Would a "Rifleman 745" have been assigned to a bomb squadron in the Army Air Force during WWII? My father had that MOS and I had always believed that he served in the Infantry with Army Ground Forces. However his separation papers shows him as a Rifleman-745 in the 441st Bomb Squad of the 320th Bomb Group. Can anyone exlain what a Rifleman would be doing in the AAF? My father is on the left in the photo. Can anyone identify the DUI pins on garrison cap and lapels
Hello and welcome. I don't know about the cap but the medal with the bars beneath it are weapons qualifications, like .45, carbine, M1, etc, I think. Dave
Patch is General Headquarters Reserve, not an AAF patch. Thus, may date from period between graduation from Advanced Individual Training and assignment to the AAF. I am unaware as to whether any AAF units were in the GHQR. Not my area. I can't make out the Regimental Distinctive Insignia or the branch insignia. Closeups on those might help if possible. Note that the Expert Marksman badge (with the hangers) is worn on the wrong side-- it should be on the left. This tells me that the soldier is recently out of training, and hasn't yet met up with an old time Sergeant. As regards your original question, I have no knowledge of the issue, but I see no reason to question it. Didn't the AAF have to guard its own bases? I suspect that riflemen were an integral part of the AAF. Doc
Intriguing family story, thank you for sharing. I have come across at least two ways for an infantrymen to get into non-infantry units. One is by a wound serious enough to keep him out of front line combat but not serious enough for discharge. The second involves the US Army excepting any and all who might be needed. As the crisis let up, they realized they had many less than fit infantrymen (usually by age). At first they moved these men to the separate infantry regiments which would be used for garrison duty in such places as the Caribbean or Alaska. Later these units were disbanded and men with skills such as typing and shorthand or other skills not requiring arduous exertions were sent where they could be used. The photo is probably false color but the piping (or trim) on the cap appears light blue, the color of the infantry so that backs up the MOS 745. Does his discharge paper indicate dates for service overseas? I have seen these on other service members documents. If you could post an image of his discharge document, we might be able to pick up clues that lead you to more information.
Would a "Rifleman 745" have been assigned to a bomb squadron in the Army Air Force during WWII? My father had that MOS and I had always believed that he served in the Infantry with Army Ground Forces. However his separation papers shows him as a Rifleman-745 in the 441st Bomb Squad of the 320th Bomb Group. Can anyone exlain what a Rifleman would be doing in the AAF? My father is on the left in the photo. Can anyone identify the DUI pins on garrison cap and lapels Following VE Day men were sent home based on the notorious point system. They were often assigned to units that were returning home regardless of MOS. This was the most expeditious way to send men home while still within the command and control system of an organized unit. Unfortunately, in some cases their DD214s carried the unit they returned home with and not their actual combat unit. Hence an infantry rifleman in a AAF outfit. You can always look up when the AAF outfit shipped out for home, and check the dates against your father's DD214. If the return dates are the same or close, that is your answer. A friend of mine boarded ship to come home only to find himself the senior NCO in a COMZ supply outfit. He said the junior officers were a little intimidated (respected?) by his combat experience and awards, (he was also still pretty scarred up on his face and hands from being wounded in late April, 1945.) and as a result left him alone for the entire trip home.
Just a point on the utilisation of the USAAF 320th Bomb Group as far as England was concerned.The movements of the B.G would appear to be associated with Operation Torch. This group was intended to serve in England with the B26 but due to losses incurred by No 47th B.G and No 319th BG which were planned for North Africa and used England as a staging post for North Africa,the 320th B.G was similiarly directed to North Africa.The short time it was based in England as part of the 8th USAAF,it was based at Hethel and Tibenham in November 1942 but by November 21,its groundcrew were on their way to North Africa.The B.G aircraft never reached the UK, being directed to North Africa without staging through the UK. So it looks as if the B.G served outside the UK in North Africa and Southern Europe,I would think,theatres of war where no doubt there would be the requirement for a high degree of airfield security.
Just a point on the utilisation of the USAAF 320th Bomb Group as far as England was concerned.The movements of the B.G would appear to be associated with Operation Torch. This group was intended to serve in England with the B26 but due to losses incurred by No 47th B.G and No 319th BG which were planned for North Africa and used England as a staging post for North Africa,the 320th B.G was similiarly directed to North Africa.The short time it was based in England as part of the 8th USAAF,it was based at Hethel and Tibenham in November 1942 but by November 21,its groundcrew were on their way to North Africa.The B.G aircraft never reached the UK, being directed to North Africa without staging through the UK. So it looks as if the B.G served outside the UK in North Africa and Southern Europe,I would think,theatres of war where no doubt there would be the requirement for a high degree of airfield security. Harry, Unless there was a specific allotment in the TO of a bomb group for MOS 745, I think it unlikely these specially trained men would have been wasted guarding airfields.
Excellent post!! Thank you for sharing your father's story. Just today I was searching for examples of what could be found in the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). I actually gave up my search and was making my routine browse of new posts. I noticed a few typographical errors that may cause confusion to the casual reader. It is tedious to clean these up but worth the effort to re-read and double check the source documents. Generations will thank you. I was curious about the location and training areas of the 358th Infantry after they arrived in England. The Coton Hall that first appeared in Google maps was tens of miles away from Bewdley. More checking and I found this website: http://www.familee.net/history/coton_hall.html Near Alveley, only a few miles north of Bewdley (Coton Lane can be found on Google Maps). This website confirmed the likely location. http://www.skylighters.org/britcamps/index.html with this information: Bridgnorth, Shropshire, Coton Hall, Tented Camp I also found Sturt Common on the circa 1950 Ordnance Survey maps if you are interested.
Coton Hall is at Alveley, nr Bridgnorth Shropshire, about 10 miles from Bewdley. Please get in touch. I would be very interested to hear more. I do have photo's of Coton Hall and the surrounding parklanddated 1949, if that is of help..
