492nd Bomb Group
GroupIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
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became the only Bomb Group in the European Theatre of operations to be disbanded because of high casualties, and were withdrawn from combat.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.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (14th Combat Bomb Wing) Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
- Service Numbers: O-22364
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
Connections
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Unit stations
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based |
North Pickenham | 14 April 1944 - 12 August 1944 |
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Company
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 33831454
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 858th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 858th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 490th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-715729
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 858th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Oonie Doonie *
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 850th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Broad+High
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
Mission
- Date: 30 August 1944
- Date: 25 August 1944
- Date: 17 August 1944
- Date: 15 August 1944
- Date: 15 August 1944
Revisions
Removed associations to people and aircraft whose record mentions 'carpetbagger' due to likelihood of serving with 492nd Bomb Group Carpetbaggers
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)