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Questions and Answers
What was the first leg of the journey mentioned in this chapter?
Which device was not installed on the plane during the flight?
How high was the plane flying above sea level during the flight to Greenland?
What unusual sight was observed from the plane four hours into the flight?
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What did Luke compare the icebergs to during the flight?
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What was the primary reason for Luke's group landing in Greenland?
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Which division was the 475th bomb group part of?
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What did Major Petrie suggest the group purchase for convenience?
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What was the condition of the bases where the 475th was stationed?
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How many practice missions did Major Petrie estimate the group would need before combat?
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What was the emotional state of the crew upon arrival at Marley Junction?
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Which air group flew B-17s during the missions?
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What was distinctive about the environment surrounding the British air bases?
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What did Tim inquire about during the briefing with Major Petrie?
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What was the fate of their previous aircraft upon arrival in Northern Ireland?
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Study Notes
Landing in Greenland
- The group flew to Greenland in a B-24 Liberator bomber
- The flight was over 1,500 miles
- The landing in Greenland was before 10 pm
- The midnight sun was still shining
- The group was part of the 475th Bomb Group
- Their plane was not outfitted with a Norden bombsight
- The plane was equipped with a Norden bombsight in Greenland
- The bomber group comprised 14 B-24 groups, 3 divisions, and fighter groups
- The group was in the Eighth Air Force in England
- The group landed in England several days later
Landing in England
- The group landed at a base named Marley Junction, named after the nearby village of Marley
- The air base was one of fourteen in the Second Air Division
- The group's base was located in East Anglia, nicknamed "Little America"
- The group was approximately 20 miles from the English Channel, 100 miles from London, and 120 miles from Nazi-occupied Belgium
- The group's air base was surrounded by farmland
The Air Base
- The air base was made up of Nissen huts
- The Nissen huts were made of corrugated metal and were "half-round"
- There were 3,000 personnel at each base
- The ground crews did not envy the flight crew's status
- The air base had a mess hall, briefing room, and living quarters for the crew
- The group's commander was Colonel Roger Allen
- The group was in the 736th Squadron, commanded by Captain John Joyce
- The group was advised to buy bicycles to get around the base
- The air base had a practice mission regimen that included a "group formation" component
- The practice missions were for a minimum of three, and a maximum of four
The Death of Crew Members
- The group found out that four crew members from their assigned cot space were killed in a bombing mission
- The crew members were killed during a bombing strike on Munich
- The crew members had been scattered all over Munich due to an "eighty-eight shell" hitting their bomber
- The crew members all had over 24 bombing missions completed
- The "Special Services" would send the crew members' belongings to their families after a telegram from the Secretary of War was delivered
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Description
Explore the fascinating journey of a B-24 Liberator bomber crew as they traverse over 1,500 miles from Greenland to England. This quiz covers key details about their landing, the surrounding areas, and the roles of various air bases during the Second World War. Test your knowledge on the strategic movements and challenges faced by the 475th Bomb Group.