UPL 49779

IMAGE
Download Image

By downloading this image, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions

44-40072 B.T.O. (Big Time Operator) The B.T.O. flew 27 missions with the 492nd before being transferred out and is shown here with 36 bombs painted on it. The top Photo belonged to Phillip Davis and was submitted originally to www.b24bestweb.com by Dan Davis.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units

Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'

453rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'

466th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 489th Bomb Group.

489th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
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.

492nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

44-40072

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: B.T.O. (Big Time Operator)
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron 846th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron

Locations

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Attlebridge

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Revisions

Date:
Contributorannebastienpetersen
ChangesChanges to Name, Related Aircraft, Related Places and Related Units
Sources

This plane came from Alamogordo, TX with a crew captained initially by Bob Grettum, who flew just one mission on the plane. Thereafter it was captained for 27 missions while based at No. Pickenham by pilot Arthur Nelson, Co-pilot C.R Bastien, Bombardier Robt. Schultz, Navigator Lee Woods, Tail Turret Cletus Kennedy, Engineer Robt. Carter, Ball Turret Robt. Tracy, Radio William Conroy, Nose Turret Alfred Kaiser, Ground Crew Chief Matthias Schillen. The BTO’s last mission with the 492nd was August 4, 1944, when the 492nd was disbanded and remaining crews dispersed. The Arthur Nelson Crew was sent to the 448th BG at Seething. Grettum was reassigned to a different plane, and on his crew’s last mission, March 4, 1945, crash landed and six crew members were killed, including Grettum. 

Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
ChangesCreated entry with caption, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations
Sources

http://492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showAircraft&aircr…
492ndBombGroup.com — an Arnett Institute project