25th Bomb Group
Group
Object Number - FRE 3069 - A B-26 Marauder of the 654th Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group, parked on a runway. Handwritten on reverse: '654 BS.'
The 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance) was constituted in the days after D-Day and activated in England in August 1944 to carry out photographic and mapping missions over mainland Europe as the Allied armies pushed east. The Group were designated a Bombardment Group but they did not drop bombs. Instead they flew bombers to drop 'chaff' screenings for other Bomb Groups. 'Chaff', strips of metallic paper, would interfere with the enemy's ability to detect aircraft using radar.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: No 1 Combat Crew Replacement Center 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot; Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
- Service Numbers: 32982801 / O-44665
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Watton | 22 April 1944 - 23 July 1945 |
Previously was
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Platoon
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Reconnaissance
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: J/E Communications Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37 258 846
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Mechanic
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Adjutant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 451st Air Service Group 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group 653rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: B-17f-100-bo
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 25th Bomb Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 350th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
Mission
- Date: 9 August 1944
- Date: 10 August 1944
- Date: 11 August 1944
- Date: 12 August 1944
- Date: 13 August 1944
Revisions
Changed mission type to (R) in accordance with designation.
Air Force Combat Units of WWII
Page 95, The 25th Bomb Group ( Rcn) in World War II
"The 25th Bomb Group in World War II" - Norman Malayney
page 280
Associated Watton
Type added.
USAAF Photo.
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).
![Technical Sergeant Sherman L. Housman of the 25th Bomb Group on the wing of his Mosquito. U.S. Official Photograph No. 39114. Photographic News Agencies Ltd [Stamp]. Passed for publication 15 Dec 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'USSTAF Photo: Pro-HQ '44, 2743, EA 39114. Eight Air Force Crew Chief Sets Mosquito Maintenance Record ...- That's T/Sgt. Sherman L. Housman of Paducah, Kentucky, seated on the wing of the twin-engined Eighth Air Force Mosquito. The figures at which he's pointing signify that thi](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407407.jpg.webp?itok=4TiHixi9)
