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On This Date In History

Explore significant dates, missions, people, and events in the history of the 306th Bomb Group. New entries will be added as we continue to preserve and share the Group's history.

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16 March 2024

March 16, 1942 – Charles Overacker Takes Command of the 306th

Overacker was the 306th Bomb Group’s first Commanding Officer and led the Group’s first bombing mission on October 9 to metalworks factories at Lille, France. He also led the Group to hit the U-boar submarine bases at Brest, France on November 7 and at St. Nazaire, France on November 9.

Overacker was relieved as commanding officer on January 3, 1943 and replaced by Frank Armstrong upon which the book and movie Twelve O’Clock High was based. In characters in the movie, Keith Davenport and Frank Savage (played by Gergory Peck, represented Overacker and Armstrong. The fictitious 918 Bomb Group in the story was derived by multiplying the 306th by 3.

After being relieved of command, Overacker was re-assigned to the 8th Air Force Headquarters on January 4,1943 and retired on June 30, 1956.