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492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)

Group

  • A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed

    A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden.

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  • A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95221) nicknamed

    A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95221) nicknamed "Ready N Able" of the 492nd Bomb Group in flight.

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  • Personnel of the 492nd Bomb Group walk by P-47 Thunderbolts and a B-24 Liberator used as a flight assembly ship. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Parade Hethel.'

    Personnel of the 492nd Bomb Group walk by P-47 Thunderbolts and a B-24 Liberator used as a flight assembly ship. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Parade Hethel.'

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  • P-47 Thunderbolts, line up alongside a B-24 Liberator of the 492nd Bomb Group used as a flight assembly ship. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Parade Hethel.'

    P-47 Thunderbolts, line up alongside a B-24 Liberator of the 492nd Bomb Group used as a flight assembly ship. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Parade Hethel.'

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  • A B-24 Liberator of the 492nd Bomb Group bombs a target near Hamburg. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAF- 492nd BG showing successful result on oil target near Hamburg, 6 Aug 1944.'

    A B-24 Liberator of the 492nd Bomb Group bombs a target near Hamburg. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAF- 492nd BG showing successful result on oil target near Hamburg, 6 Aug 1944.'

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  • A B-24 Liberator (5Z-O) of the 492nd Bomb Group releases its bombs over enemy territory. First handwritten caption on reverse: '448161 MIA 20/6/44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '492BG Dropping bombs over enemy territory, USAAF.'

    A B-24 Liberator (5Z-O) of the 492nd Bomb Group releases its bombs over enemy territory. First handwritten caption on reverse: '448161 MIA 20/6/44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '492BG Dropping bombs over enemy territory, USAAF.'

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  • A Swedish soldier guards the nose of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40142) nicknamed

    A Swedish soldier guards the nose of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40142) nicknamed "Sknappy" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden. First handwritten caption on reverse: '44-40142 "Sknappy", 492BG, Down Sweden 20/6/44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '492 BG Lib "Sknappy" interned after forced landing in Sweden.'

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  • The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed

    The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group. Image via E Olov Sundgren. Handwritten caption on reverse: '44-40159, Boulder Buff, 492 BG Down 20/6/44.'

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  • A Swedish soldier guards the nose of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40103) nicknamed

    A Swedish soldier guards the nose of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40103) nicknamed "Say When" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed near Malmö, Sweden. First handwritten caption on reverse: '440103, Say When, 20/6/44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'Nose gunner pinned in and believed dead. Was very much alive and bitter cold.'

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  • The insignia of the 859th Bomb Squadron, 492nd Bomb Group.

    The insignia of the 859th Bomb Squadron, 492nd Bomb Group.

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The 492nd Bomb Group were assigned to the 8th Air Force in April 1944. They flew 60 missions over occupied Europe from 11 May 1944 until 7 August 1944.

The group sustained heavier losses than any other B-24 group over a three month period. On 5 August 1944, they became the only Bomb Group in the European Theatre of operations to be disbanded because of high casualties, and were withdrawn from combat. The men and machines of the 492nd Bomb Group were transferred to the 367th Bomb Group while the unit was reassigned to take over the role of the 801st Bomb Group, who had been undertaking 'Carpetbagger' operations.

US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Constituted as 492nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 Sep 1943. Activated on 1 Oct 1943. Trained for combat with B-24's. Moved to England in Apr 1944 and assigned to Eighth AF. Entered combat on 11 May 1944, and throughout the month operated primarily against industrial targets in central Germany. Attacked airfields and V-weapon launching sites in France during the first week in Jun. Bombed coastal defenses in Normandy on 6 Jun 1944 and attacked bridges, railroads, and other interdiction targets in France until the middle of the month. Resumed bombardment of strategic targets in Germany and, except for support of the infantry during the St Lo breakthrough on 25 Jul 1944, continued such operations until Aug 1944.

Transferred, less personnel and equipment, to another station in England on 5 Aug 1944 and assumed personnel, equipment, and the CARPETBAGGER mission of a provisional group that was discontinued.

Commanding officers

  • Eugene Snavely

    Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
    8th Air Force, G-3 Staff, September 1942 ...

