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452nd Bomb Group

Group

  • The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.

    The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.

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  • Technical Sergeant Everett L Wales and Staff Sergeant James J Doherty of the 452nd Bomb Group debrief in a Nissen hut after the Romilly mission. Image via Walt Chochrek. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew members of

    Technical Sergeant Everett L Wales and Staff Sergeant James J Doherty of the 452nd Bomb Group debrief in a Nissen hut after the Romilly mission. Image via Walt Chochrek. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew members of "The Punched Fowl" 452nd B Grp, 730 Sqdn. [asterisk indicates the airman in deceased] Left T/Sgt Everett L Wales*- Radio operator, Right S/Sgt James J Doherty- tail gunner. Photo taken Feb 4 (2-6-44) Debriefing in the Nissen hut for the Romilly, France mission. Our first mission. The group's second. Doherty and Haggerty shot down ME-201, 6 O'clock level- a ball of smoke.'

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  • Airmen inspect a battle damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107091) of the 452nd Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: 'ISAD-9-May-44-1011 (WPU, Crash Battle Damage, B17G-42-107091, Rattlesden) FA.' Image stamped on reverse: 'Official Photograph US Photographic section.' [stamp]

    Airmen inspect a battle damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107091) of the 452nd Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: 'ISAD-9-May-44-1011 (WPU, Crash Battle Damage, B17G-42-107091, Rattlesden) FA.' Image stamped on reverse: 'Official Photograph US Photographic section.' [stamp]

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 452nd Bomb Group flies over the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin during a raid. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin 29/4/44. 452 BG.'

    A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 452nd Bomb Group flies over the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin during a raid. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin 29/4/44. 452 BG.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97904) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97904) nicknamed "Lady Jeanette" of the 452nd Bomb Group drops bombs over the target. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Stuttgart 5 Sept 44. 452 BG Mott A/C.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-39973) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-39973) nicknamed "Inside Curve" of the 452nd Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '61673 AC- Boeing B-17 "Inside Curve", part of a formation of Flying Fortresses of the 452nd Bomb Group, heads for its bomb run over Berlin, Germany. Heavies of the 8th Air Force struck deeper and deeper into Nazi territory, paralyzing supply lines and vital war industries in direct support of the grinding offensives on the ground east to west. 9 March 1944. Please credit: Official US Air Force Photo.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31334) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31334) nicknamed "Three Cads and a Lad" of the 452nd Bomb Group.

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  • The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed

    The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lady Stardust" of the 452nd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '452nd BG # 297345 29 April 45.' The caption is incorrect. B-17G 42-97345 was silver with a chin turret. This is an "F" model.

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  • The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group and the 728th, 729th, 730th and 731st Bomb Squadrons. Image via Walt Chochrek. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'How's this for Yankee insignia Roger?'

    The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group and the 728th, 729th, 730th and 731st Bomb Squadrons. Image via Walt Chochrek. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'How's this for Yankee insignia Roger?'

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  • Everett L Wales, George W Haggerty, Walt Chochrek and James J Doherty of the 730th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group sit on a jeep. Image via Walt Chochrek. Handwritten caption on reverse: '[Asterisks indicate airman is deceased] Wales*, Haggerty*, Chochrek and Doherty.

    Everett L Wales, George W Haggerty, Walt Chochrek and James J Doherty of the 730th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group sit on a jeep. Image via Walt Chochrek. Handwritten caption on reverse: '[Asterisks indicate airman is deceased] Wales*, Haggerty*, Chochrek and Doherty. "The Deadwood Kids" (South Dakota)- Where's Ivan? (Dixon) lost soul.'

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The 452nd Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deopham Green, Norfolk, from January 1944. The air crews hit strategic sites in Germany but also supported the movement of ground forces across Europe after D-Day. On 6 June 1944 itself, the Group bombed coastal defences before the landings. The 452nd Group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing a jet fighter base at Kaltenkirchen, northern Germany, on 7 April 1945, under intense pressure from enemy fighters and anti-aircraft flak.

Commanding officers

  • Herbert Wangeman

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot/Commanding Officer | 305th Bomb Group Can Do

  • Marvin Stalder

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Group commander | 452nd Bomb Group
    Group Commanding Officer: 28 February 1944-29 March 1944.

