CHARTERS TOWERS

3RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (L)

The 3rd Bombardment Group (L) arrived in Australia on February 25, 1942 and were encamped at Ascot Park – Brisbane for approximately 10 days. The Group consisted of the Headquarters, 8th, 13th, 89th & 90th Squadrons. They departed for Charters Towers by train in early March. (It is to be noted that a large number of the personnel of the 89th & 8th Squadrons ( Engineers, Gunners, Armament, etc. ) stayed in Townsville for anywhere from 15 days to a month helping the 19th Bombardment Group in servicing their remaining B-17s.)

USAT ANCON

Ascot Park - Brisbane

Charters Towers Express

June 20, 1942 Lord Gowrie visiting Charters Towers

BLACKHEATH COLLEGE

The girl's dormitory at the college was first proposed by Col. Davies as the site for the club.

( The 27th Reports )

26 Aland Street

Although the house has been remodeled significantly since 1942, this is the address that was taken over by the 3rd Bomb Group for its first "Third Slug" Officers Club.The house next door, 28 Aland Street, has been mistaken for the club' site, but its 1942 occupant, Margaret Brooker, still resides there and assures everyone that she can still remembers the officers using 26 Aland Street when she was a child.

Gus Breymann

Robert G. Ruegg Collection

Edward D. Connor

.50 Machine Gun Mount in nose of wrecked B-25. Edward Connor who came over as a radio operator with the HQ Squadron remembers practicing on this platform after his assignment to the 13th Squadron. The 1943 map below indicates a machine gun range just west of the North - South runway. It must also be noted that on the 1944 map that the Bore Sight Range appears to be in the same location as the Machine Gun Range.

Strickland - Davies Quarters

Jack Heyn & Wallaby

Francis G. Patnaude Collection

DUCK CAMP - Information regarding photos provided by John P. Jewell

Francis G. Patnaude Collection

HQ Kitchen Staff - M/Sgt. O. C. Powell in Middle

Richard L. Walker via Jack Heyn

ID Needed via Bill Beck

Davies - Lowery - Walker

13th BS Mess Hall

Sgt. Vance - Lt. Ruegg

Lt. Walker - Lt. Ruegg

COURTESY OF THE RUEGG FAMILY

Jack Heyn

Gill Street via Frank Patnaude

8th Bomb Squadron Pilots & Gunners

One of the Guys via Norman Storlie

Peterson & Heiss - Beaufighter visiting Charters Towers

General Brett decorating the 3rd BG at Charters Towers via The Ruegg Family

B-25D " Iroquois " 41-29738

3rd Bomb Group over Breddan

3rd BG over Australia 13th Squadron NIP CLIPPER - Bill Swain

Jack Heyn

8th Squadron October 29, 1942

Unknown via Arch Fraley Collection

BURDEKIN RIVER WEIR

1942

M/Sgt. Melvin E. Owens

Captain W.F. Boot, CO of the ML Det Archerfield, organised the transition training of pilots of the 3rd Bomb Group. The photograph was taken at Charters Towers probably in May-June 1942 when Boot was posted as a liaison officer with the 3rd Bomb Group.

( Alexander Evanoff Collection, via Edward Rogers)

Early NAA B-25C Mitchells of the ML/KNIL,
February 1942-June 1942

By Dr. P.C. Boer (© P.C. Boer, September 2009)

http://www.marsethistoria.nl/artikelen/b25_nei.htm

The link above clearly tells how the 3rd Bombardment Group received their initial B-25s from the Dutch. The perception of how they were stolen from the Dutch doesn't appear to hold much water, if I am reading this correctly. Edward Rogers provided information to Dr. Boer in this article and says he is a superb researcher who is completely valid.

1922

1942

1943

1944

1946

1954-55 via Noel Tunny

2008 - Gus Breymann

2012 - John Jewell

Ken Deneen

John Jewell

Bill Henderson & Friend

Bill Henderson - Gus Breymann - Brian Beveridge

94^th Coastal Artillery/Anti Aircraft Camp at Lissner Park, Charters Towers - John P. Jewell OAM

Bore Sight Range & Compass Swing Pad at Charters Towers

Heritage Listings for War Relics at Charters Towers

35th Service Group

The 35th Service Group was originally activated at Barksdale Field as the 35th Air Base Group on August 25, 1940. It moved with the 3rd & 27 BGs to Savannah, Georgia. It went to Australia upon the 3rd BGs move and was redesignated the 35th Service Group. It should be noted that one of its squadrons - the 47th Materiel Squadron was at Brisbane to assemble the A-20As from Savannah. This is according to George F. Moon who had served with the HQ Squadron from 1939 as an aircraft mechanic. Soon after arriving at Charters Towers, he was assigned to the 89th Squadron and to the 13th Squadron in 1943 after the 89th had moved to 3 Mile at Port Moresby.

Bore Sight Range