2nd Air Division

Division
Two airmen of the 466th Bomb Group.

Object Number - FRE 1959 - MGEN William B. Kepner (Left) - Commander of the 2nd Air Division - 8th AF COL Elvin S. Ligon - Commander of the 466th BG - 2nd Air Division - 8th AF...

In December 1944, the 2nd Bomb Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.

Commanding Officers

Walter Raymond Peck

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Air Division 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 467th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-10768
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Pilot; Commanding Officer

William Ellsworth Kepner

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Fighter Command 2nd Air Division
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General, 8th Air Force Fighter Command

Connections

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

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Other

Disbanded

28 August 1945

Other

Redesignated

Based

Ketteringham Hall 22 June 1945

Previously was

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'

2nd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Encompassing

People

Bernita O Baker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Women's Army Corps 2nd Air Division
  • Role/Job: Women's Army Corps

Bernt M Balchen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Air Division
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commander

Bertha M Barta

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Women's Army Corps 2nd Air Division
  • Role/Job: Women's Army Corps

Alma L Bell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Women's Army Corps 2nd Air Division
  • Role/Job: Women's Army Corps

Angela B Berkenbaugh

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Women's Army Corps 2nd Air Division
  • Role/Job: Women's Army Corps

Aircraft

42-100374

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Suitch's Bitch
  • Unit: 2nd Air Division 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
Lieutenant James G Bartley of the 353rd Fighter Group takes a photograph beside a P-47 Thunderbolt (SX-Q, serial number 42-25959). Written on slide casing: 'Bartley & P-47.'

42-25959

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 2nd Air Division 353rd Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Squadron 61st Fighter Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron

Mission

896

  • Date: 19 March 1945
  • Official Description: 1,273 bombers and 675 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and industrial targets in Germany visually and with H2X radar; clouds force 2 of the 3 forces to hit secondaries; 100+ Luftwaffe fighters including 36 Me 262s in formation (largest number...

Revisions

Date17 Jan 2022 06:11:19
Contributordmccullo
Sources

Changed key image

Date4 Jan 2022 19:17:26
Contributordmccullo
Sources

Revised unit connections.

Date4 Sep 2019 13:36:15
ContributorEmily
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Date5 Jun 2015 13:09:25
Contributorrossingtonj
Sources

Associated to 2nd Air Division Memorial Library

Date2 Jan 2015 17:18:10
Contributorjkeeffe389
Sources

Lt. Col. James H Keeffe Jr documents.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:44
ContributorAAM
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

2nd Air Division: Gallery (13 items)

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23809) used as a flight assembly ship by the 448th Bomb Group. Image via Colonel James R Patterson, Executive Officer 448th Bombardment Group (H). Printed caption on reverse: '"Weather Ship" B-24-B. 448th Bombardment Group (heavy) 20th Combat Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force USAAF. Station 146, Seething Norfolk, England, 1943-1945.'

Object number: FRE 1806 - A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23809) used as...

Two airmen of the 466th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 1959 - MGEN William B. Kepner (Left) - Commander of the...

Ground personnel of the 466th Bomb Group fit a new engine on a B-24 Liberator in the snow. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sacred.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: 'USSTAF Photo Pro-HQ '45. SNOW BLANKETS AIRDROMES.... Snow on the bases of the 2nd Air Division means added tasks for the ground crews maintaining the B-24 Liberators. One of the crews on mechanics changes an engine of one of the Eighth Air Force heavy bombers in spite of the snow covering everything. This Liberator is one of the 466th Bombardme

Object number: FRE 1967 - Ground personnel of the 466th Bomb Group fit a new...

A map of the United States painted onto the wall of Rec Hall of the 8th Air Force Service Command. Photo By Lieutenant Theodore G. Wurm of the 2nd Air Division. Written on slide casing: 'USA map- Rec Hall AAF 571, Peyton, England, 1945. 8th AFSC (Service Command) -Supply Depot- Art work: Sgt Tony Lipsky.'

Object number: FRE 7545 - A map of the United States painted onto the wall...

Object number: UPL 18926 - The "flak house" at Mundesley.

Object number: UPL 23999 - General William 'Bill' E. Kepner.

Object number: UPL 25853 - Plan of RAF Old Catton as it was before it closed...

Object number: UPL 25854 - Plan of the site of Old Catton as it aligns with...