Albert R Krassman Jr

Military
Sergeant Albert R Krassman of the 446th Bomb Group with a B-24 Liberator (RT-H, serial number 44-40268) nicknamed "Kentucky Belle". Image via Albert R Krassman Jr Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Kentucky Belle" call "H". B-24J-156-Co, 4440268, 706 Bomb Squadron (H), 446 Bomb Group (H), 20th Combat Bomb Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th USAF. Sgt Albert R Krassman JR, AAF station 125, Flixtion, Bungay, Suffolk, England, Spring 1945.'

Object Number - FRE 7671 - Sergeant Albert R Krassman of the 446th Bomb Group with a B-24 Liberator (RT-H, serial number 44-40268) nicknamed "Kentucky Belle". Image via Albert...

Born in Colorado, Krassman enlisted in 1943 and served as ground crew with the 706th Bomb Squadron of the 446th Bomb Group, based at Bungay in Suffolk. He worked as a gunsight, turret and armour mechanic, referring to himself playfully as a ‘bomb-stuffer-inner’. His crucial work helped maintain the B-24s for combat missions.

Krassman painted nose art on many of the 446th Bomb Group aircraft. His subjects included scantily-clad women, cartoon characters and the plane names themselves. Such images were usual for USAAF crews who also decorated aircraft with song titles, puns and even depictions of wives or girlfriends left behind.

Connections

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Units served with

A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.

446th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40268) nicknamed "Kentucky Belle" of the 446th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Kentucky Belle" painted on other side of nose.'

44-40268

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Kentucky Belle
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 490th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 706th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date7 Apr 2019 13:35:56
ContributorCarl Peplow
Sources

personal ephemera

Date21 Jun 2016 14:49:04
ContributorLucy May
Sources

Associated photos that Al Krassman took and later shared with aviation historian Roger Freeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:03:10
ContributorAAM
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.446bg.com/

Albert R Krassman: Gallery (68 items)

Memorial to Edith Cavell in Norwich. Image via Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Edit Cavell Grave Norwich.'

Object number: FRE 10533 - Memorial to Edith Cavell in Norwich. Image via...

A park in front of Norwich Cathedral. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Norwich Cathedral.'

Object number: FRE 10544 - A park in front of Norwich Cathedral. Image by...

Norwich Guild hall. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Guild hall, Norwich.'

Object number: FRE 10545 - Norwich Guild hall. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr...

St John's Catholic Church, Norwich. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'St John's Catholic, Norwich.'

Object number: FRE 10546 - St John's Catholic Church, Norwich. Image by...

St Giles Church, Norwich. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'St Giles, Norwich.'

Object number: FRE 10547 - St Giles Church, Norwich. Image by Albert R...

A large building in a city centre, in front of a Cathedral. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Norwich Cathedral.'

Object number: FRE 10548 - Norwich City Hall, in front of St John the Baptist...

Flixton Hall. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Flixton hall.'

Object number: FRE 10549 - Flixton Hall. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th...

St Michaels Church, Rumburgh. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'St Michaels , Rumburgh.'

Object number: FRE 10550 - St Michaels Church, Rumburgh. Image by Albert R...

St Michaels Church, Rumburgh. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'St Michaels , Rumburgh.'

Object number: FRE 10551 - St Michaels Church, Rumburgh. Image by Albert R...

Norwich Castle. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Norwich castle.'

Object number: FRE 10552 - Norwich Castle. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr...

The Backs and the River Cam, Cambridge. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Cambridge, bridge Cam.'

Object number: FRE 10553 - The Backs and the River Cam, Cambridge. Image by...

The spire of Norwich Cathedral. Image by Albert R Krassman Jr, 446th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Norwich Cathedral.'

Object number: FRE 10554 - The spire of Norwich Cathedral. Image by Albert R...