BARKSDALE AFB, La. -- Bail out! Bail out! Bail out! This is what Lieutenant Colonel Leon Vance, a 489th Bombardment Group crewmember, screamed from the cockpit of the B-24 bomber to his crewmembers. His partially amputated foot had become wedged behind the pilots’ seat when the plane was hit with flak while leading a successful bomb run over Wimereaux, France. The anti-aircraft fire killed the pilot instantly and wounded several other crewmembers. His only thoughts…save the crewmembers’ lives. Miraculously, as the plane sank into the water of the English Channel, an explosion threw Vance clear of the plane. After swimming for 50 minutes he was finally rescued by an Air-Sea Rescue craft. This incredible act of heroism earned Vance a Medal of Honor. The 489 BG was activated for only 2 years during World War II from 1943 to 1945.
“The Bomb Group went on to do just splendid work. So their history doesn’t stop with Vance, it continues on into ‘45” Dr. James Malachowski, the director of the AFRC History Office, explains. “The 489th is near and dear to my heart.”
Because of their tremendous heritage, the name was selected for the new B-1 Lancer bomb group to be assigned under the Reserve 307th Bomb Wing and reactivated exactly 70 years to the date of the inactivation on October 17th, 2015. The 489 BG is a geographically separated unit at Dyess AFB, Texas from its parent organization the 307 BW, which is located at Barksdale AFB, La.
The 307 BW currently flies the B-52 Stratofortress. With the 489 BG flying the B-1 Lancer, this makes the 307 BW the only dual bomber mission wing in the Air Force.
“Now, more than ever, our nation demands dominance from our Air Force,” said 307 BW Commander, Col. Bruce Cox. “As the Air Force Reserve Command’s only bomber wing, it is my great honor to partner with the 7th Bomb Wing in the B-1 mission area. The Citizen Airmen of the 489 [BG] are incredibly excited to join the professional Airmen of the 7 BW in their quest to fly, fight and win with the mighty BONE.”
Both the 307 BW and the 489 BG conduct formal training missions alongside their active duty counterparts as a part of the Total Force Integration (TFI). The Air Force’s goal is to have these associations provide enhanced training and more efficient operations which improve productivity and increase mission capabilities.
“In the TFI model, one of the strengths of the Air Force Reserve is to capture those highly experienced Active Duty Airmen that desire to transition into the civilian sector, but also wish to continue to serve their country in a part time capacity,” Col. James Morriss, the 307BW vice commander explained. “The 489 BG now provides that opportunity for the B-1 community.”
The new commander of the 489 BG is Col. Denis Heinz. He brings over 25 years of experience to his new command. “I’m excited about being a part of the 489 BG legacy,” Col. Heinz said. "As I read books published by former group members, I was in awe of their ability to fly, fight and win under such austere conditions. I am proud to now be part of a heritage that dates back to the early days of World War II when the original 489 BG fought a much different war.”
The World War II veterans from the 489 BG in attendance were able to join in the celebration and were given the opportunity to pass the torch to the new Group members.
Lt. Col. Wilmer Plate, a retired B-24 pilot said, “I look at the news and newspapers and listen to radio and television and see all these young people that are setting fires, murdering, gangs that are raping. That is all I get to see in the news. Before I made this trip I wondered if there were any more young people made like R.B. Tolson and company.”
R.B. had completed his combat missions, returned home, and on his 19th birthday, knocked on his mother’s door to be welcomed home. There was no draft back then, you could ground yourself and not worry about being shot down. This was a daily reality for them. R.B. was a tailgunner on the B-24 who refused to play the small odds and kept on fighting for his country.
“I don’t have to wonder anymore, I look out into the crowd that is in this building and I say yes, we have,” said Plate. “Now you must fight to keep up the heritage and integrity of the group that we are handing to you… from our hands into yours.”