25th Bomb Group

Group
A B-26 Marauder of the 654th Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group, parked on a runway. Handwritten on reverse: '654 BS.' media-407403.jpg FRE 3069 A B-26 Marauder of the 654th Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group, parked on a runway. Handwritten on reverse: '654 BS.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

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

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Watton 22 April 1944 - 23 July 1945

Previously was

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 653rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18042455 / O-748938
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Radio Repairman
Eddy Harry - Photo Reconn
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 654th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39409325
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: photographer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

Aircraft

A Mosquito (Z, serial number MM 345) of the 25th Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: '25 BG Mosquito Z.'
  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 653rd Bomb Squadron
Mosquito PR Mark XVI, MM364, at Mount Farm, Oxfordshire, on being handed over to the USAAF.Image by Robert Astrella
  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 654th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 653rd Bomb Squadron 8th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 654th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Mosquito
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

Changed mission type to (R) in accordance with designation.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of WWII

Date
ContributorWattonman
Changes
Sources

Page 95, The 25th Bomb Group ( Rcn) in World War II

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

"The 25th Bomb Group in World War II" - Norman Malayney
page 280

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Watton

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

USAAF Photo.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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).

25th Bomb Group: Gallery (112 items)