After moving to Sioux City, Iowa on July 5th, 1943, where they began their second phase of training, the 445th Bomb Group received it's new combat crews. The flying personnel came pouring in from Boise, Idaho and the 18th Replacement Center in Salt Lake, Utah.

The crews continued to build confidence in each other's actions as flying operations intensified.  It was at Sioux City that the 445th suffered their first casualties.  In less than a week there were three crashes, with the first fatalities.  With the move to Sioux City came the first of many shuffles of staff members and promotions.  One noted celebrity joined the unit as Operations officer in the 703rd Bomb Squadron, then became the squadron commander: James M. 'Jimmy' Stewart.

Headquarters Detachment

Commanding Officer's Special Staff

700th Bombardment Squadron Staff Officers

701st Bombardment Squadron Staff Officers

702nd Bombardment Squadron Staff Officers

703rd Bombardment Squadron Staff Officers

Group Picnic held in Sioux City, Iowa in August, 1943

Just prior to the orders of transfer to overseas duty, Lt Col Robert H. Terrill, now Colonel, requested that each individual squadron hold a picnic at Riverside Park, a few miles from Sioux City, Iowa.

All of the squadrons sensed the movement was in the air and the suggestion of a party was the spark that set off the big show. All were enthused and much to-do was made over the coming event, the last for some time to come.

A few of the more fortunate ones brought their wives; the others brought their girl friends (of course the married men whose wives were not there did not bring a date). Beer was to be had by all, by the barrel and food was abundant. Little did the men know the value of the eggs that were thrown at each other as the party got going or of the beer that was spilled, for they would not taste the likes of it for a good long spell.
 

Role of the American Red Cross with the unit:

To most of the personnel of this group, Red Cross was only a word. They had casual acquaintance with it's work through news reports of disasters and epidemics prior to their entry into the service. They were also cognizant of the annual Red Cross drive for funds. Maybe, if they were employed, they kicked in their dollar to the fund. Beyond that, they gave the Red Cross very little thought.

Upon their entry into the service, they began to sense the presence of the Red Cross representatives in every camp at which they were stationed. Personal contacts at first were few and far between.

Such was the picture as the group came in to Wendover Field, Utah. It was there that Mr. John E. Van Laanen, Field Director, joined up with the unit. His assignment to the Group was signed in Washington, D.C., effective June 18th, 1943.

Personal contact with the Red Cross was had by only a very few of the personnel. Preparations were underway for the transfer of the unit to it's next and last stations in the States for the final phases of training, and aside from a few emergency cases handled through the base Red Cross Field Director's office, the greater part of the Group still had no contact with it.

Sioux City Army Air Base brought the first realization to the personnel of the Group that the American Red Cross was on the job to serve them. Because the pressure of training, most of the trimmings were relegated to the rear. Time could not be found for entertainment. It was here that a big part of the personnel began to realize that the Red Cross was their connecting link between themselves and their homes.

Week after week Mr. Van Laanen remained in the Red Cross office to all hours of the night. Innumerable boys were sent on their way home without delay after receiving a wire from home of some emergency demanding their presence. The Red Cross verification of the need for the soldier's presence claimed a big part of the time of the Field Director. Unnumbered cases of every imaginable type were handled by the Field Director.

Loans for the final furlough prior to going overseas capped the Red Cross service in the States. By the very nature of the unit and it's final phase of training, these leaves could not be let in any semblance of order. Crew after crew, section after section, officers and men flocked to the Red Cross office to secure a loan to enable them to make their final trip home. Those were hectic days but the Red Cross came through for the personnel of the Group in great shape, and the boys of the Group, in great numbers, had their first personal contact with the Red Cross.

During the final weeks in the States, preparation for moving overseas occupied most everyone's time. Emergency's at home were few. The ground echelon started first for it's Port of Embarkation (P.O.E.), and being the larger of the two elements, the Field Director traveled with them. The flight echelon remained behind for a period of time and was not to join the ground echelon until weeks later in England. Assurance was given the Field Director that all necessary supplies and equipment for his needs for the Group would be waiting for him at the P.O.E. There was nothing for him at the P.O.E.
 

Final Phase of Training

More advanced training would take place as the newly formed squadrons of the 445th, 700th, 701st, 702nd, and 703rd would move to their respective training fields for approximately 30 days in September, 1943.

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