USAAF Operations: The Carpetbaggers.

[swampyankee]

I'm interested in learning more about the USAAF "Carpetbaggers," mostly as one of my uncles flew with them (he was a copilot). I've wandered around Harrington Museum website (History of Harrington Airfield), but I'd like to know more than the website supplies.

Can anybody help me?

Ed

 

[mhuxt]

Hi Ed:

Go here:

The Carpetbagger Photographic Archives

Site can be a little difficult to navigate at times, but it's all there.

Also search for books by that site's webmaster, Thomas Ensminger.

 

[swampyankee]

Thanks! My uncle never spoke much about it (he died of ALS when I was 16; when I was 30, he'd probably have been more forthcoming). The only stories I remember are his mentioning pulling up to clear trees and steeples during night flights over occupied Europe.

 

[drgondog]

Carpetbaggers - Special Operations Group.. established as 801st BG, then folded into the 492nd BG after 492nd withdrawn from 8th AF operations in August 1944. As an aside the 492nd took huge losses on June 20 near Rugen Island and July 7 near Bernburg. Flew from Harrington mar 1944 through April 1945 when disbanded.

Flew B-24, C-47 and A-26.