446th Bomb Group
Group
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 1748 - A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.
The 446th Bomb Group, who came to be known as "the Bungay Buckaroos" after the name of their Suffolk base, flew B-24 Liberators on strategic, support and interdictory missions over Europe. The Group led the Eighth Air Force and 2nd Bomb Division on the first heavy bomber mission on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and continued to support the ground forces move eastwards, dropping airborne troops into Wesel, north-west Germany, as part of the advance across the River Rhine.
Browse 446th Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/15
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Bungay | 4 November 1943 - 5 July 1945 |
Encompassing
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 44th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31312747
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Quivering Box
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 705th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Lil Max
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 707th Bomb Squadron
![B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-100360) nicknamed "Luck and Stuff" flies in formation with other Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group during a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '52067 USAF- ACHTUNG- SOUNDS AS THESE CONSOLIDATED B-24 LIBERATORS of the Eighth AF fly a tight formation on their way to bomb another vital target deep in the heart of Nazi Germany. Their target on this occasion was Gotha, Germany ME-110 aircraft assembly plant, and components factory. 448th Bomb Group [sic] US Air Force Photo.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-423255.jpg.webp?itok=LVcKvq4y)
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Luck and Stuff
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 706th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Daisy Mae Skraggs
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
Mission
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ruth L", flown by Lieutenant NL Young, of the 96th Bomb Group flies through a cascade of bombs released by another Fortress over Oranienburg, Germany. Strike camera photo. Handwritten caption on reverse: '22/3/44. Looks like JW code - 92BG? [sic]Supposedly Bremen raid but bombs look like M47.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408680.jpg.webp?itok=47P7nfd_)
- Date: 22 March 1944
- Date: 18 March 1944
- Date: 13 March 1944
- Date: 5 March 1944
- Date: 4 March 1944
Revisions
The Story of the 446th Bomb Group -Edited by Edward H. Castens.
The History of the 446th Bomb Group (1989) - Compiled by Harold E. Jansen
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). / 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)
![B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group drop bombs over their target. Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photograph.' [stamp], 'Sacred.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 446 BG led by "Ronnie" unloading demolition + incendiaries on Rheine Marshalling Yards, 9 March 1945.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380571.jpg.webp?itok=36lZj_Ve)
