Robert W Pettersen

Military

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'

466th Bomb Group

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

People

Clifford Joseph Ellison

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16136739 / O-714681
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51141) nicknamed "Pegasus The Flying Red Horse" of the 466th Bomb Group uses parachutes as a landing aid. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: 'B-24 42-51141, T9-N 466BG.'

42-51141

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Pegasus
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94979) nicknamed "Slick Chick" of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '466 BG, Slick Chick, 42-94979 F 43, 128 Misns, Per Crew Chief John Doskocz, 785th A443F.'

42-94979

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Slick Chick
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

44-40320

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Generator Jenny
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron 860th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40454) nicknamed "Betta Duck" lands at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Betta Duck, landing Mount Farm.'

44-40454

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Betta Duck
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron 7th Bomb Squadron 862nd Bomb Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Attlebridge

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Time in the ETO

Attlebridge, Norwich NR9, UK 22 July 1944 - 13 June 1945

Other

Combat Mission -accidental bombing of Switzerland

Basel, Switzerland 4 March 1945 "Up at 0230. Briefing at 0430. Takeoff at 0630. Because of bad weather we headed over to France to form up. We crossed the Belgian coast at 0731 and had bad weather all the way. We finally formed up and played "hide n seek" in the clouds southwest of Reims. After forming we headed on course and climbing at 0812 hours. We reached 27,000 feet down near Lake Constatine. We were "hanging on the props" when they finally decided the weather was too bad to hit our primary target (Kitzingen, Germany) and decided to head for Stuttgart. We couldn't get there either, so the formation split up. Our lead ship turned around at 0950 and headed for Frieburg, Germany joined by some stragglers from other bomb groups. At approximately 1000 hours I told our pilot that I had us located approximately 15 miles SW of Frieburg headed for Switzerland. He (Ellison) radioed the lead ship and told them, but they replied that the radar navigator had positively ID'ed Frieburg and that we would drop. I decided because of all the turning we had done, my navigation could well be off by 20 miles, so I accepted the lead navigator's word. During this time the Swiss were sending up colored "flak" to tell us we were getting close to the Swiss border. We started the bomb run, still in the clouds, but a short time before "bombs away" we broke into the clear, so we were able to bomb visually with the Norden. During the bomb run my "Gee Box" started to come in. We had "bombs away" at 1013 and I finally obtained a gee fix at 1013:50. The fix showed we had indeed bombed Basel, Switzerland. We were carrying 10 x500 lbs RDX bombs and flying "Generator Jenny." I was the only navigator to come home with an actual gee fix over Basel. The radar navigators maps and logs showed us over Frieburg. Heading home we crossed the French coast at Ostend, France at 1220. We crossed the English coast south of Lowstoft at 1313 and landed at Attlebridge at 1328. This was a 7 hour and 15 minute mission. That day those of us wo dropped had 100% of our bombs hit in the 500 ft circle. A real "Shack" job! All of our bombs hit railroad cars with an almost unheard of accuracy! We were told later by intelligence reports that we fortunately had not killed anyone that day and that the railroad cars were loaded with war material headed to Germany, so although the bombing was a terrible mistake, we may have saved several American lives down the road."
Missouri City, TX, USA

Other

Graduated Nav School/Commissioned

Hondo, TX 78861, USA Graduated Navigator school and commissioned as a 2nd LT.

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Letter from R.W. Pettersen - 28 October 1944

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

R.W. Pettersen Letter
28 October 2001
466th BG Archives