492nd Bomb Group

Group
A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden. media-380941.jpg FRE 2136 A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 2136 - A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden.

The 492nd Bomb Group were assigned to the 8th Air Force in April 1944. They flew 60 missions over occupied Europe from 11 May 1944 until 7 August 1944.

The group sustained heavier losses than any other B-24 group over a three month period. On 5 August 1944, they became the only Bomb Group in the European Theatre of operations to be disbanded because of high casualties, and were withdrawn from combat. The men and machines of the 492nd Bomb Group were transferred to the 367th Bomb Group while the unit was reassigned to take over the role of the 801st Bomb Group, who had been undertaking 'Carpetbagger' operations.

Commanding Officers

Group Commander Colonel Eugene H. Snavely carves the roast at the base of the 44th Bomb Group at Shipdham, Norfolk, 1944.

Eugene Herbert Snavely

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (14th Combat Bomb Wing) Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
  • Service Numbers: O-22364
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

North Pickenham 14 April 1944 - 12 August 1944

Encompassing

People

A A Apps

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 479th Sub-Depot 492nd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Ground Crew

Andrew P Bartosh

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 479th Sub-Depot 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 32440819
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Ground Crew

Albert J Beller

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-1102624
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Albert L Bessette

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 406th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11111521
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: D

Alfred C Bocksberger

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-28781

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group

41-29470

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 856th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron

42-110091

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Bold Venture
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron

42-110143

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Little Lulu
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron

42-110151

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Alvin
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media. Changes to Media
Sources

Removed extra info in the "unit name".

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://www.492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=492groundUnits

Date
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to person associations and aircraft associations
Sources

Removed associations to people and aircraft whose record mentions 'carpetbagger' due to likelihood of serving with 492nd Bomb Group Carpetbaggers

Date
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to name, nicknames, us air force combat units of world war ii description, description, commanding officers associations and stations
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of WWII

Roger Freeman, The Mighty Eighth

492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)

Date
Contributor2nd Air Division Memorial Library
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
ChangesChanges to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added.

Date
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)

492nd Bomb Group : Gallery (122 items)