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This
video tells the story of the 381st Bomb Group (Heavy) during World
War II.
This
unit provides a viewing guide with vocabulary
and pre- and post-viewing
discussion questions. There is also an enrichment
activity which allow students to extend their knowledge or
practice specific skills.
Learning
Objectives
- Identify
events in the beginning, middle, and end (or outcome) of an
historical narrative.
- Identify
the financial, material, and human costs of the war.
- Discuss
the effect of daylight bombing on the lives of the aircrews
of the 381st Bomb Group.
National
History Standards Correlations
- Standard
1: The student thinks chronologically. (Objective 1)
- Standard
2: The student comprehends historical narratives. (Objectives
1 and 2)
- Standard
3B (Era 8): The student understands World War II and how the
Allies prevailed. (Objective 3)
Vocabulary
(return to top)
| formation |
boom
town |
cadre |
| daylight
bombing |
creature
comforts |
air
echelon |
| Tokyo
tanks |
diversionary |
harrowing |
| materiel |
sorties |
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Discussion
Before Viewing (return
to top)
- What
do you think the job of bomb groups such as the 381st was during
the war?
- Locate
both Pyote, Texas and Ridgewell, England on a map.
[After
student discussion, teacher should give a brief introduction of
the objectives and topic to be studied.]
Discussion
After Viewing (return
to top)
- Why
was Pyote called the "Rattlesnake Bomber Base?"
- What
effect did the b ulding of the base have on the town of Pyote?
- Describe
the path most of the planes took to get to England. What was
the reason for this type of route?
- What
types of transportation was used to move the group to England?
- Discuss
the tragedy that occurred on the ground at Ridgewell.
- What
was so big about "Big Week?"
- How
did a change in fighter tactics help in increasing mission survivability
rates? What else was done to increase the chances that aircrews
would survive?
- Discuss
the importance of ground support to the bomb groups success
in the air.
- What
role did the 381st play on D-Day?
- What
type of targets were selected for bombing missions? Why do you
think these were chosen?
- What
has become of Pyote and Ridgewell today?
Activity
for Enrichment and Extension (return
to top)
| Nose
Art Activity |
|
This
project allows students to view and analyze the nose art
of the aircraft of the 381st Bomb Group during World War
II.
Click
here
for an online project outline.
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