Physical formation began at Biggs Field, Texas under Lt. Col. David B. Lancaster
Apr 1943
Moved to Lowry Field, Colorado for final training
Jun 1943
The ground unit went to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and embarked on the Queen Elizabeth on the 30th, and arrived in Gourock on the 6th July. The aircraft went overseas on the 13th via Dow Field in Me., Goose Bay, Gander, Meeks Field, Iceland to Prestwick
Jun 1943
Hethel, England
Jul 1943
Detached To North Africa. Benghazi, Libya; For Ploesti, Rumania low level mission
Aug 1943
Returned To Hethel
A 389th Bomb Group B-24D undergoes engine repairs in England.
Sep 1943
Detached To North Africa. Massicault, Tunis and supported invasion Sicily
Oct 1943
Returned To Hethel
May 1945
First of the aircraft departed the United Kingdom on 20th. Ground echelon sailed from Bristol on the USS Cristbal on the 30th, arriving in New York on the 8th of June.
American Theater; Air Combat, EAME (European-African-Middle Eastern) Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Sicily; Ploesti; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe
At one time provided PFF aircraft for all 2nd Air Division BGs
In 1945, the 564th was judged on efficiency the best in the ETO
There were 2,567 B-24s in Arizona in 1946. This 389th veteran is one of them.
This one was not so lucky.
.
Lloyd Herbert "Pete" Hughes (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, 9th Air Force.
Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 1 August 1943.
Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex.
Born: 12 July 1921, Alexandria, La.
G.O. No.: 17, 26 February 1944.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
On August 1943, 2d Lt. Hughes served in the capacity of pilot of a heavy bombardment aircraft participating in a long and hazardous minimum-altitude attack against the Axis oil refineries of Ploesti, Rumania, launched from the northern shores of Africa. Flying in the last formation to attack the target, he arrived in the target area after previous flights had thoroughly alerted the enemy defenses. Approaching the target through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire and dense balloon barrages at dangerously low altitude, his plane received several direct hits from both large and small caliber antiaircraft guns which seriously damaged his aircraft, causing sheets of escaping gasoline to stream from the bomb bay and from the left wing. This damage was inflicted at a time prior to reaching the target when 2d Lt. Hughes could have made a forced landing in any of the grain fields readily available at that time. The target area was blazing with burning oil tanks and damaged refinery installations from which flames leaped high above the bombing level of the formation. With full knowledge of the consequences of entering this blazing inferno when his airplane was profusely leaking gasoline in two separate locations, 2d Lt. Hughes, motivated only by his high conception of duty which called for the destruction of his assigned target at any cost, did not elect to make a forced landing or turn back from the attack. Instead, rather than jeopardize the formation and the success of the attack, he unhesitatingly entered the blazing area and dropped his bomb load with great precision. After successfully bombing the objective, his aircraft emerged from the conflagration with the left wing aflame. Only then did he attempt a forced landing, but because of the advanced stage of the fire enveloping his aircraft the plane crashed and was consumed. By 2d Lt. Hughes' heroic decision to complete his mission regardless of the consequences in utter disregard of his own life, and by his gallant and valorous execution of this decision, he has rendered a service to our country in the defeat of our enemies which will everlastingly be outstanding in the annals of our Nation's history.
