384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in World War II

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Home / 384th After WWII / The "GREEN PROJECT" /

1945-09-25 Commendation Page 1

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This Letter of Commendation from Headquarters VIII Fighter Command to the Commanding Officer, 40th Bomb Wing, (who had cognizance over the Istres Operation), is for the successful completion of the Green Project. The Letter is dated 25 September 1945.

Two BG's, the 384th & the 92nd, were assigned to participate in the Green Project. At some point the 384th was deactivated and returned to the U.S. - on paper that is. All former 384th personnel, therefore, were transferred to the 92nd BG. Probably orders were cut and distributed to all former 384thers formalizing the transfer. Organizationally, the 92nd BG came under the 40th Bomb Wing.

The Green Project was in operation from 15 June to 10 September 1945. During that period over 39,000 military personnel were flown from Istres to Casablanca, North Africa. The flight time was approximately six hours. After passengers and baggage were unloaded at the Casablanca Airport, we would fly back up the coast(approx. 80 miles) to the U.S. Naval Base located at Port Lyautey (pronounced La-o tee), North Africa. The next morning French civilians (DP's or Displaced Persons) primarily women and children would board the airplane, and be given instructions, through an interpreter, relative to the flight back to Istres, and then on to Marseilles via ground transportation. Over 11,000 such civilians were flown out of North Africa to Istres during the Green Project time period.

Probably most, if not all, military and civilian personnel involved were flying for the very first time. Lavatory facilities on "Istres Airline" consisted of one bucket. Sometimes rough air caused the need to use the "bathroom" and/or the reason for it being missed. Thus, the need for an occasional "clean-up".

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