COMMANDING OFFICERS OF THE 389TH BOMB GROUP (h)

David B. Lancaster

From: November 30, 1942
To: May 4, 1943

Col Lancaster became ill and was hospitalized at Lowry Field. He was unable to deploy overseas with the group and stepped down from command. He was replaced by Jack W. Wood.

Jack W. Wood

From: May 16, 1943
To: December 29, 1943

On leaving the 389th, appointed Commanding Officer of 20th Combat Wing; then Executive of the 14th Combat Bomb Wing, and in December 1944 was promoted to brigadier general and appointed chief of the British-American Air Component, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces Mission to France. He was replaced by Col Milton W. Arnold.

Paul T. Burton
(Interim, Flight Echelon)

From: May 29, 1943
To: June 16, 1943

The 389th being ready for deployment to the ETO, Commanding Officer Col Jack Wood was ordered to report to 8th Air Force Hq in London on May 29, 1943, with an advance party. Maj Burton, CO of the 565th Squadron, was appointed interim commander of the flight echelon and their ground personnel passenger, and embarked for England on aircraft. Col Wood resumed command of the group when the flight echelon arrived at its airfield in Hethel.

Milton K. Lockwood
(Interim, Ground Echelon)

From: May 29, 1943
To: August 22, 1943

Lt Col Lockwood served as interim commander of the ground personnel from the date that Col Jack Wood embarked for England, until the time that Wood returned with the flight echelon from its detached service with the 9th Air Force in North Africa.

Milton W. Arnold

From: December 30, 1943
To: March 29, 1944

Col Arnold was promoted from Chief of Staff, 2nd Combat Wing to 389th CO on December 30, 1943. He left the 389th to assume command of 2nd Combat Wing. On May 2, 1945, he was transferred to Hq 2nd Air Division when Jimmy Stewart was promoted to CO of the 2nd Combat Wing. Arnold was replaced by Col Robert B. Miller.

Robert B. Miller

From: March 29, 1944
To: August 16, 1944

Col Miller was serving as the 389th's Air Executive Officer when he was promoted to 389th CO. He was promoted to Air Inspector of the 2nd Bomb Division and was replaced by Col Ramsay Potts.

Ramsay D. Potts

From: August 17, 1944
To: December 3, 1944

Potts served as Deputy Group CO of the 93rd BG under Ted Timberlake. On December 30, 1943, he was transferred to 2nd Combat Bomber Wing to serve as Chief of Staff. On March 19, 1944, he assumed command of the 453rd BG, and served in that position until July 6, 1944. He was appointed CO of the 389th on August 17, 1944, serving until December 3, 1944. Potts left the 389th to serve as Chief of Staff, 2nd Combat Bomber Wing on December 5, 1944. He was replaced by Col John B. Herboth. Potts was later transferred to Hq 8th Air Force on January 29, 1945.

John B. Herboth

From: December 4, 1944
To: April 7, 1945

Lt Col Herboth had been serving as the 389th's Air Executive Officer since July 27, 1944, when he was promoted to colonel and assumed command of the Group. His term was tragically cut short when he was KIA on the April 7, 1945, mission to Duneberg, Germany. (See mission report this date.)

Chester Morneau
(Interim CO)

From: April 7, 1945
To: April 14, 1945

Lt Col Morneau, 389th Air Executive Officer temporarily assumed command of the Group when Col Herboth was KIA. Lt Col Jack G. Merrell was appointed permament CO one week later.

Jack G. Merrell

From: April 14, 1945
To: October 1945

Lt Col Merrell went to England in May 1944 and became the Air Executive Officer of the 491st BG. He was appointed CO of the 389th when Col Herboth was KIA. Merrell returned to the States with the 389th to Charleston, South Carolina in June 1945 and remained in command until the group was deactiviated.