Eugene Snavely
Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
8th Air Force, G-3 Staff, September 1942
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Group
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became the only Bomb Group in the European Theatre of operations to be disbanded because of high casualties, and were withdrawn from combat.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.
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.
Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
8th Air Force, G-3 Staff, September 1942
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Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Headquarters
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...
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.
20 June 1944
6 July 1944
13 August 1944
13 August 1944
14 August 1944
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...
15 August 1944
17 August 1944
25 August 1944
Station | Location | Date |
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Based | North Pickenham | 14 April 1944 – 12 August 1944 |
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).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 467th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed at Lostau in B-24 42-50481.
(Transferred 467th BG)
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
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
Deputy Commander, transferred 44th BG
Military | Staff Sergeant | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
Transferred 36th BS (RCM)
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.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Ground Crew | 479th Sub-Depot
Military | Tail Gunner | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
Military | Flight Officer | Pilot | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
Military | Private First Class | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
Transferred 1234th; MOS 405
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
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B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
Flown on the August 1, 1943 low-level Ploesti mission returning safely to Libya.
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B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
None
Date | Contributor | Update |
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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 |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
09 March 2018 15:47:00 | 2nd Air Division Memorial Library | Changes to description |
Sources | ||
2nd Air Division Memorial Library |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
13 March 2015 15:25:55 | rossingtonj | Changes to type and mission associations |
Sources | ||
Type added. |
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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) |