448th Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 448th Bomb Group. media-395124.jpg FRE 5181 The insignia of the 448th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5181 - The insignia of the 448th Bomb Group.

The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and ground crews completed their training together at Sioux City, Iowa before transferring to England.

The 448th was stationed at Seething in Norfolk, England from Dec 1943 to Jul 1945. The ground crews arrived in Seething by early Dec 1943 while the air crews arrived by 22 Dec 1943.

The B-24 Liberators were part of the Allied bombing campaign against the Axis countries. Their first mission was Gacabruck, Germany. The 448th flew 262 missions through to 25 April 1945. The Group lost 101 aircraft in action flying 6,774 sorties.

The 448th was redeployed to the United States in the late June and early July of 1945.

The 448th was officially deactivated on 4 August 1946.



Browse 448th Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/16

Commanding Officers

Colonel Charles B Westover of the 448th Bomb Group. The image has been signed: 'To Pat, with best regards.[illegible]' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Charles B Westover, CO 448 14/11/44-27/5/45 to USA for B-29 training.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Air Division 448th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-20746
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer of 448th ; Chief of Staff
Colonel Gerry Mason of the 448th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Gerry Mason CO 448 BG, 3/4/44- ex CBI to USA 11/44.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-18221
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
Colonel James M Thompson of the 448th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col James M Thompson, CO 448BG, KIA 1/1/44.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group Headquarters (448th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-017992
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer 448th
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot, Commanding Officer 448th

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Seething 30 November 1943 - 6 July 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 713th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17003831 / O-810982
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33399071
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 713th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15130316 / O-808492
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Rum Runner
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 713th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Sad Sack
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Prodigal Son
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Commando
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 713th Bomb Squadron

Mission

  • Date: 11 March 1945
  • Date: 26 August 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributordmccullo
Changes
Sources

Updated highlights.

Date
Contributordmccullo
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Profile updated 04-20-2020.

Date
Changes
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2nd Air Division Memorial Library

Date
Contributorscooter6793
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Update

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
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Sources

Seething Control Tower Museum: http://www.seethingtower.org/448-bomb-group.php

Date
ContributorAAM
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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)

448th Bomb Group: Gallery (257 items)