Aviation History - July 2018

30 AH JULY 2018

Seventy-five years ago, on June 25, 1943, the 100th

Bombardment Group (Heavy) first wore that

emblem into battle.

The 100th was constituted as a heavy bomber

group inside the Eighth Air Force, which, at peak

strength on D-Day, June 6, 1944, fielded 40 groups

of Boeing B-17s and Consolidated B-24s. The

100th’s tail marking of a bold “D” on a square

background was rendered on the vertical stabiliz-

ers of its B-17s, whose big, parabolic-shaped tail

fins made for an effective if utilitarian canvas. In

2018 the Square D still adorns a Boeing air-

craft—the KC-135R—though the 100th is now

an aerial refueling wing. Even still, the Square D

carries with it the heroic, bloody history of the

100th Bomb Group.

In November 1942, Colonel Darr Alkire was

the first commander assigned to head up the

100th. By December, several hundred men formed

the initial flying cadre of the group’s four bomb

squadrons—the 349th, 350th, 351st and 418th—

along with the requisite administrative, engineer-

ing and ground support units. While each unit was

actively training, the Army Air Forces identified

leaders who could forge the ungainly mass of civil-

ians into airmen.

Among the commanders serving under Colonel

Alkire were two officers who became synonymous

with the unit’s early dashing, devil-may-care noto-

riety. John “Bucky” Egan was originally the 100th

operations officer, and Gale “Bucky” Cleven was

the initial commander of the 350th Bomb Squad-

ron. Just two of the several Bucks or Buckys who

would serve with the 100th, Egan and Cleven were

excellent pilots and charismatic men. More than a

few of the 100th’s young airmen came to view the

two Buckys as inspirational figures, modeling their

own behavior on that of these older leaders.

On the way to operational readiness, the group

trained in Walla Walla, Wash., and, by the end of

TAILCHASE A twin-

engine German fighter

approaches a 100th

Bomb Group Flying

Fortress from behind.

ONLY ONE WORLD WAR II U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES

TAIL FLASH SURVIVES IN THE PRESENT-DAY U.S.

AIR FORCE: THE SQUARE D.