483rd Bomb Group

Group
Seen through a 433rd Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress' strike camera, a 816th Bomb Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5786) nicknamed "Whizzer II" goes down over Nis in Yugoslavia on the 15th of April 1944 in a gout of flame after taking a direct flak hit. There were no survivors. Official caption on image: "(483BG:4M3:2VI) (4:15:1208) (24:21300) ([south-west arrow] 140 [degrees]) (Nis M/Y Yugo) (Ship 111 816 Sq)." Handwritten caption on reverse: '15/4/44. 483BG, 15AF. Nis, Yugoslavia. 42-5786 media-457805.jpg FRE 10138 Seen through a 433rd Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress' strike camera, a 816th Bomb Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5786) nicknamed "Whizzer II" goes down over Nis in Yugoslavia on the 15th of April 1944 in a gout of flame after taking a direct flak hit. There were no survivors. Official caption on image: "(483BG:4M3:2VI) (4:15:1208) (24:21300) ([south-west arrow] 140 [degrees]) (Nis M/Y Yugo) (Ship 111 816 Sq)." Handwritten caption on reverse: '15/4/44. 483BG, 15AF. Nis, Yugoslavia. 42-5786 Whizzer II has taken direct flak hit - all crew members were killed. USAAF 41.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 10138 - Seen through a 433rd Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress' strike camera, a 816th Bomb Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5786) nicknamed...

'As part of the 15th Air Force in WWII, the 483rd Bombardment Group (H) played a significant role in the eventual defeat of Germany's forces. Its four combat squadrons, the 815th, 816th, 817th and 840th flew a total of 5,623 sorties from 12 April 1944 to 26 April 1945, dropping more than 13,700 tons of bombs and losing 79 of its aircraft in combat. Its human losses were high: of the original 646 flying personnel sent to Italy in 1944, 39.8 percent were either killed in action or became prisoners of war.'



'The 483rd, stationed at Sterparone, Italy, flew B-17 "Flying Fortress" missions against critical enemy-controlled targets in Austria, Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Northern Italy, Germany, Yugoslavia, Poland, Southern France, and Greece (Salamis). The group also supported ground forces during the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 and the Allied offensive in Northern Italy in April 1945. Two secret missions were flown in support of Czech patriots who held Tri Duby airdrome near Banska-Bystrica.'



Summary above comes from Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, GA website.

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Tortorella 30 March 1944 - 22 April 1944

Based

Sterparone 22 April 1944 - 15 May 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 815th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14184606
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Asst Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 815th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17063656 / O-702094
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 815th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33098125 / O-741440
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 816th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31280499
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 1141st Quartermaster Company 483rd Bomb Group 817th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33138495
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 817th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 815th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 816th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 817th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Catfish
  • Unit: 483rd Bomb Group 816th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, GA: https://www.museumofaviation.org/483rd.php

483rd Bomb Group: Gallery (29 items)