493rd Bomb Group
Group
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 5228 - The insignia of the 493rd Bomb Group.
The 493rd Bomb Group was the last Eighth Air Force Group to become operational, flying their first combat mission from Debach, Suffolk, on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The Group was known as "the Fighting 493rd", named by their Commanding Officer Colonel Elbert Helton, who held the post for over a year. The Group flew 157 bombing missions, their targets a range of strategic ones in Germany and tactical ones in northern France, Holland and along the Rhine. In additional the crews flew six food missions in May 1945, dropping over 400 tonnes of food into newly-liberated parts of Europe.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group Headquarters Squadron (493rd Bomb Group)
- Service Numbers: O-22325
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Group Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 56th Fighter Group Headquarters (493rd Bomb Group) Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-18868
- Highest Rank: Major General
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot / Group Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group Headquarters Squadron (493rd Bomb Group)
- Service Numbers: O-21912
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Air Executive
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Debach | 6 August 1945 |
Encompassing
People
Aircraft
Mission
Related media
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: 493rd Bomb Group collection
- Object Number: Document 31595
- Description: Syracuse NY Journal 1944 - Donald Gray
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 39696
- Description: Portion of Lt. Bernard Vaughan's "Short Snorter" England 1944
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 40382
- Description: Overall Missions Map for the 493rd BG - USAAF Station 152 -Debach, UK noting missions flown by the Lt Bernard E Vaughan Crew
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: 493rd Bomb Group collection
- Object Number: Document 49955
- Description: Pages from the original documentation of the 493rd Bombardment Group, Dated November 1943. On second page it shows that the Commanding Officer, Lt...
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: Alfred S Gentry collection
- Object Number: Document 52323
- Description: Alfred S Gentry, Copilot, standing on far right as member of Gordon Potts' crew. First entry in Alfred S Gentry's story, "Fred Gentry, Lovable...
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: Alfred S Gentry collection
- Object Number: Document 52324
- Description: Second entry in story of Alfred S Gentry, "Fred Gentry, Lovable Scoundrel or Cool, Professional Bomber Pilot? A Son's View"
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: Alfred S Gentry collection
- Object Number: Document 52325
- Description: Third entry of Alfred S Gentry's story, "Lovable Scoundrel or Cool, Professional, World War II Bomber Pilot? A Son's View
Revisions
The 493rd BG was never called Helton's Hellcats. the Official name was "the Fighting 493rd"
the Hellcats were the American Football team made up from 493rd BG personnel.
the Group flew 161 combat missions, and not 152 as listed.
D Jelley
493rd BG Archives
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)