  • Robert Satterwhite

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Staff | 388th Bomb Group

  • Thetus Odom

    Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 452nd Bomb Group
    Col. Odom was CO 452nd BG at DEOPHAM GREEN 3 March 44 – 24 July 44. He was acting Group Leader 11 April 1944 towards Rostock when AC 42-39995 ‘COW TOWN BOOGIE’ had to make a forced landing in Sweden.

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • 8th Air Force 210

    5 February 1944
    German airfield in France are the targets for this mission. All three Bomb Divisions despatch aircraft. The combined bomber gunner's claims of all three Bomb Divisions were 5-0-5 (displayed with Chateauroux element of 1BD). Summary as follows: ...

  • 8th Air Force 212

    6 February 1944
    German airfields and V-Weapon sites in France are the primary targets of this mission. A combined force total of 642 heavy bombers are depatched from 8th Air Force 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions. The primary targets of 1st Bomb Division were the...

  • 8th Air Force 212

    6 February 1944
    German airfields and V-Weapon sites in France are the primary targets of this mission. A combined force total of 642 heavy bombers are depatched from 8th Air Force 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions. The primary targets of 1st Bomb Division were the...

  • 8th Air Force 214

    8 February 1944
    1st Bomb Division: The railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany are the primary target for a combined force of 120 B-17s from: 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 379BG; 382BG; and 482BG. 51 aircraft are effective on the target and another 39 attack...

  • 8th Air Force 216

    10 February 1944
    This mission is a despatch of two separate formations. One formation is a combined force of 169 B-17Fs from 3rd Bomb Division: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 482BG despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Brunswick, Germany....

  • 8th Air Force 221

    13 February 1944
    17 V-Wepons sites in France are the primary targets for this mission. The mission is divided into two separate forces: one force of B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division and one force of B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division. Mission summary follows: ...

  • 8th Air Force 226 BIG WEEK - DAY 1

    20 February 1944
    This mission is the opening salvo of the Allied Combined Bomber Offensive known officially as "Operation Argument" but remembered in 8th Air Force History as "BIG WEEK". The immediate strategic objective of this six-day operation is the degradation of...

  • 8th Air Force 228 BIG WEEK - DAY 2

    21 February 1944
    Day 2 of BIG WEEK is another maximum effort by 8th Air Force to bomb 6 airfields in Germany as primary targets: Diepholz, Gütersloh, Lippstadt, Werl, Achmer and Handorf. In addition the industrial areas of Brunswick city are included as a primary...

  • 8th Air Force 230 BIG WEEK - DAY 3

    22 February 1944
    The German aircraft industry is again targeted in Day 3 of BIG WEEK. A combined total od 789 bombers (maximum effort) are despathed from 1st 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. Fighter opposition is heavy and bomber losses in 1st Air Division are massive - 39...

  • 8th Air Force 233 BIG WEEK - DAY 5

    24 February 1944
    BIG WEEK resumes with full intensity against the German aircraft industry. Bomber tactics are changed slightly in that each Air Division will be directed at more widely dispersed primary targets whoch it is thought will frustrate concentration...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Deopham Green 3 January 1944 – 5 August 1945

Connections

People

  • Martin Aaland

    Military | Sergeant | 452nd Bomb Group
    Martin Aaland served with the 452nd Bomb Group. He re-enlisted after the war ended for one more year's service. He died in 1955.

  • Louis Abbott

    Military | 452nd Bomb Group

  • William Abbott

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 452nd Bomb Group
    Hit by flak over the target of Chateaudon airfield, FR on 28 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97200 broke apart, exploded, and crashed S of the target. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Louis Abdallah

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | waist gunner, toggelier, B-17 | 452nd Bomb Group

  • James Abel

    Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | waist gunner, nose gunner, toggelier B-17 | 452nd Bomb Group

  • William Abernathy

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 452nd Bomb Group
    Shot down 9 April 1944 in B-17 #4239936. Killed in Action (KIA). AM/ Oak Leaf Cluster/ PH

  • Donald Abker

    Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio operator/gunner | 452nd Bomb Group

  • Joseph Abraham

    Military | First Lieutenant | bombardier | 452nd Bomb Group

  • Maynard Abrahams

    Military | First Lieutenant | navigator | 452nd Bomb Group

  • Robert Abrams

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 452nd Bomb Group
    Shot down by fighters on a mission to Erkner, Berlin on 8 Mar 1944 in B-17G #42-37954 'Hank from Dixie'. Killed in Action (KIA). PH

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Aircraft

  • 42-102397 C'est La Guerre (That's War)

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Hunter 15/3/44; Dow Fd 10/4/44; Assigned 730BS/452BG Deopham Green 20/4/44 MUGWUMP; Missing in Action Hamburg 17/1/45 with Maylan Skoglund, Co-pilot: Don Horning, Navigator: John Samos, Bombardier: Leroy Krug, Flight...

