453rd Bomb Group

Group
Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.' media-380657.jpg FRE 1851 Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1851 - Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'

As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945. The 733rd Bomb Squadron completed a record 82 consecutive missions without loss. Actor James Stewart was Group Executive Officer from March 1944.

Browse 453rd Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/43

Connections

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

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Old Buckenham 22 December 1943 - 9 May 1945

Encompassing

People

Alessi

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Private First Class

Balog

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant

Barber

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant

Besser

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief

Bolis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

41-28591

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Archibald
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron

41-28615

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ginnie
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron

41-28619

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Begin The Beguine
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron

41-28629

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Blondes Away
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron 734th Bomb Squadron

41-28641

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Cee Gee
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron

Mission

881

  • Date: 11 March 1945

854

  • Date: 28 February 1945

847

  • Date: 25 February 1945

Revisions

Date6 May 2019 20:27:03
Contributorjjskhodges
ChangesChanges to media associations
Sources

Photos owned by Jan Hodges

Date9 Mar 2018 15:27:59
Contributor2nd Air Division Memorial Library
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library

Date13 Mar 2015 15:20:05
Contributorrossingtonj
ChangesChanges to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:45
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
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)

453rd Bomb Group: Gallery (204 items)