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
  • 492nd Bomb Group Carpetbaggers

    492nd Bomb Group Carpetbaggers

    Group
    The 492nd Bomb Group, after flying similar missions to other heavy bomb groups until the late summer of 1944, took up 'Carpetbagger' missions, transporting agents, supplies and propaganda leaflets to southern France. The Group was taking on the role of...

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 163 SPECIAL OPERATION

    22 December 1943
    1 B-17 from 482BG is despatched on a special night operation (Oboe test) to Cologne, Germany. 2 2000lb general prupose bombs and 1 1000lb Photoflash are dropped at 2020hrs. There are no losses or claims.

  • 426

    20 June 1944

  • 455

    6 July 1944

  • 8th Air Force

    13 August 1944

  • 8th Air Force

    13 August 1944

  • 8th Air Force

    14 August 1944

  • 8th Air Force 554

    15 August 1944
    Airfields in NW Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium are the primary targets for this mission. 8th Air Force despatches a total of 932 aircraft. The raid is coordinated with 1,000 Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers and Mosquitos attacking 9 airfields...

  • 8th Air Force

    15 August 1944

  • 8th Air Force

    17 August 1944

  • 8th Air Force

    25 August 1944

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based North Pickenham 14 April 1944 – 12 August 1944

Connections

People

  • Franklin Abbott

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
    Shot down by fighters and crashed into the Baltic Sea on 6/20/44 in B-24 #44-40128, Killed in Action (KIA).

  • James Abell

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 467th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed at Lostau in B-24 42-50481. (Transferred 467th BG)

  • Curtis Abernethy

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
    RTD Damaged by flak and ditched in channel on 7/6/44 in B-24 #44-40064

  • Louis Adams

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
    Deputy Commander, transferred 44th BG

  • Robert Adams

    Military | Staff Sergeant | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
    Transferred 36th BS (RCM)

  • Donald Adamson

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 467th Bomb Group
    Returned from operations and crash landed on a Carpetbagger mission in A/C 42-50584 on August 6/7, 1944.

  • L Adkinson

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Ground Crew | 479th Sub-Depot

  • Nicholas Agneta

    Military | Tail Gunner | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)

  • Eugene Akerhielm

    Military | Flight Officer | Pilot | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)

  • James Akers

    Military | Private First Class | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
    Transferred 1234th; MOS 405

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Aircraft

  • 41-28781

    B-24 Liberator

  • 41-29470

    B-24 Liberator
    On its first mission as an 856th BS plane, it was lent to the 857th BS and was shot down by flak. 23 Jun 44: Lost with Monroe Crew R-01, shot down by flak over Brussels, Belgium. 8 KIA, 2 POW, MACR 6242

  • 42-110091 Bold Venture

    B-24 Liberator
    The deputy lead ship of the 453rd BG was shot up by the Luftwaffe. Assumption is that the pilots were immediately killed, since the plane began flying aimlessly by itself. It veered into the path of the 492nd. Either Lt Cary of Bold Venture didn't see...

  • 42-110143 Little Lulu

    B-24 Liberator
    LITTLE LULU was used primarily as a command ship. ...

  • 42-110151 Alvin

    B-24 Liberator
    This aircraft was shot up over Germany by GAF. Immediately 2 gunners were KIA and another WIA. The crew helped the wounded man bail out. As the fire aboard spread out of control, the order to abandon ship was given. Only 3 more made it out before the...

  • 42-110152 The Lady Will

    B-24 Liberator
    The 856th BS lost all of their planes while en route to their target. How many of them made an attempt to reach Sweden is unknown. Although Sweden was a mere 20 minutes from the air battle, only two of the shot-up Liberators made it there. Some of the...

  • 42-110153

    B-24 Liberator
    Shot up over Germany, dropped out of formation and was never seen again. 10 KIA, MACR 5240

  • 42-40172 Lynn Bari II

    B-24 Liberator
    Flown on the August 1, 1943 low-level Ploesti mission returning safely to Libya. ...

  • 42-40549 Cookie

    B-24 Liberator

  • 42-50370

    B-24 Liberator

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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-24 Liberator

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
02 September 2019 09:53:53 Emily Changes to name, nicknames, us air force combat units of world war ii description, description, commanding officers associations and stations
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of WWII

Roger Freeman, The Mighty Eighth

492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
Date Contributor Update
09 March 2018 15:47:00 2nd Air Division Memorial Library Changes to description
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 15:25:55 rossingtonj Changes to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:46 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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