  • 42-102514

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 10/3/44; Gr Island 30/3/44; Dow Fd 8/4/44; Assigned 729BS/452BG [M3- ] Deopham Green 11/4/44; destroyed by enemy aircraft at Poltava, with Jim Nelson Rus 21/6/44; Salvaged 2/7/44.

  • 42-102535 LOVELY LADY

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 12/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 4/4/44; Assigned 729BS/452BG Deopham Green [M3-Q] 8/4/44; Missing in Action Munich 31/7/44 with Mason Williams, Co-pilot: Clyde Wells, Bombardier: Bob Gamble, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Russ...

  • 42-102541 Ain't Miss Behavin' II

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 12/3/44; Gr Island 2/4/44; Grenier 29/4/44; Assigned 728BS/452BG [9Z-Z] Deopham Green 3/5/44; on return from Royan Afd complete with bomb load 19/6/44 with Oliver Wright, Co-pilot: Bob Merryman, Navigator: Alfd Turner, Bombardier:...

  • 42-102572 Why Worry II

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 15/3/44; Gr Island 1/4/44; Dow Fd 28/4/44; Assigned 728BS/452BG [N] Deopham Green 30/4/44; Missing in Action Karlsruhe 27/5/44 with Milton Mard, Co-pilot: Joe Atlas, Navigator: Tom McDonald, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: George...

  • 42-102575 Panda Monium

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/44; Gr Island 1/4/44; Grenier 7/4/44; Assigned 731BS/452BG Deopham Green 10/4/44; battle damaged Rechlin 25/8/44 with ?; o/s runway, all OK; ...

  • 42-102615 Forbidden Fruit II

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Kearney 13/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 728BS/452BG Deopham Green 30/4/44; 729BS; force landed RAF Woodbridge with John Clifford 18/12/44; damaged over Augsburg 15/1/45 with Walter Green, Co-pilot: Walter Waite, Navigator:...

  • 42-102622 Borrowed Time

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 19/3/44; Hunter 9/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 728BS/452BG [9Z- ] Deopham Green 1/5/44; destroyed by enemy aircraft at Poltava with Edward Armm 21/6/44; Salvaged 2/7/44. Borrowed Time: The ball turret gunner on this plane, John F....

  • 42-102662

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 24/3/44; Hunter 16/4/44; Grenier 25/4/44; Assigned 728BS/452BG Deopham Green 3/5/44; Missing in Action Berlin 21/6/44 with Ed Armm, Bill Stooks, Glen Swing, Jim Dozier, Arthur Kaule, John Clark, Joe Outrander, Bob James, George Thut ...

  • 42-102691

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 26/3/44; Kearney 13/4/44; Grenier 29/4/44; Assigned 728BS/452BG [9Z- ] Deopham Green 3/5/44; damaged by enemy aircraft at Poltava with Joe Antol 21/6/44; repaired & re-ass 15AF Italy 29/9/44; Assigned 346BS/99BG Tortorella 11/12/44;...

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Citations

Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for action on 7 Apr 1945 when, despite vigorous fighter attacks and heavy flak, it accurately bombed a jet-fighter base at Kaltenkirchen.
1st Lt Donald Gott and 2d Lt William E Metzger Jr were each awarded the Medal of Honor for remaining with their aircraft (crippled during a mission over Germany on 9 Nov 1944) in an attempt to save a wounded crew member who was unable to bail out; the men were killed when the B-17 exploded in midair.

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Labor ad Futurum
Insignia
Shown
Aircraft used
  • B-17 Flying Fortress

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
17 May 2015 19:52:14 Pete Changes to mission associations
Sources

452nd Bomb Group Assoc.
Date Contributor Update
17 May 2015 19:39:27 Pete Changes to motto, insignia, aircraft types and mission associations
Sources

452nd Bomb Group Assoc.
Date Contributor Update
17 May 2015 19:37:53 Pete Changes to citations, commanding officers associations and mission associations
Sources

452nd Bomb Group Assoc.
Date Contributor Update
17 May 2015 19:16:02 Pete Changes to mission associations
Sources

452nd Bomb Group Assoc.
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 15:19:39 rossingtonj Changes to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / 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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