Beecher Bell
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 458th Bomb Group
Burton Miles Bush
Military
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Captain Burton Miles Bush Pilot/Lead Pilot 93rd BG - 458th BG - 466th BG
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Crew #455 - Burton M. Bush Crew 466th BG - 784th BS - 8th AF This group had previously flown nine missions with the 458th BG, and approximately 18 missions with the 93rd BG. They flew four missions with the 466th BG Standing far left: Burton M. Bush (P) Middle row 2nd from left: Crew Roster (Not in order in the photo): Burton M. Bush (P), Millard P. Schaaf (CP), John McSweeney (N), Robert E. Clark (B), Beecher Bell (RO), John D. Dye (NTG), Benjamin T. Clements (FE), John P. Sixkiller (TTG), Chester Sinicki (BTG), Austin L. Seals (TG) Schaaf, McSweeney, Clark and Sinicki had all be replaced before transferring to the 466th BG.
Service
Units served with
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458th Bomb Group
Group
The 458th Bomb Group (H) entered combat with the 8th Air Force in February 1944. Based at Horsham St. Faith in England, the combat crews participated in the decisive Campaigns 'Big Week', 'Big B', D-Day and the assault on Germany's oil industry waged... -
466th Bomb Group
Group
The 466th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Attlebridge, Norfolk, during the last year of the war in Europe. The Group flew 232 missions in the course of the year and celebrated the 100th one by inviting local people onto the base to mark the... -
93rd Bomb Group
Group
93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they... -
752nd Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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784th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Aircraft
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42-100365 Wolfgang
B-24 Liberator
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42-109812
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 752BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Schonecken in B-24 42-109812, hit by flak, tail section departed A/C, A/C went into spin and crashed St Vith. 3 x POW, 6 x KIA 24-Dec-44 MACR 11121. -
42-100311 Yokum Boy
B-24 Liberator
Declared war weary in the Autumn of 1944 and salvaged by Base Air Depot 3 at Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland.
Missions
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8th Air Force 250
6 March 1944
The industrial areas of Berlin and Genshagen, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. A combined force of 730 heavy bombers are despatched from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. The despatch from 3rd Air Division bombs Targets of Opportunity in... -
8th Air Force 252
8 March 1944
The VKF ballbearing factory at Berlin/Erkner is the primary target for 623 heavy bombers despatched by all three Air Divisions. Fighter opposition and anti-aircraft fire are intense. There are so many formation attacking that some divert to other... -
8th Air Force 259
15 March 1944
The industrial areas of the secondary target of Brunswick, Germany. A combined force of 344 heavy bombers from 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions are despatched. Mission Summary follows: ... -
8th Air Force 270
21 March 1944
The V-Weapon site at Watten, France is the target for this mission. A combined force of 65 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 392BG; and 458BG are despatched. 7 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses, casualties or claims. -
8th Air Force 275
23 March 1944
The industrial areas of Brunswick, Munster, Osnabruck, and Achmer, Germany as well as the airfield at Handorf, Germany become the targets for a force of 768 heavy bombers despatched by all three Air Divisions. The bomber gunner claims on German... -
8th Air Force 280
26 March 1944
9 V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise, France area and 7 V-Weapon sites in the Cherbourg, France area are the targets of this mission. A combined force of 573 heavy bombers from all three Air Divisions are despatched. Mission Summary follows: ... -
8th Air Force 293
9 April 1944
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8th Air Force 298
11 April 1944
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403
10 June 1944
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590
30 August 1944
End of Operation Overlord. ...
Associated Place
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Attlebridge
Military site : airfield
Attlebridge was constructed for RAF use and completed to that standard in 1942. However, with news that it was to be assigned to the American Air Force, the runways were extended and additional hardstandings and outbuildings constructed for the heavy... -
Hardwick
Military site : airfield
Planned as an RAF bomber airfield, Hardwick was used first by the 310th Bomb Group, equipped with B-25 Mitchells. In December 1943, the B-24 Liberators of the 93rd Bomb Group moved in, and remained until the end of the war, flying over 330 missions.... -
Horsham St Faith
Military site : airfield
Horsham St Faith was an RAF Bomber Command Station opened in June 1940. It was home to Bristol Blenheim medium-bombers, and was for a time occupied by fighters, including those of No. 19 Squadron and No. 264 Squadron. From September 1942 the airfield...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Dekalb, Illinois | 3 July 1922 |
| Enlisted | Chicago, IL | 9 April 1942 |
| 458th BG Combat Tour | RAF Horsham St. Faith | 6 March 1944 – 11 April 1944 |
| 93rd BG Combat Tour | RAF Hardwick | 15 April 1944 – 15 August 1944 |
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Dates are approximate |
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| 466th BG Combat Tour | RAF Attlebridge | 30 August 1944 – 26 October 1944 |
| Died | Fresno County, CA | 20 April 2008 |
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Col. Burton M. Bush passed away at the age of 85. Burton lived a full and interesting life. He enjoyed an exciting career as an Air Force pilot. It was a career he enjoyed. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lucille; three children Duane, Tom, and Chris; three grandchildren Jason, Aaron and Meghan; and five great-grandchildren Kalea, Noah, Jonna-Lee, Emily, and Adisyn. He will be missed. Remembrances may be sent to the Alzheimer's Foundation of Central California, 4411 N. Cedar Ave., Suite 102, Fresno, Ca 93726. |
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| Buried | Clovis, CA | 23 April 2008 |
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Clovis Cemetery |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 12 April 2020 00:09:39 | 466thHistorian | Changes to middlename, service number, highest rank, role, awards, events, unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.458bg.com/crew14bush.htm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:04:52 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
458bg.com / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia |
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