447th Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group. media-395119.jpg FRE 5176 The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5176 - The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.

The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces connected with a planned ground invasion of France the following summer. This meant they were attacking

ports, missile sites, airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium, and Germany. In June 1944 itself, the Group supported the invasion of Normandy by bombing airfields and other targets near the beachhead. One of the Group's B-17s, named "Milk Wagon", set the record for the number of missions with no turn-backs for a B-17 in the 3rd Air Division with 129 missions.



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Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England in Nov 1943 and assigned to Eighth AF. Entered combat in Dec 1943 and operated chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization.

From Dec 1943 to May 1944, helped to prepare for the invasion of the Continent by attacking submarine pens, naval installations, and cities in Germany; ports and missile sites in France; and airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium, and Germany. During Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry.



Supported the invasion of Normandy in Jun 1944 by bombing airfields and other targets near the beachhead. Aided the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul and the effort to take Brest in Sep. Pounded enemy positions to assist the airborne invasion of Holland in Sep. Also dropped supplies to Free French forces during the summer of 1944. Turned to strategic targets in Germany in Oct 1944, placing emphasis on sources of oil production until mid-Dec.



2nd Lt Robert E Femoyer, navigator, won the Medal of Honor for action on 2 Nov 1944: while on a mission over Germany, his B-17 was damaged by flak and Femoyer was severely wounded by shell fragments; determined to navigate the plane out of danger and save the crew, he refused a sedative and, for more than two hours, directed the navigation of the bomber so effectively that it returned to base without further damage; Femoyer died shortly after being removed from the plane.



During the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, the group assaulted marshalling yards, railroad bridges, and communications centers in the combat zone. Then resumed operations against targets in Germany, attacking oil, transportation, communications, and other objectives until the war ended. During this period, also supported the airborne assault across the Rhine (Mar 1945). Returned to the US in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.



Commanders:

Lt Col Robert D McDonald, 10 May 1943

Col Hunter Harris Jr, 23 May 1943

Col William Wrigglesworth, 25 Sep 1944

Lt Col Louis G Thorup, 31 Mar 1945;



Air Force Combat Units of World War II, Maurer, Maurer: USAF, 1986



Source: Eighth Air Force Operations History http://www.8thafhs.com/get_one_acgroup.php?

acgroup_id=8

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 447th Sub-Depot 708th Bomb Squadron 709th Bomb Squadron 710th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (13th Combat Bomb Wing) Headquarters (447th Bomb Group) 447th Signal Construction Battalion Headquarters & Headquarters Company (447th Signal Construction Battalion) 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-31847
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Group Air Executive Officer, Pilot, Squadron Commander, Group Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: RCAF #43060 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Ground Executive Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Colonel

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Rattlesden 30 November 1943 - 2 August 1945

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Idiots Delight
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hick's Hack
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Heaven Can Wait
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
A ground crewman with a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31092) of the 447th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: 'ISAD 22 June 44 (1574) Crash Landing B17G 42-31092 HON WS.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Batch II.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Butch II
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ground Pounder
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields, p. 320

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

Entry by John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner
Source: Eighth Air Force Operations History http://www.8thafhs.com/get_one_acgroup.php?
acgroup_id=8

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

Entry by John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner
Source: Eighth Air Force Operations History http://www.8thafhs.com/get_one_acgroup.php?
acgroup_id=8

Date
ContributorLUCKY PARTNERS
Changes
Sources

lp

Date
ContributorRHT447
Changes
Sources

http://www.447bg.com/

Note: Fiat justitia ruat cælum is a Latin legal phrase, meaning "Let justice be done though the heavens fall."

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

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). / 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)

447th Bomb Group: Gallery (1087 items)