Assigned to the The 91st Bomb Group (Heavy) was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. Classified as a heavy bombardment group, the 91st operated B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft and was known unofficially as "The Ragged Irregulars" or as "Wray's Ragged Irregulars", after the commander who took the group to England. During its service in World War II the unit consisted of the 322nd, 323rd, 324th, and 401st Bomb Squadrons. The 91st Bomb Group is most noted as the unit in which the bomber Memphis Belle flew, and for having suffered the greatest number of losses of any heavy bomb group in World War II.
The 91st Bomb Group conducted 340 bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force over Europe, operating out of RAF Bassingbourn. Inactivated at the end of the war, the group was brought back in 1947 as a reconnaissance group of the United States Air Force, and then had its lineage and honors bestowed on like-numbered wings of the Strategic Air Command, the Air Force Space Command and the Air Force Global Strike Command. Rurel was a top turret gunner on 3 different B-17 Bombers; Miss Ouachita, Nine O' Nine; and Blue Dreams as well as acting Crew Chief. Passed away from lung cancer.
He has one son, MSgt R. E. Wood, USAF; Special Operations; Vietnam Combat Veteran.
The 91st Bomb Group conducted 340 bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force over Europe, operating out of RAF Bassingbourn. Inactivated at the end of the war, the group was brought back in 1947 as a reconnaissance group of the United States Air Force, and then had its lineage and honors bestowed on like-numbered wings of the Strategic Air Command, the Air Force Space Command and the Air Force Global Strike Command. Rurel was a top turret gunner on 3 different B-17 Bombers; Miss Ouachita, Nine O' Nine; and Blue Dreams as well as acting Crew Chief. Passed away from lung cancer.
He has one son, MSgt R. E. Wood, USAF; Special Operations; Vietnam Combat Veteran.
Assigned to the The 91st Bomb Group (Heavy) was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. Classified as a heavy bombardment group, the 91st operated B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft and was known unofficially as "The Ragged Irregulars" or as "Wray's Ragged Irregulars", after the commander who took the group to England. During its service in World War II the unit consisted of the 322nd, 323rd, 324th, and 401st Bomb Squadrons. The 91st Bomb Group is most noted as the unit in which the bomber Memphis Belle flew, and for having suffered the greatest number of losses of any heavy bomb group in World War II.
The 91st Bomb Group conducted 340 bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force over Europe, operating out of RAF Bassingbourn. Inactivated at the end of the war, the group was brought back in 1947 as a reconnaissance group of the United States Air Force, and then had its lineage and honors bestowed on like-numbered wings of the Strategic Air Command, the Air Force Space Command and the Air Force Global Strike Command. Rurel was a top turret gunner on 3 different B-17 Bombers; Miss Ouachita, Nine O' Nine; and Blue Dreams as well as acting Crew Chief. Passed away from lung cancer.
He has one son, MSgt R. E. Wood, USAF; Special Operations; Vietnam Combat Veteran.
The 91st Bomb Group conducted 340 bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force over Europe, operating out of RAF Bassingbourn. Inactivated at the end of the war, the group was brought back in 1947 as a reconnaissance group of the United States Air Force, and then had its lineage and honors bestowed on like-numbered wings of the Strategic Air Command, the Air Force Space Command and the Air Force Global Strike Command. Rurel was a top turret gunner on 3 different B-17 Bombers; Miss Ouachita, Nine O' Nine; and Blue Dreams as well as acting Crew Chief. Passed away from lung cancer.
He has one son, MSgt R. E. Wood, USAF; Special Operations; Vietnam Combat Veteran.
