491st Bomb Group

Group
A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at Arnhem, Sept 1944.' media-380930.jpg FRE 2125 A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at Arnhem, Sept 1944.' However, the 491st flew to drop zones north of Eindhoven on 18 September 1944, not Arnhem. This B-24 (SN 42-51691) is not on the Fuel Consumption Report that lists the 41 aircraft that participated in that mission. Roger Freeman Collection

Robert Baumgardner, Austin, TX.

Object Number - FRE 2125 - A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at...

The 491st Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators in bombing missions over northern France and Germany from June 1944 until April 1945. Missions over Germany included bombing the headquarters of the German General Staff at Zossen. The Group was awarded a DUC for persevering with a raid on an oil refinery at Misburg on 26 November 1944, despite half of its bombers being destroyed by enemy aircraft.



Browse 491st Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/48

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Metfield 25 April 1944 - 15 August 1944

Based

North Pickenham 15 August 1944 - 4 July 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 1802nd Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 854th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Problem Child
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 853rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Unlimited
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 853rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Doasy Doats
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 1 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron 491st Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

Mission

  • Date: 26 November 1944

Revisions

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Contributorhardway1
Changes
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Kurt Knutsen

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2nd Air Division Memorial Library

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ContributorCebby
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Key Image Chosen

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ContributorTimothy McKeown
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C. Timothy McKeown

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Contributorjmchristel
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Added unit type and aircraft type

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ContributorAAM
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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)

491st Bomb Group: Gallery (321 items)