491st Bomb Group
Group
Robert Baumgardner, Austin, TX.
Object Number - FRE 2125 - A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at...
The 491st Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators in bombing missions over northern France and Germany from June 1944 until April 1945. Missions over Germany included bombing the headquarters of the German General Staff at Zossen. The Group was awarded a DUC for persevering with a raid on an oil refinery at Misburg on 26 November 1944, despite half of its bombers being destroyed by enemy aircraft.
Browse 491st Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/48
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based |
Metfield | 25 April 1944 - 15 August 1944 |
Based |
North Pickenham | 15 August 1944 - 4 July 1945 |
Encompassing

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 1802nd Ordnance Supply & Maintenance Company
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 854th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Problem Child
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 853rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: The Unlimited
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 853rd Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Doasy Doats
- Unit: Base Air Depot 1 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron 491st Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Mission

- Date: 26 November 1944

- Date: 15 August 1944

- Date: 6 July 1944
- Date: 20 June 1944
- Date: 20 February 1944
Revisions
Kurt Knutsen
2nd Air Division Memorial Library
C. Timothy McKeown
Added unit type and aircraft type
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)