National Air and Space Museum Archives

376th Bomb Group Photography [Mechanic]

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.2016.0003
Creators:
Mechanic, Bernard
Dates:
bulk 1940-1945
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.1 Cubic feet
(2 folders)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of thirty-eight black and white photographs, mostly snapshots, relating to Sergeant Bernard Mechanic's service with the 376th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force. The images include the following: Consolidated B-24 Liberators in-flight; images from his R&R leave to Tel Aviv; noseart; and images of Winston Churchill, Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, and Field Marshall Archibald Wavell. There is also one graduation certificate for the Aerial Gunnery and Fire Control School at Wendover, Utah.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Technical Sergeant Bernard Mechanic was a gunner/radio operator with the 376th Bomb Group 9th Air Force. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for his actions during Operation Tidal Wave on August 1, 1943, which was a raid on the Ploesti oil refineries. Due to navigation and pilot error as well as German aerial defenses, this raid suffered devastating losses, including 440 crew members killed and an additional 220 taken as prisoners of war.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Mark Machanic, Gift, 2016

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access.
Preferred Citation
376th Bomb Group Photography [Mechanic], Accession 2016-0003, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Consolidated B-24 Liberator Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tel Aviv (Israel) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rommel, Erwin,, 1891-1944 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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