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20th Combat Bomb Wing

Wing

  • Sergeant Albert R Krassman of the 446th Bomb Group with a B-24 Liberator (RT-H, serial number 44-40268) nicknamed

    Sergeant Albert R Krassman of the 446th Bomb Group with a B-24 Liberator (RT-H, serial number 44-40268) nicknamed "Kentucky Belle". Image via Albert R Krassman Jr Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Kentucky Belle" call "H". B-24J-156-Co, 4440268, 706 Bomb Squadron (H), 446 Bomb Group (H), 20th Combat Bomb Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th USAF. Sgt Albert R Krassman JR, AAF station 125, Flixtion, Bungay, Suffolk, England, Spring 1945.'

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  • 1944 - Home of Crew #16, Seething Airfield, Norfolk, England 448th BG, 712th BS, Crew #16.

    1944 - Home of Crew #16, Seething Airfield, Norfolk, England 448th BG, 712th BS, Crew #16.

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  • 1944 - Sgt Robert Cook, Seething Airfield, Norfolk, England 448th BG, 712th BS, Crew #16 Sgt Cook had an English family that he visited near the airfield. The man was a Bobbie and allowed Sgt Cook to borrow his uniform for the picture.

    1944 - Sgt Robert Cook, Seething Airfield, Norfolk, England 448th BG, 712th BS, Crew #16 Sgt Cook had an English family that he visited near the airfield. The man was a Bobbie and allowed Sgt Cook to borrow his uniform for the picture.

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  • 1944 - Sgt Robert Cook, Seething Airfield, Norfolk, England 448th BG, 712th BS, Crew #16, at home in the hut.

    1944 - Sgt Robert Cook, Seething Airfield, Norfolk, England 448th BG, 712th BS, Crew #16, at home in the hut.

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  • 8th Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 20th Combat Wing, 448th Bomb Group, 712th Bomb Squadron, Crew #17. L-R Stand.- Sgt Robert Cook (G), Sgt Jack Porter (G), Sgt Kenneth Dyer (R), Sgt Billy Espich (G), Sgt Edwin Pixley (G), SSgt Charlie Dugosh (E) L-R Kneeling - 1st Lt Robert Winn (P), 2nd Lt James Harmon (CP), 2nd Lt David Tobin (N), 2nd Lt Richard Brady (B)

    8th Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 20th Combat Wing, 448th Bomb Group, 712th Bomb Squadron, Crew #17. L-R Stand.- Sgt Robert Cook (G), Sgt Jack Porter (G), Sgt Kenneth Dyer (R), Sgt Billy Espich (G), Sgt Edwin Pixley (G), SSgt Charlie Dugosh (E) L-R Kneeling - 1st Lt Robert Winn (P), 2nd Lt James Harmon (CP), 2nd Lt David Tobin (N), 2nd Lt Richard Brady (B)

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  • Crew 16, 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bombardment Group, 20th Combat Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force. Standing (L-R): 2nd Lt. Naseeb Tweel-Navigator, 2nd Lt. Earle P. Durley Jr.-Pilot, 2nd Lt. Lester Bise-Bombardier Kneeling (L-R) S/Sgt. Roy E Maker-Waist Gunner, S/Sgt. Edwin Pixley-Ball Turrent Gunner, S/Sgt. Billy Espich-Tail Gunner, S/Sgt. Edmond Rock-Radio, T/Sgt. Clarence H. Stark-First Engineer-Top Turret Gunner, Robert Cook-Waist Gunner.

    Crew 16, 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bombardment Group, 20th Combat Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force. Standing (L-R): 2nd Lt. Naseeb Tweel-Navigator, 2nd Lt. Earle P. Durley Jr.-Pilot, 2nd Lt. Lester Bise-Bombardier Kneeling (L-R) S/Sgt. Roy E Maker-Waist Gunner, S/Sgt. Edwin Pixley-Ball Turrent Gunner, S/Sgt. Billy Espich-Tail Gunner, S/Sgt. Edmond Rock-Radio, T/Sgt. Clarence H. Stark-First Engineer-Top Turret Gunner, Robert Cook-Waist Gunner.

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  • 93rd Bomb Group Roll of Honor at Airfield Farm, Hardwick

    93rd Bomb Group Roll of Honor at Airfield Farm, Hardwick

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  • Airfield Farm Memorial, Hardwick

    Airfield Farm Memorial, Hardwick

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  • Airfield Farm Memorial, Hardwick

    Airfield Farm Memorial, Hardwick

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  • A B-24 Liberator of the 446th Bomb Group begins to crash whilst Liberators of the 20th Combat Bomb Wing release bombs over Tours. Official caption on image:

    A B-24 Liberator of the 446th Bomb Group begins to crash whilst Liberators of the 20th Combat Bomb Wing release bombs over Tours. Official caption on image: "One B-24 Goes Down While Others Bomb Nazi Positions. US AAF Photo 225-4." Handwritten caption on reverse: '51576 A/C. 3 different B/G's. 446?'

