95th Bombardment Wing

2ND AIR DIVISION MEMORIAL HISTORY
95TH COMBAT BOMBARDMENT WING (H)

1. Wing Commanders:
Major Albert W. Osbourn 8 Jan 1944 to 15 Jan 1944
Col. Milton K. Lockwood 15 Jan 1944 to 26 Jan 1944
Col. John K. Diehl, Jr. 26 Jan 1944 to 1 Apr 1944
Col. Fred R. Dent, Jr. 1 Apr 1944 to 30 Jun 1944
Col. Irvine A. Rendenle 30 Jun 1944 to 14 Aug 1944
Col. Fred R. Dent, Jr. 14 Aug 1944 to 19 Aug 1944

2. Narrative:
1. The 95th Combat Bombardment Wing was activated by authority contained in Section 1, General Orders 220, VIII Bomber Command, dated
11 December 1943. Though activated, the Wing existed only on paper until 1 April 1944, when Colonel Fred R. Dent, Jr., assumed command. In
accordance with letter dated 5 May 1944, Hq.,VIII Air Force, the Wing Headquarters, AAF Station 365, was located near Halesworth, Suffolk
County, England. Up until this time, Halesworth had been the home of the famous 56th Fighter (P-47, Mustang) Group. Key personnel for the wing
were assigned and transferred from other wings and groups in the 2nd Bomber Division, while the remainder of the men were drawn from Casual
Pools. Indoctrination courses for the two groups (the 489th and 491st) making up the wing were begun on 3 May and 12 May 1944, respectively
lasting for periods of five days. On 3 June 1944, the last class in ground training was completed. 140 crews had been “indoctrinated” within thirtyone days.

2. Air training was already underway and on 20 May 1944 Hq., 95th
Combat Bomb wing put out its first practice mission. During this precombat
training, every effort was made to simulate actual operational
situations in planning, preparing, briefing and flying of missions. The
training period was not without tragedy, for on the 29 May 1944, two
Liberators of the Wing collided and all crewmen in both aircraft were killed.

3. By 30 May 1944 the 95th Combat Bombardment Wing was ready for operations and was briefed to attack the airdrome at Oldenburg, Germany. This first Combat Mission of the 95th Combat Bomb Wing was flown in collaboration with the 20th Combat Bomb Wing, with bombing results creditable. 2 June 1944 marked the first mission on which the 95th Combat Bomb wing operated as an individual formation attacking the airdrome of Bretigny, France.

4. In all, the 95th Combat Bombardment Wing flew 65 combat missions in the period 30 May 1944 to 19 August 1944. During this period the Wing dropped 8,491 tons of bombs and was officially credited with destroying 7 German planes.

5. Missions flown by Campaigns:

No. of
Dates Missions
Air Offensive Europe 4 July ’42 - 5 June ’44 5
Normandy Campaign 6 June ’44 - 24 July ’44 44
Norther France Campaign 25 July ’44 -19 Aug ‘44 16
German Campaign -------- -------

95TH COMBAT BOMB WING (H)

The 95th Combat Bomb Wing (H) was activated 11 December 1943.

It was not until 5 May 1944, when it was assigned the base at Halesworth in Suffolk, that combat personnel joined it.
During its combat career it was under the commands of the following officers:
Colonel Frederic R. Dent, Jr. 1 April 1944 - 30 June 1944, 14 August 1944 - 19 August 1944
Colonel Irvine A. Randle 30 June 1944 - 19 August 1944

The first mission was flown on 30 May 1944 and its final one on 19 August 1944. During this period its two Groups flew 65 combat missions, dropping 8,491 tons of bombs on enemy installations in German-occupied Europe.

Its units participated in the following campaigns before their transfer to other Wings when the 95th Combat Bomb Wing (H) become
inoperational in August 1944.

Air Offensive Europe 30 May 1944 - 5 June 1944
Normandy 6 June 1944 - 24 July 1944
Northern France 25 July 1944 - 19 August 1944

During its operational period the following Groups were under its command:
489th Bombardment Group (H) at Halesworth, Suffolk
491st Bombardment Group (H) at Metfield, Suffolk