20th Combat Bomb Wing

Wing
A B-24 Liberator of the 446th Bomb Group begins to crash whilst Liberators of the 20th Combat Bomb Wing release bombs over Tours. Official caption on image: "One B-24 Goes Down While Others Bomb Nazi Positions. US AAF Photo 225-4." Handwritten caption on reverse: '51576 A/C. 3 different B/G's. 446?' media-414295.jpg FRE 8114 A B-24 Liberator of the 446th Bomb Group begins to crash whilst Liberators of the 20th Combat Bomb Wing release bombs over Tours. Official caption on image: "One B-24 Goes Down While Others Bomb Nazi Positions. US AAF Photo 225-4." Handwritten caption on reverse: '51576 A/C. 3 different B/G's. 446?' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 8114 - A B-24 Liberator of the 446th Bomb Group begins to crash whilst Liberators of the 20th Combat Bomb Wing release bombs over Tours. Official caption on...

Prewar bombardment wing in the northwest. Moved to England, May–June 1943, for duty with Eighth Air Force. Received its first groups in November 1943 and served in combat in the European theater from December 1943 until April 1945. Returned to the US in August 1945 and prepared for B-29 Superfortress operations, although had no combat components assigned. Reassigned to Strategic Air Command postwar Eighth Air Force in May 1946 and elevated to VIII Bombardment Command. Inactivated before becoming operational in November 1946.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Encompassing

People

media-15813.pdf (5.02 MB) Document 15813 William L Beigel Collection Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Second Lieutenant Robert C Ayrest of the 448th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman.

If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at [email protected]

Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) researched and donated by Bill Beigel: www.ww2research.com

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Air Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-680984
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Air Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 389th Bomb Group 448th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11066679 / O-688504
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-809318
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19055027
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Revisions

Date
Contributordmccullo
Changes
Sources

Changed key image.

Date
Contributordmccullo
Changes
Sources

Added 20th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) Chain of Command.

Date
Contributordmccullo
Changes
Sources

Updated history.

Date
Contributordmccullo
Changes
Sources

Added Crew 11, 448th BG.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / 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)

20th Combat Bomb Wing: Gallery (10 items)