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Roswell Army Air Field

3030th AAF Base Unit (Pilot School) Specialized 4 engine and Bombadier School

The site was acquired in 1941 for the purpose of establishing a Military Flying Training Center and Bombardier School. The Army Air Corps utilized the airfield until June 1949, when it was transferred to the Department of the Air Force, thereafter known as Walker Air Force Base.

The Roswell Army Air Field was activated in early 1942. The Roswell POW camp was also built during WWII to house up to 4800 POWs. Most of the POWs housed at the camp were German and Italian soldiers captured during the North African campaign. The POWs were actually used as construction laborers on local projects and many of Roswell's parks were built by POWs.

Final Assault Here, a high-flying B-29 unleashes its fury while dodging the Kamikaze attack of a Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu ("Nick"), one of the few Japanese fighters capable of reaching the B-29's altitude.

VHB (Very Heavy Bomber) B-29 Transition - Class 815 A

The B-29 Superfortress built by Boeing has been called the weapon that won the war in the Pacific. Designed to carry large bomb loads long distances, it made possible the strategic bombardment that brought Japan near to collapse. This mighty war machine was available when needed because Air Corps leaders of the 1930's pressed for the development of strategic bombers.

The Boeing B-29 was designed in 1940 as an eventual replacement for the B-17 and B-24. The first "Superfortress" built made its maiden flight on September 21, 1942. In December 1943 it was decided not to use the B-29 in the European Theater, thereby permitting the airplane to be sent to the Pacific area where its 3,700 mile range made it particularly suited for the long over-water flight required to attack the Japanese homeland from bases in China. During the last two months of 1944, B-29s began operating against Japan from the islands of Saipan, Guam and Tinian.

Probably the most well known flights from Tinian came on August 6, 1945 when Enola Gay, under the command of Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, flew over Hiroshima to drop the first atom bomb. Three days later, another B-29, the Bockscar, dropped its nuclear payload on Nagasaki. This not only signalled the end of the war, but also resulted in the greatest identification snafu (A word which originated during WWII - is defined as confusion or muddle. Situation Normal All Fouled (Fucked) Up) of World War II. Captain Frederick C. Bock, the Bockscar pilot, switched planes and flew The Great Artiste, an instrument plane for the raid. The Great Artiste was then credited in published accounts and communiques with the drop. It was not until a year later that the mistake was discovered and the Bockscar credited with this historic flight.

By 1946, more than 3,900 B-29s had been built and delivered into service.

A Letter Home

. . .One boy on my crew fell off the train coming up here and got hurt pretty bad. The train was going about 70 miles per hour. . . click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge Dad's Grandmother on his Mom's side

Air Corps Business

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLY click image to enlarge	MONTHLY STATEMENT: OFFICERS' MESS click image to enlarge
SHIPPING TICKET click image to enlarge	OFFICER'S MESS: RECEIPT click image to enlarge

PART - I POST FLYING REGULATIONS-QUESTIONNAIRE click image to enlarge	Post Flying Regulations, Part I, cont'd. click image to enlarge
C E R T I F I C A T E dd 27 August 1945 click image to enlarge	SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 256 dd 13 Sept 45 click image to enlarge
SPECIAL ORDERS NUMBER 280 dd 7 Oct 45 click image to enlarge	F I N A L   C L E A R A N C E dd 8 Oct 1945 and C E R T I F I C A T E click image to enlarge click image to enlarge
SPECIAL ORDERS NUMBER 282 dd 9 Oct 45 click image to enlarge
OFFICER'S PAY, ALLOWANCE, AND MILEAGE VOUCHER click image to enlarge	OFFICER'S PAY, ALLOWANCE (Con't) click image to enlarge
Receipt for WD AGO Form 65 click image to enlarge	SUBJECT: Demobilization click image to enlarge
Certificate of Service click image to enlarge click image to enlarge (front)	Certificate of Service MILITARY RECORD click image to enlarge click image to enlarge (back)

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