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380AEW Article

380th Bombardment Group veterans honored with presentation at Southwest Asia base

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Utilizing computer video teleconferencing technology, leaders of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing honored veterans of the 380th Bombardment Group of World War II during a special presentation May 12 at a non-disclosed base here.

Inside "Fenton's," an aptly named recreational area of the 380th AEW that earned its moniker from the 380th BMG's operating location in World War II of Fenton's Field, Australia, Lt. Col. Daryl Page led an effort recognizing the members of former Capt. Harvey Harrison's B-24 Liberator crew.

Bringing the idea together
Colonel Page, the 380th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander, worked with several other 380th AEW Airmen to complete the presentation -- a framed shadow box holding a photo of then 2nd Lt Robert Weaver, co-pilot on Captain Harrison's crew, the 380th BMG shield and a copy of a Distinguished Flying Cross citation earned by the B-24 crew.

Among those in the video conference were retired Lt. Col. Robert Weaver, , Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke, 12th Air Force vice commander at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., retired Chief Master Sgt. Michael T. Sullivan, former command chief for Air Force Space Command, and his wife Donna Sullivan.

"We dedicated a montage of memorabilia of Colonel Weaver and his crew from the 380th Bombardment Group days and placed it in our heritage room, which is called Fenton's," Colonel Page said. "As members of the 380th again serving in a foreign land in a time of conflict, we wanted to give back a little to the giants whose shoulders we stand upon."

According to Colonel Page, the connection between 380th's past and present for this presentation comes through Chief Sullivan's wife, Donna. She is the granddaughter of Colonel Weaver. Colonel Page said he, General Burke and Chief Sullivan were at one time all members of the same aircrew who flew numerous flights on the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft for air operations, including Operation Noble Eagle after Sept. 11, 2001 and Operation Crescent Guard in defense of Turkey.

Additionally, General Burke and Colonel Page are 380th AEW veterans. General Burke is a past 380th AEW commander and Colonel Page served as his director of staff. Colonel Page said he, General Burke and Chief Sullivan knew about Colonel Weaver's distinguished service well before the presentation, but only after Mrs. Sullivan did research on her grandfather's records did they realize the connection they all share.

"We've all have been serving togetherfor over 10 years since we were all stationed together in a NATO E-3 squadron in Europe," Colonel Page said. "When we put the connection together that Colonel Weaver was a former 380th member, and with me being a part of the 380th again, we decided a tribute to Colonel Weaver and his B-24 crew was appropriate for our heritage wall."

History behind the 380th BMG
Mr. Yancy Mailes, 380th AEW historian, said the wing has a storied past. "The history of the 380th dates back to Oct. 28, 1942, when the unit was first established," he said.

The 380th Bombardment Group was activated on Nov. 3, 1942, at Davis-Monthan AFB, where General Burke is currently stationed. Originally, the 380th BMG consisted of four bombardment squadrons, the 528th, 529th, 530th, and 531st, history shows. Shortly after being activated, the group moved to Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, where it underwent extensive combat training.

After completing training, the 380th BMG moved to Lowry Field, Denver, Colo., to undergo final combat training. In early May 1943, the group arrived in the Northern Territory of Australia and to Fenton Field. The 380th BMG was the only B-24 unit attached to the Royal Australian Air Force and was assigned to the Darwin area in the Northern Territory to secure Australia's safety against threatened Japanese invasion. Upon its arrival in Australia, the 380th BMG immediately began combat operations.

"It was during this period, during war operations, where Colonel Weaver and his crew earned their DFC," Mr. Mailes said.

Colonel Weaver's DFC citation, which is part of the display now in Fenton's, shows he and his B-24 crew earned their award on April 24, 1944.

"These officers flew in a formation of B-24s participating in a three-squadron attack against Kamiri Airstrip, which was covered with enemy airplanes," the citation reads. "Reducing their altitude to 4,000 feet, they placed their bombs with devastating accuracy in the dispersal area. The B-24s then proceeded to strafe the entire area, making four runs just above the ground in the face of accurate ground fire, which damaged several of them.

"When the vicious bombing and strafing attack was completed, the formation had destroyed 17 enemy aircraft and had set a number of fuel dumps and other installations afire," the citation states. "The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by these officers are worthy of highest commendation."

Making it happen
First Lt. Tony Duke, executive officer with the 380th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron and an AWACS air weapons officer, took the effort forward to get the shadow box honoring the 380th BMG prepared. He worked with Airmen in the wing, included the wing public affairs office, to get the shadow box ready.

Lieutenant Duke, who is deployed from Tinker AFB, Okla., said it was "very humbling" to be a part of the presentation.

"Due to advances in technology, many of us that are now in the 'flying world' are much more
separated from the fight," Lieutenant Duke said. "We don't find ourselves in harm's way as much now as those persons did. To be able to hear from individuals who were so close 'in the fight' makes you realize how lucky we are that they have paved the way for us, and yet they are so modest about their accomplishments. I wish we had more events like this that would allow us to converse with our heroes from the past."

During the presentation of the shadow box May 12, Colonel Weaver showed his thankfulness through the video teleconference but it was after it was done when he remarked at how special the occasion was.

"Thank you for such a wonderful tribute to the old 380th, the men who served and especially our crew," Colonel Weaver wrote in an e-mail to Colonel Page. "The ceremony was so impressive and my thoughts are the rest of my crew are not aware of the honor that they have received." Colonel Weaver vowed to pass on the word to other surviving crew members.

Colonel Page said he was proud to have been a part of recognizing 380th heritage and the people who have served under it for so many years and in so many operations.

"I had several folks who came to me afterwards and said that was one of the coolest things they'd ever seen," Colonel Page said. "We truly stand upon their shoulders, the shoulders of the 380th veterans and others. This is a great wing and like the shadow box inscription reads, we are 'still taking the fight to the enemy.'"

Today, the 380th AEW is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, air battle management and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.