to live.
I am researching a crew which, fresh out of training, would have joined the squadron in early 1942 (Robert L. Williams, the pilot, finished his Advanced Flying Training at Kelly Field in November 1941). I would like to find the date that they joined the 46th and any information on the antisubmarine sorties over the Pacific Ocean that they would have participated in. During 1942 the squadron was based at Muroc Bombing Range, Hammer Field and Alameda and Cherry Point Naval Air Stations.
The crew members were:
Robert L. Williams (pilot)
Joseph W. Hanley (copilot)
Milton L. Remling (navigator)
Charles R. Teer (bombardier)
Glen O. Wichner (1st radio operator)
James P. Beggs (2nd radio operator)
Jesse A. Wallace (1st engineer)
Major T. Callahan (2nd engineer)
Vincent L. Stuart (radar operator)
Eddie P. Rush (tail gunner)
The 46th BS became the 22nd Antisubmarine Squadron and, from Cherry Point and Bluethenthal, hunted U-boats in the Western Atlantic. This is probably where the attached photo of the crew was taken (source: Roy Tebbutt, Carpetbagger Aviation Museum). In August 1943 the squadron moved to Dunkeswell, England to attack the enemy in the Bay of Biscay. After antisubmarine work was handed over to the Navy in October 1943, the 22nd was disbanded. Many of the flight crews, including that of Williams, were transferred to the 36th BS of the 482nd BG at Alconbury, England. This squadron had just been formed by the Office of Strategic Services (later, the CIA) to clandestinely drop agents and equipment by night into enemy-occupied France. Unfortunately, Williams and his crew were killed during a navigation exercise on December 27th 1943 when their recently-modified B-24D flew into high ground on Dartmoor, England, near where I used to live.
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