8th Air Force 968

25 April 1945
media-19249.jpeg UPL 19249 25 April 1945 - Traunstein Power Station - 25 April 1945
Note the Alps in the top of the photo.
This was the last 466th BG combat mission 466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Archives

Object Number - UPL 19249 - 25 April 1945 - Traunstein Power Station - 25 April 1945 Note the Alps in the top of the photo. This was the last 466th BG combat mission

Mission Details

BAD REICHENHALL

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: This is the last combat mission flown by the 392 BG. They have flown 285 missions in 7,060 sorties and dropped 17,452 tons of bombs. They report 127 aircraft MIA. They were the first B-24 BG in the 8th AF. Despite heavy losses their bombing efficiency was better than average for 2nd Boomb Division groups during their 9 months of operations. Aircraft ldeparted the UK on 29 May 45. Ground unit sailed on the Queen Mary on 15 Jun 45. Group inactivated 13 Sep 45. This is the last combat mission flown by the 445th BG. They have flown 282 missions in 7,145 sorties and dropped 16,732 tons of bombs. They report 108 aircraft MIA. They were judged to have above average bombing accuracy in the 2nd Bomb Division for the last six months of the war. Aircraft departed the Uk on 20 May 45. Ths ground unit sailed on the USAT Argentine in early Jun 45. Group inactivated 12 Sep 45.

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: This is the last combat mission flown by the 446th BG. They have flown 273 missions in 7,259 sorties and dropped 16,819 tons of bombs. They report 58 aircraft MIA. The 706thBS flew 62 consecutive missions and the 707th Bomb Squadron flew 68 missions without a loss. B-24 TN?????? "RONNIE" was the first 8th AF B-24 to fly 100 missions. Aircraft departed the UK in mid-June 1945. One aircraft TN?????? was lost over the Azores. Ground unit sailed on the Queen Mary on 6 July 45. Group inactivated on 28 Aug 45. This is the last combat mission flown by the 448th BG. They have flown 262 missions in 6,774 sorties and dropped 15,272 tons of bombs. They report 101 aircraft MIA. Aircraft depart UK in mid-June 1945. Ground unit sails on the Queen Mary on 6 Jul 45. Group inactivated 4 Aug 45.

PILSEN

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: These are the last combat missions flown by 8th AF in World War II. This mission was led by the 92nd BG. They lose one MIA and one DBR. This is the last mission flown by the 91st Bomb Group. They have flown 340 missions in 9,591 sorties and dropped 22,142 tons of bombs. They report 197 aircraft MIA, the highest aircraft MIA total in 8th AF. Aircraft depart the UK on 27 MAy 45 Ground unit sails on the Queen Elizabeth on 24 Jun45. Group inactivated 7 Nov 45. B-17 TN 42-32095 ACK-ACK ANNIE flies its 143rd mission. This is the last mission flown by the 92nd BG. They have flown 308 missions in 8,633 sorties and dropped 20,829 tons of bombs They report 154 aircraft MIA. Oldest BG in the 8th AF. The 327th BS was only 8th AFunit equipped with the YB-40. Assigned to troop movment duties from 15 Jun 45 to 9 Sep 45. They moved 19,935 American troops and 5,672 French troops.

PILSEN/SKODA

Description: ARMAMENT PLANT

Notes: This is the last combat mission flown by the 398th BG. They have flown 195 missions in 6,419 sorties and dropped 15,781 tons of bombs. They report 58 aircraft MIA. Aircraft left the UK 21-27 May 45. Ground unit sailed on the Queen Elizabeth 22 Jun 45. Group inactivated on 1 Sep 45.

PRAGUE-LINZ

Description: FIGHTER SWEEP

SALZBURG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: This is the last combat mission flown by the 44th BG. They have flown 343 misisons in 8,009 sorties and dropped 18,980 tons of bombs. They report 153 aircraft MIA, highest in 8th AF for B-24s. They were the first USAAF group to be equipped with B-24 Liberators. They operated from the UK longer than any other B-24 BG. They claimed more enemy fighters than any other B-24 BG in 8th AF. Aircraft left UK 22 May 45. Ground unit sailed on the Queen Mary 15 Jun 45. Group inactivated 12 July 46. This is the last combat mission flown by the 93rd BG. They have flown 396 missions, the most of any 8th AF BG, in 8,169 sorties and dropped 19,004 tons of bombs. They report 100 aricraft MIA. They were the oldest B-24 Bomb Group in 8th AF and also the most traveled. Awarded DUC for operationd in N. Africa from 17 Dec 42 through 20 Feb 43. B-24, TN ??????? "BOMERANG" was the first B-24 in 8th AF to fly 50 missions. Aircraft left the UK on 24 May45. Ground unit sailed on the Quuen Mary on 15 Jun 45.

TRAUNSTEIN

Description: ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMERS

Notes: This is the last combat mission flown by the 458th BG. They have flown 240 missions in 5,759 sorties and dropped 13,204 tons of bombs. They report 47 aircraft MIA. They carried out the first operational test of the AZON radio-controlled bomb 31 May 44. Aircraft departed the UK on 14 Jun 45. Ground unit sailed on the Queen Mary 6 Jul 45. Group inactivated 17 Oct 45. This is the last combat mission flown by the 466th BG. They have flown 232 missions in 5,762 sorties and dropped 12,914 tons of bombs. They report 47 aircraft MIA with other operational losses of 24 aircraft. The 785th Bomb Squadron flew 55 consecutive missions without a loss. The aircraft decorated the UK in mid-June 1945. The ground unit sailed on the Queen Mary on 6 Jun 45. Group inactivated 17 Oct 45.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-720421
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2075620
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 852nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15122521
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36683324
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Togglier, Enlisted, Nose Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Kenny
  • Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Carol Leigh
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Dog
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell's Messenger
  • Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 364th Fighter Group 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lilly Belle
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron 398th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG HIstorian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.

8th Air Force 968: Gallery (6 items)