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Prewar bombardment wing in the northwest. Moved to England, May–June 1943, for duty with Eighth Air Force. Received its first groups in November 1943 and served in combat in the European theater from December 1943 until April 1945. Returned to the US in August 1945 and prepared for B-29 Superfortress operations, although had no combat components assigned. Reassigned to Strategic Air Command postwar Eighth Air Force in May 1946 and elevated to VIII Bombardment Command. Inactivated before becoming operational in November 1946.

Structure

Part of
  • 2nd Air Division

    2nd Air Division

    Division
    In December 1944, the 2nd Bomb Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.

  • 2nd Bomb Division

    2nd Bomb Division

    Division
    The groups under the command of the 2nd Bomb Wing came under the command of the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.

Encompassing
  • 446th Bomb Group

    446th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 446th Bomb Group, who came to be known as "the Bungay Buckaroos" after the name of their Suffolk base, flew B-24 Liberators on strategic, support and interdictory missions over Europe. The Group led the Eighth Air Force and 2nd Bomb Division on the...

  • 448th Bomb Group

    448th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and...

  • 489th Bomb Group

    489th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 489th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Halesworth, Suffolk, for several months from May 1944 until later in the year. The Group flew tactical missions in support of ground forces in northern France. It was in this tactical role that the crews...

  • 93rd Bomb Group

    93rd Bomb Group

    Group
    93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they...

  • 25th Station Complement Squadron

    25th Station Complement Squadron

    Squadron

  • 58th Station Complement Squadron

    58th Station Complement Squadron

    Squadron

  • 5th Station Complement Squadron

    5th Station Complement Squadron

    Squadron

  • Headquarters (20th Combat Bomb Wing)

    Headquarters (20th Combat Bomb Wing)

    Headquarters

  • 1094th Quartermaster Company

    1094th Quartermaster Company

    Company

  • 1193rd Military Police Company

    1193rd Military Police Company

    Company

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Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Connections

People

  • Robert Ayrest

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 448th Bomb Group
    2nd Lt. Robert C. Ayrest was born on April 21, 1921. His hometown was Inglewood, California. His wife was Mary L. Ayrest, two sons Robert Claud and Howard Donald, and a brother Alan. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity at UCLA. ...

  • Richard Brady

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    On 5 Jan 1944 B-24H #42-64451. Upon landing in poor visibility and ice on runway, A/C ran off runway and crashed.

  • Robert Brady

    Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner. Bryson's crew | 448th Bomb Group

  • Wilbur Bryson

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 448th Bomb Group

  • Alfred Cannon

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 448th Bomb Group
    Alfred E. Cannon was born 25 Feb 1919 in Queens, New York. In Apr 1943 he became the Navigator in the initial formation of Crew 11, 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group at Gowen Field, Idaho. In Nov 1943 Crew 11 arrived at Seething England and from...

  • Gerald Carroll

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 448th Bomb Group
    S/Sgt. Gerald Carroll was born 24 Sep 1921 in Silver Bow, Montana. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps 08 Aug 1941. In Apr 1943 he became the Top Turret Gunner and First Engineer in the initial formation of Crew 11, 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group...

  • Norbert Duginske

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner, Second Engineer | 448th Bomb Group
    S/Sgt. Norbert Mike Duginske was born in Merrill, Wisconsin 01 Jan 1920. He enlisted 11 Feb 1941 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In Apr 1943 he became the Waist Gunner and Second Engineer in the initial formation of Crew 11, 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb...

  • Charlie Dugosh

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner ; Flight Engineer / Ball Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 712BS, 488BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 564BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. On 5-Jan-44 B-24H 42-64451. Upon landing in poor visibility and ice on runway, A/C ran off runway and crashed. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Pforzheim in B-24 41-28763,...

  • Earle Durley

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 448th Bomb Group
    Capt Earle P Durley Jr went to England as a member of the 8th Air Force, 2nd Air division, 20th Combat Wing, 448th Bomb Group, 712th Bomb Squadron, Crew #16. They flew the Southern Route to England, leaving Harrington Airfield in Kansas on 15-Nov-1943...

  • Kenneth Dyer

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 448th Bomb Group
    S/Sgt. Kenneth L. Dyer was born August 7, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He enlisted in Indianapolis on November 12, 1942. He was a Radio Operator while assigned to "Boomerang" (42-52132) Jan-Feb 1944, "Little Sheppard" (41-28711) Feb-Mar 1944 and ...

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Aircraft

  • 41-28711 "Little Sheppard"

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. ...

  • 42-52132 "Boomerang"

    B-24 Liberator
    Liberator B-24H-10-FO (42-52132) was assigned to Crew 11 of the 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group in October 1943. It was named "Boomerang" by the crew when they arrived at Forbes Field, Kansas to take ownership after their training was completed....

Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known
Aircraft used
  • B-17 Flying Fortress
  • B-24 Liberator

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
03 March 2021 23:06:56 dmccullo Changes to description, aircraft types and aircraft associations
Sources

Updated history.
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2021 20:33:16 dmccullo Changes to person associations and aircraft associations
Sources

Added Crew 11, 448th BG.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:44 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

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