452nd Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group. media-395129.jpg FRE 5186 The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5186 - The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.

The 452nd Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deopham Green, Norfolk, from January 1944. The air crews hit strategic sites in Germany but also supported the movement of ground forces across Europe after D-Day. On 6 June 1944 itself, the Group bombed coastal defences before the landings. The 452nd Group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing a jet fighter base at Kaltenkirchen, northern Germany, on 7 April 1945, under intense pressure from enemy fighters and anti-aircraft flak.

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Group 729th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-22805
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot/Commanding Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Group commander
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert B Satterwhite of the 388th Bomb Group presents a plaque of behalf of the United States Eighth Air Force to the Mayor of Thetford, HR Watling, historian Professor Frank Dobie and Sir William Gentle to commemorate Thomas Paine. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.' [stamp] and '289762.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN SERVICEMEN'S TRIBUTE TO TOM PAINE. A Plaque in memory of Thomas
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Staff
Colonel TC Odom, Group commander of the 352nd Bomb Group christens a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-37817) nicknamed "Mollita". Image via Walt Cochrek. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Ground commander Col TC Odom christens his "Ship".
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: US Strategic Air Forces 452nd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Deopham Green 3 January 1944 - 5 August 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 729th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 708369 / O-708369
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mi Amigo
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

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ContributorPete
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Sources

452nd Bomb Group Assoc.

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ContributorPete
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452nd Bomb Group Assoc.

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ContributorPete
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452nd Bomb Group Assoc.

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ContributorPete
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452nd Bomb Group Assoc.

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Contributorrossingtonj
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Type added.

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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)

452nd Bomb Group: Gallery (432 items)