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

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Old Buckenham 22 December 1943 - 9 May 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Reconnaissance Car Crewman
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Adjutant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Intelligence

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Gypsy Queen
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Worry Bird
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Star-Eyes
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjjskhodges
Changes
Sources

Photos owned by Jan Hodges

Date
Changes
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
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Type added.

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)

453rd Bomb Group: Gallery (200 items)