456th Bomb Group
GroupIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Constituted as 456th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Trained with B-24's for duty overseas. Moved to Italy, Dec 1943-Jan 1944. Began combat with Fifteenth AF in Feb 1944, operating chiefly against strategic targets until late in Apr 1945. Early operations included attacks against such objectives as marshalling yards, aircraft factories, railroad bridges, and airdromes in Italy, Austria, and Rumania. Received a DUC for performance at Wiener Neustadt on 10 May 1944: when other groups turned back because of adverse weather, the 456th proceeded to the target and, withstanding repeated attacks by enemy interceptors, bombed the manufacturing center. Helped to prepare the way for and supported the invasion of Southern France during Jul and Aug 1944. At the same time, expanded previous operations to include attacks on oil refineries and storage facilities, locomotive works, and viaducts in France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Balkans.
Received second DUC for a mission in Hungary on 2 Jul 1944 when the group braved severe fighter attacks and antiaircraft fire to bomb oil facilities at Budapest. In Apr 1945 bombed gun positions, bridges, roads, depots, and rail lines to support US Fifth and British Eighth Army in their advance through Italy. Transported supplies to airfields in northern Italy after V-E Day.
Allotted to the reserve. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.
Connections
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Unit stations
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based |
Stornara |
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 746th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32942382
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 744th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18193939
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 744th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14063777
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 745th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793086
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 744th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-712805
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Gallopin' Ghost / Jenny
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 746th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Emperor Jones
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 744th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Miss Laid
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 746th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Red Hot Riding Hood
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group 490th Bomb Group 849th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 456th Bomb Group
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia