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Commanding Officers
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13th Reconnaissance
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| Maj. Russell A. Wilson |
15 January 1941
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12 August 1941
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| Maj. Carl T. Goldenberg |
12 August 1941
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18 January 1942
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| Maj. Thomas N. Charles |
18 January 1942
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22 May 1942
|
|
403rd BS
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| Maj. Thomas N. Charles |
22 May 1942
|
29 November 1942 |
| Maj. Franklyn T. Green |
5 December 1942
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28 February 1943
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| Maj. Jay P. Rousek |
1 March 1943
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12 June 1943
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| Maj. William L. Welch |
12 June 1943
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1 October 1943
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| Maj. Charles B. Downer |
1 October 1943
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6 January 1944
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| Maj. Dorwin C. Wilson |
6 January 1944
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1 May 1944
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| Capt. Russell M. Bragg |
1 May 1944
|
31 August 1944
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| Capt. Gustave R. Apai |
1 September 1944
|
? January 1945
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| Maj. Leonard H. Clark |
? January 1945
|
23 June 1945
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| Capt. Willis F. Bond |
23 June 1945
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c. September 1945
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Duty Stations
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From:
|
To:
|
| Melbourne, Australia |
27 February 1942
|
14 March 1942
|
| Laverton, Australia |
14 March 1942
|
27 August 1942
|
| Torrens Creek, Australia |
27 August 1942
|
17 October 1942
|
| Iron Range, Australia |
17 October 1942
|
23 November 1942
|
| Milne Bay, New Guinea |
23 November 1942
|
21 January 1943
|
| Mareeba, Australia |
21 January 1943
|
11 May 1943
|
| Port Moresby, New Guinea |
11 May 1943
|
13 December 1943
|
| Dobodura, New Guinea |
13 December 1943
|
12 March 1944
|
| Nadzab, New Guinea |
12 March 1944
|
28 July 1944
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| Owi, Schouten Islands |
28 July 1944
|
15 November 1944
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| Tacloban |
15 November 1944
|
15 March 1945
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| Clark Field |
15 March 1945
|
20 July 1945
|
| Ie Shima, Okinawa |
20 July 1945
|
post November 1945
|
| Ft William McKinley, Luzon |
?
|
?
|
|
The Mareeba Butchers
"Along the shores of beautiful Owi Island may be seen the colorful signs of many a fighter and heavy bomb squadron,
but it is the general consensus of opinion that the 403rd 'Mareeba Butchers' head the list of unique names and colorful
signs. They gained their grizzly cognomen from an incident that happened while they were based at Mareeba, Australia.
The story goes, that the 43rd Bomb Group, in conjunction with the old 19th Bomb Group, allowed a few of their bombs
to stray into a Geisha-girl house while on a mission over Rabaul. The damage to the darlings of the Japanese soldiers
according to Madam Tojo of Radio Tokyo fame, was a little more than devastating, and she swore vengeance on the 'butchers'
of her 'innocent girls'. The 403rd Squadron of the 43rd Group, because several of their crews had figured in the bombing,
took an almost malicious delight in the attention they received, and they adopted the name, 'Mareeba Butchers'. Since
then the 'Butchers' have laid down their bombs on targets from Lao to Davao. So well they have done their job, Madame
Tojo continues to threaten them at frequent intervals, on her radio program, and the 'Butchers' accept each threat as
an additional incentive to live up to their name, and put their bombs where they will do the most good.
However, the name 'Mareeba Butchers', is not the 403rd's only claim to fame. They are, also, the oldest heavy bomb group
in the Southwest Pacific, and the first heavy bomb squadron in New Guinea. So when along the beach road, watch for the
sign 'Mareeba Butchers,' but don't expect any fresh meat -- they eat it all themselves!"Source:
403rd Bombardment Squadron Unit History, August 1944
403rd SQ B-24 Combat Crews 1944 / 1945
 |
B-24 Combat Crews A list
of B-24 combat aircrews who fought in the 403rd Bombardment Squadron from January 1944 through November
1945.
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403rd SQ Officers 1944 / 1945
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Officer Roll Call A list
of all known officers to attach or detach from the 403rd Bombardment Squadron from January 1944 through November
1945.
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403rd SQ Combat Photographers 1944 / 1945
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Combat Photographers A list
of all known combat photographers to attach or detach from the 403rd Bombardment Squadron from January 1944 through November
1945.
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403rd SQ Deaths
|
403rd Squadron Deaths Sort database
by Squadron by double-clicking on the word "Squadron" at the top of the Squadron column. To return to this page,
use your browser back button.
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Interviews
Crew Pictures
Aircraft Pictures
Miscellaneous
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Dobodura, New Guinea: Mess Hall, Mail Tent, Movie House, Day
Room |
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Dobodura, New Guinea: Navigation Tent, Squadron Supply, Intelligence
|
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Dobodura, New Guinea: Enlisted Men's Showers, Officers' Showers
, Water Supply |
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403rd's Base in late 1945 , Ie Shima (aerial view)
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| |
Nice scan of the Mareeba Butchers' patch (sent by Francis
Drab of the 64th SQ)
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List of 13th Reconnaissance/403rd SQ Crewmen who
sailed on the S.S. Argentina
|
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Ie Shima sent by Armorer/Waist Gunner Francis "Frank"
Drab |
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Ie Shima Typhoon Aftermath sent by Armorer/Waist Gunner
Francis "Frank" Drab |
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Bombed Out Manila sent by Armorer/Waist Gunner
Francis "Frank" Drab |
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B-24D 42-40924, 1 November 1943 Crash Incident
Report - contributed by Bob Wallenhorst, nephew of S/Sgt Carl Wallenhorst,
KIA (.PDF file)
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