McCord Field

McCHORD FIELD, THE  17TH BOMB GROUP AND ME

(A BRIEF HISTORY by Walter J. Hanna, Jr. Lt. Col. Air Corps

The 17th Bomb Group (M) was formerly the 17th Attack Group equipped with the Northrup A-17A, a 2 seat, single engine plane used exclusively for low level ground support. The 17th was stationed at March Field, California and was converted to Medium Bombardment and equipped with the B-18A Bomber, a mutation of the DC-3. I am not sure of the date of conversion but it was probably in late 1939 or early 1940. The 17th was transfered to McChord Field in the late spring of 1940. McChord was one of the first new bases built by the Air Corps in many years and was still unfinished when I arrived there.

I graduated from Kelly Field in the Class of 40-D in July 1940 and received orders to the 17th Group at McChord Field. I arrived in the middle of August 1940 and was posted to the 95th Squadron. The 95th was one of the original Squadrons of the Air Corps with a History back to WW I. I was the first new pilot posted to the squadron in a long time. It was lonely in the operations room. Some of the older 2nd Lts. had little time for you although they were very happy to have you drill the squadron on Saturday morning. The Squadron had a few B-18As and two of the new B~23s, another DC-3 mutation, with the first R-2600 twin row engines (rated at 1600HP). After problems with the propellors running away and center-section rivets popping it turned out to be a great airplane. It had Airline comfort, 200 mph air speed, extremely long range and was very easy to fly. It would never be a combat plane due to small bomb load, no armor, etc... The contract with Douglas was cancelled after about 35 planes were built. When I joined the 95th 300 hours as co-pilot was required to qualify for first pilot in the B~18(Hazy on this). There was soon a deluge of new pilots (The expansion of the Air Corps was really underway) . The older pilots tired of training new pilots and on March 12,1941 I was qualified as first pilot on B-18 and B-23 aircraft with a little over 200 hrs as co-pilot. In early spring of 1941 the 17th began receiving the first B-25s. Charlie Langmack, a recalled veteran of WW-I (handlebar mustache and all) was given the honor of picking up one of the first planes at the factory in El Segundo (Now LAX) and asked me to be his co-pilot. We arrived at the North American Plant in early April, and after the customary factory tour, we were shown our plane, given the handbook, check list and wished good flight. (No check flight). We were familiar with the engines (same as the B-23) but the tricycle gear was new. Taxiing was an exciting event until you were used to the combination of brakes and engine it required. Finally squared away with the runway Charlie applied full throttle while I was still studying the handbook. We were in the overcast before I could get the gear up. We were soon over the top and landed at March Field which was an obligatory stop. We Were photographed under the wing of the giant Douglas B-19, then back in the air, enroute to McChord, with cruising speed about 270mph. The early planes had no armor plate, no turrets and no leak-proof tanks). It was a memorable flight for me as it was my first exposure to a truly high performance airplane with combat possibilities. The B-25-A had a straight wing and an unpleasant habit of dropping a wing on final approach under about 160 mph. It was difficult to control and was corrected in the B-25B which was given the familiar gull wing. The Plane was now very stable at low speeds which led to its" selection for the Tokyo raid from the carrier "HORNET".

On May 7, 1941 the cadres for the 47th Bomb Group (L) were formed out of the 17th Group and I was assigned to the 84th Squadron of this Group. The 12th Bomb Group (M) was formed at the same time. The 47th moved to Hammer Field, Fresno, California in August 1941. My memory is a little hazy on the 12th and 17th Groups. The 12th stayed at McChord, the 17th was moved to Pendleton, Oregon and later to Barksdale Field, Louisiana (?). The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders came out of the 17th Group. Lt. York (3rd from left in Photo) was the only pilot, to get his airplane down in one piece. He landed in Russia and was interned for over a year. Lt. Holstrom (2nd from the right end of the photo) was another of the Pilots. Lt. Morse (in dark pants) was one of the B-17 pilots trying to land at Hickham Field on December 7, 1941. There are several officers missing in the photo. (Major Lawson the Co., Capt. Brummel and Capt. Green. There may be others.)

The 12th, the 17th and the 47th Groups were all part of the North African Campaign. I was C.O. of the 84th Squadron at this time. The 12th, with pink B-25s, came across the south Atlantic and across the Western Desert behind the 8th Army. The 47th came by way of the North Atlantic with A-20s to England and to North Africa with the Invasion in November 1942. The 17th came later with B-26s. I do not know the exact date. The 12th and 47th ended up across the road from each other in Tunisia at the end of the North African Campaign. The 3 Groups served throughout the rest of the War in the Meditteranean Theatre and all have illustrious Histories . I was ordered back to the States after the North African Campaign, with several other officers, to pick up another A-20 Group, complete its" training and take it overseas. The Group was only on paper. I ended up training new A-20 crews, then a Tour in the Pentagon Building and finished the War as Assistant Operations Oficer of the Western Flying Training Command. I separated from the service at the end of 1945, was tendered a commission in the Regular Army but was unable to accept - I was in the Hospital with polio. In spite of the Polio I have had a very rewarding life since and have lifelong friends from my service days. The Class of 40-D and the 47th Group have had some memorable reunions.