485th Bomb Group

Group
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-41068) of the 485th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Yellow? 44-41068.' media-418573.jpg FRE 8917 A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-41068) of the 485th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Yellow? 44-41068.'

B-24J-195-CO #44-41068
485th BG - 828th BS - 15th AF
This a/c was destroyed by fire on the ground at Venosa Airfield 10 October 1944 Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 8917 - A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-41068) of the 485th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Yellow?...

The wing was originally constituted as the 485th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and activated on 20 September 1943.[6] Its original squadrons were the newly activated 828th, 829th, and 830th Bombardment Squadrons, which were joined a few days later by the 831st Bombardment Squadron at Gowen Field, Idaho.[7] The 831st was an experienced Consolidated B-24 Liberator squadron that had been performing anti-submarine warfare missions as the 11th Antisubmarine Squadron.[7] The group deployed to Gowen, where it derived its initial cadre from the 29th Bombardment Group[8] and was assigned to Second Air Force for training with B-24s at Gowen and at Fairmont Army Air Field, Nebraska. The group deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in March and April 1944.[6]



Although the ground echelon had deployed to Southern Italy by April 1944, the air echelon was detained in Tunisia for further training. The group entered combat with Fifteenth Air Force in May 1944. The 485th engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing marshalling yards, oil refineries, airfields, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives.[6]



The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for combating intense fighter opposition and attacking an oil refinery at Vienna on 26 June 1944. The 485th also carried out some support and interdiction operations. It struck bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations in August 1944 to aid Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, It hit lines of communications and other targets during March and April 1945 to support the advance of British Eighth Army in northern Italy.[6] It flew its 187th and last combat mission against Linz, Austria before preparing to return to the United States and re-equip.[9]



The 485th returned to the United States in May 1945 and was programmed for deployment to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombardment group.[citation needed] Many combat veterans of MTO demobilized upon arrival in the United States, and a small cadre of personnel reformed at Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota at the end of May.[citation needed] The group was reassigned to Second Air Force for training in Iowa. Because B-29 groups had only three combat squadrons, the 831st Bombardment Squadron was inactivated in August.[7] The group then moved on paper[10] to Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas in September.[6]



The group remained on active duty after the Japanese surrender. In March 1946 Continental Air Forces became Strategic Air Command and Second Air Force was replaced by Fifteenth Air Force as the group's intermediate headquarters. Simultaneously, the 506th Bombardment Squadron was assigned to the group from the 44th Bombardment Group.[11] In August 1946 the personnel and equipment of the 485th were reassigned to the 97th Bombardment Group and the 485th was inactivated.[6][12]

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Venosa

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 485th Bomb Group 829th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37060154
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 485th Bomb Group 828th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11063665 / O-802172
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
John Dobler
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 828th Bomb Squadron 485th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 17130552 / O-719578
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 828th Bomb Squadron 485th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 37678716
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Noise Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 485th Bomb Group 829th Bomb Squadron Fifteenth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: 37351748
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-52724) nicknamed "Buzz Job" of the 485th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight over Italy.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Buzz Job
  • Unit: 485th Bomb Group 830th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Picadilly Tilly
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron 4th Bomb Squadron 7th Bomb Squadron 861st Bomb Squadron 485th Bomb Group 828th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-41068) of the 485th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Yellow? 44-41068.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 485th Bomb Group 828th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

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485th Bomb Group: Gallery (11 items)