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World War II–dated light pink 3.75 x 2.25 MacDill Field identification card for Private Donald F. Koeller, issued as a Class B Pass for the 340th Bomb Squadron (H) AFCC, stamp-dated March 21, 1942, and bearing an affixed photo of Koellen in the lower left. Authorized and signed in fountain pen by Tibbets as the commanding officer, "P. W. Tibbets, Jr., Capt." In very good to fine condition, with light staining and general handling wear.
From Tibbets' USAF biography: 'In April 1941, General Tibbets became group engineering officer of the 3d Attack Group, Hunter Air Force Base, Savannah, Ga. On Dec. 4, 1941, he received orders to join the 29th Bomb Group at MacDill Field; however, before reporting to MacDill he was placed on temporary duty to take 21 B-18s to Pope Field, Fort Bragg, N.C. to form an anti-submarine patrol. In February 1942, General Tibbets actually reported for duty with the 29th Bomb Group at MacDill as engineering officer. After three weeks, he was made commander of the 340th Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group, which was formed from a cadre taken from the 29th Bomb Group. From February until June 1942, he was in training for an overseas movement.'
Tibbets' leadership at MacDill earned him recognition, setting the stage for his later selection to command the 509th Composite Group, which carried out the atomic bomb missions in 1945.
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