Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber squadron in mid-1943, it was assigned to the II Bomber Command for training. It trained primarily in New Mexico and Utah. The squadron received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in August 1943. It moved to Georgia and Virginia where it flew coastal patrol missions over the southeast US, between October 1943 and January 1944 while its station in Italy was being constructed.

It deployed to Southern Italy and entered combat in January 1944; being assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force 55th Bombardment Wing. It was engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions on enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia. It bombed railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations and heavy industry.

The squadron flew its last World War II combat mission on 26 April 1945. After V-E Day, it was assigned to the 'Green Project' which was the movement of troops from Europe to the United States via the South Atlantic transport route. Its B-24s were modified with sealed bomb bays, the removal of all defensive armament and an internal fuselage equipped with seating to carry approximately 30 personnel. It was assigned to Air Transport Command at Waller Field, Trinidad and to Natal, Brazil. It moved personnel from Dakar in French West Africa where personnel were conveyed across the South Atlantic to Brazil and eventually to Morrison Field, Florida via Trinidad. This air transport was provided until the end of September when the unit was inactivated.

Structure

Part of

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  460th Bomb Group

  Group
  Constituted as 460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in May 1943. Activated on 1 July 1943. Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment unit; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in New Mexico and Utah. Received deployment orders...

Encompassing

Not yet known

Previously was

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Became

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Connections

People

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  Rubin Harkey

  Military | Sergeant | Engineer | 460th Bomb Group
  KIA. Shot while trying to evade capture at/near Paling, Ger. US trial found no war crime and acquitted the soldier who shot him.

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  Edward Kovaleski

  Military | First Sergeant (1st Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner and Assistant Flight Engineer | 460th Bomb Group
  On April 26, 1945, he was an Assistant Engineer aboard the B-24 44-40495, named the “Seldom Available”, on a mid-day bombing mission from Spinnazola Air Field to Klagenfurt (Austria) Rail Marshalling Yards. The ship suffered mechanical failure, and...

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  Armin Van Dale

  Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 460th Bomb Group
  Shot down in B-24J #42-50888 on 22/09/44, E of Tittmoning, Ger. and taken POW. Returned to Duty.

Aircraft

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  42-50888

  B-24 Liberator
  Shot down 22/09/1944 east of Tittmoning, Ger. MACR 8739

Citations

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