The 380th Bombardment Group (H) flew B-24 Liberator bombers in the South West and Western Pacific areas in WWII. We were part of the 5th Air Force. We were known as the FLYING CIRCUS and as the KING OF THE HEAVIES (note the lion in the insignia).
The 380th went overseas in April 1943 to become the second B-24 unit in the Fifth Air Force at that time after the 90th Bomb Group. The other Heavy Bomber unit (the 43rd) flew B-17s.
The 380th was placed under the control of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and assigned to the Australian North West Area Command operating out of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. We were thus the only heavy bomber unit available to cover the whole of the Dutch East Indies (1,000,000 square miles) from July 1943 until late in 1944. At that time the successes in the New Guinea campaign had brought the other Fifth Air Force units close enough to the East Indies to join us in that task.
The 380th made the longest bombing missions of WWII, to the oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo (200 miles further than the Ploesti mission in Europe) and to those at Surabaja, Java (as long as Ploesti). We did both of these missions several times during our stay in Australia.
In addition to our attacks on the Japanese oil supply, we were heavily engaged in crippling their shipping fleet to reduce the Japanese capability of supplying their far-flung forces. We also heavily bombed the numerous Japanese airfields in the East Indies to reduce the Japanese threat to Australia and our New Guinea forces.
In its service with the Australians, the 380th served longer under the operational control of an Allied country than any other Air Force unit (from June 1943 until February 1945).
As part of its duties in Australia, the 380th carried out the operational training of 52 Australian crews and their associated ground staffs so that the Australians could take over the East Indian campaign activities of the 380th when they were assigned to The Philippines in February 1945. Many of the Australians so trained have become part of the 380th Bomb Group Association, our veterans group here today, strong evidence of the strong ties of friendship, which developed between us in our long service together.
The 380th was composed of four Squadrons: the 528th, 529th, 530, and 531st.
380thww2 
We are searching for further information about our Uncle; Marvin Schaefer was a flight engineer on a B 24 flown by Harry B. Timble. We had always thought that Uncle Marvin was shot down and MIA….We have just learned that he is listed as KFA. All other members of his flight crew made it to the end of the war. Marvin Schaefer is listed as KFA on May 22, 1945. Can you give us any insight as to why information we were given years ago is wrong. Trying to locate pilot’s daughters
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Barbara
I’ll see what I can find for you from the history books on the 380th and get back to you in the next day or so. Not sure if I can tell you why you were given misinformation, but I will get you what I can find.
In the meantime, I’ve approved your request to join the 380th’s Facebook page, so you can ask your question there also if you’d like.
Barbara Gotham
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I’ve found the narrative from May 22, 1945, in BEST IN THE SOUTHWEST, that involves Marvin Schaefer. I’ll send it to you by email.
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I have been researching Section 22 of MacArthur’s SWPA and ran into an e-mail from an Australian radio countermeasures operator who flew with the 530th squadron.
See your e-mail for more.
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I am looking for more information about my father Charles H Russell. He was a pilot in the 530th Group. I have no information pertaining to him other than he is listed in “The History of the 3890th BOMB GROUP (H) AFF Affectionately Known as the Flying Circus”.
If somebody could point me to where I might find out more information it would be greatly appreciated, I am the last to have known my father and would like to pass information down to his grand children(9).
Thank you for your help.
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Please excuse the error above I meant 380th not 3890th
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Bill – I’ll see what I can find from our history books and get back to you soon!
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At your Home Page is the comment, “The 380th was composed of four Squadrons: the 528th, 529th, 530, and 531st.”
And yet the image of the 308 BOMB GROUP Flying Circus shows five patches. None identified. Shown here: http://380th.org/IMAGES/380BombGp_med.JPG
In his book, “The Flying Circus” Jim Wright (530th, Gus’s Bus) mentions in chapter 8,
2nd paragraph, “We were four squadrons, each consisting of nine planes and crews”.
I’m finally getting around to my question. Which of those patches is the 380th Group Patch?
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The Lion on top of the world is the group patch.
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Thank you for that information.
If you haven’t yet read Jim Wright’s book, “The Flying Circus” do so.
It is really well written and interesting.
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Thanks, for the recommendation – I do have the book, haven’t looked at it in some time!!
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