The 100th Bomb Group, which is more widely known under the moniker “the Bloody Hundredth,” was a very special team in the war story of air combat during World War II. They weren’t famous for the feats of their heroic deeds or for trophies won, but rather for surviving some of the highest death rates that occurred when flying their bombing missions by daylight over the territories of Europe that were under Nazi control. The heritage left by them is the one based on toughness, bravery, and the leadership of those who met one of the most dangerous aerial worlds in history by flying out of Thorpe Abbotts, England.
The time dueling with the history of the unit goes back to 1942 at Walla Walla Army Air Base in Washington. It was not a nice piece of work for the training side. Early drills went badly, with bombers spread all over the western United States, some of the planes hitting the ground a few miles off-target, while one crew was so off-course that they reached Tennessee just to visit a pilot’s wife. Colonel Darr H. Alkire, the unit’s first commanding officer, did not hesitate to state that the situation was going to be tough and thus flying wouldn’t be any great thing. Nevertheless, he was succeeded by Colonel Howard M. Turner, who put the organisation on a more disciplined footing and got it ready for an England tour in July 1943.
Upon arrival in England, the 100th adopted the Eighth Air Force program of daring precision daylight bombing as their own. The plan was easy enough: attack the enemy’s industries and put the war machine of Nazism out of action. However, it turned out to be a very dangerous enterprise. The B-17 Flying Fortresses, in those first sorties without long-range fighter escort, were very vulnerable to the enemy’s strong defensive fire, and the casualties began to pile up at a rapid rate.
The 100th was not spared from a tough initiation into battle. Their first raid over Bremen resulted in the loss of three bombers and 30 airmen. Hence, the unit developed a culture of resilience, shaped by strong leaders such as Operations Officer John “Bucky” Egan and Captain Gale “Buck” Cleven, whose volatile characters were a great help in keeping morale up. The legend of the 100th being “jinxed” only served to cement their increasing fame.
One of the most terrifying experiences of the Regensburg Raid of August 17, 1943, was the 100th crew’s decision to take the most vulnerable spot in the formation, a location that would later be known as “Purple Heart Corner.” That day, they lost 9 out of 22 aircraft, the largest number of any squadron in a single day over Germany.
Survivors frequently recounted the dreadful vision of their comrades falling along with them, but the humor was not lost even in these tragic times. One such story went around about a pilot who was faking surrender to test if he could run away, which led to the spread of the rumor that the Germans were targeting them on purpose because of the 100th.
October 1943 was known as “Black Week” for the USAAF. On the raid of Münster on October 10, out of 13 B-17s that were sent off, only one was able to come back—Royal Flush, commanded by Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal. A lawyer before the war and the only Jewish pilot of the group, Rosenthal had to deal with engine failures and tough damage, but yet survived; he made 52 missions and went on to become one of the enduring heroes of the unit.
The psychological toll on the crews was so great. The Air Force started the practice of rest rotation for the airmen who got to stay in “flak houses” after difficult missions. People like Colonel Neil “Chick” Harding understood that practicing and being disciplined were as important as morale and psychological toughness. He supported the crews in seeking moments of relaxation amidst the chaos, which helped them maintain a balance between being tough and displaying their humanity.
The 100th were not always the worst, while they got the most publicity for their losses. The character of the group was also enriched by the people with memorable personalities, ranging from the larger-than-life “Bucks” to the navigator Harry Crosby, who once declined to bomb Beethoven’s birthplace out of respect. And yet, these 100th men were always living in danger and playing a vital role in the war effort – flying over Berlin, helping with the Normandy invasion, and the Battle of the Bulge.
As of the end of the war, the group had carried out 306 missions and had 757 men killed or missing. Their legacy is not only kept alive by history books, but it is still very much present in veterans’ stories, reunions, and the work of heroes like Capt. John “Lucky” Luckadoo and Lt. Jim Rasmussen, who, after their careers ended, continued to teach the airmen of the future by giving their personal accounts of the war.
The bravery, the sacrifice, and the commitment of the 100th Bomb Group are still examples of the highest qualities that service with honor requires. Their story will forever be remembered as one of the most daring and courageous in aviation history and will always continue to be an inspiration to those who are on the same path.