History of the Association, by Joe Waddell, past Association Secretary/Treasurer.

The association was formed in 1977 at an Eighth Air Force Association reunion when six 381st BG veterans decided to try to find other group veterans and hold collateral meetings at the 8th AF reunions. They found about twenty other 381st BG veterans and held their first independent meeting at Hershey, PA, in 1978 with John Wierman as host.

T. Paxton "Pax" Sherwood was an driving force behind the early years of the association. The association has held annual reunions each year since 1978.

The association is incorporated in the state of Wisconsin and has nonprofit status granted by the IRS.

The purpose of the association is to encourage fraternal activities, foster patriotism and loyalty, maintain historical records, assist members of the association and their families, maintain allegiance to the United States, and to preserve and defend it from all enemies. - from the association constitution adopted in 1989.

The association publishes a newsletter generally  twice a year, holds well attended yearly reunions, regularly produces a membership directory, has an active forum, answers research questions via this web site, offers association materials for sale via the PX, and much more.

The 381st has held annual reunions since 1978.  Here's a list of when, where, and who organized the reunion. In 2001 the association began using a commercial service to coordinate the reunions.

*The 2005 reunion was originally scheduled for New Orleans; however, hurricane Katrina forced the reunion to be relocated to St. Louis.