479th Sub-Depot
Group
North Pickenham
Military site : airfield
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Aerial photograph of North Pickenham airfield looking south east, the technical site and control tower are at the top, 10 April 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC267. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).
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Donald Prytulak Pilot 492nd BG - 859th BS 467th BG - 788th BS Completed a 31 mission tour
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Donald Prytulak Crew Crew #907 492nd BG - 859th BS (28 missions) 467th BG - 788th BS (3 missions) Standing Left to Right: Donald Prytulak (P), Raymond Suchiu (CP), Benjamin A. Babitz (N), Wesley R. Williams (B) Kneeling Left to Right: Duane C. Heath (FE), Benjamin B. Cronemeyer (RO), Thomas W. Floyd (TG), George B. Robb (TTG), Anthony Maiorino (BTG), Alton Mohney (NG) Photo taken at North Pickenham in July 1944
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Sergeant Howard A. Linn, Tail Gunner, 492nd Bomb Group, and his crew, North Pickenham, England. Howard is front row, center.
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Video and photographs of the memorials to the 492nd and 491st Bombardment Groups (Heavy) who served at North Pickenham Station 143.
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Apparently this is not a photo of 'THE FLYING JACKASS', #44-40239, but is a later B-24L Model. Richard P Rice Crew (Training-September 22, 1944) Front L-R: 2LT Bob Hacker, 2LT Richard P. Rice, 2LT Bill Melaun Rear L-R: T/S Bob Dierks-Waist Gunner, T/S Jack Chapman-Nose Gunner, T/S Dick Rinto-Tail Gunner, T/S Dwight Hoff-Flight Engineer/Top Turret, T/S Ray Roberts-Waist Gunner, T/S Ray Snook-Radio Operator.
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2nd Lieutenant Richard P. Rice
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Robert MacDonald crew Crew #662
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2nd Lt. Marvin L. Berg Navigator, B24, 491st BG 852nd BS Butler, South Dakota, USA
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42-95123 So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed 6X W B24H was assigned to the Burdekin crew. On 27 Aug 1944, being flown by a different crew, she crashed on take-off with a full bomb load from North Pickenham-Salvaged.
Built comparatively late during 1943-44 as an Eighth Air Force bomber base, North Pickenham was rather cramped as an airfield site so the main runway was shorter than typical. It had three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. This station was first occupied by the 'hard luck’ 492nd Bomb Group from May to August 1944, operating B-24s, which was withdrawn from combat after losing 51 aircraft to enemy action during 64 missions. It was replaced by the highly successful 491st Bomb Group, also equipped with B-24s, which remained at North Pickenham until August 1945. The station was then used for a variety of purposes by the RAF and USAFE from 1945 to 1965, most notably as a Douglas Thor IRBM site during 1958-63, and as a Hawker Siddeley P1127 Kestrel trials airfield during 1964-65. It has since reverted mostly to agriculture plus turkey farming, a wind farm and light industry.
Detailed history
Not yet known
English Heritage's record description
Not yet known
Service
Units
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492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
Group
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. ... -
491st Bomb Group
Group
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... -
326th Station Complement Squadron
Squadron
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856th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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857th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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858th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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859th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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853rd Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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Headquarters (492nd Bomb Group)
Headquarters
People
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William Adams
Military | Sergeant | Togglier / Nose Gunner | 491st Bomb Group
Assigned to 854BS, 491BG, 8AF USAAF. 1 x combat mission. ... -
Thomas Alexander
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 491st Bomb Group
Thomas Alexander’s older brother, Marston Alexander Jr, born in 1917, died in October 1929. Thomas enlisted in the Air Corps and was trained as a pilot. Sent overseas, he was assigned to the 491st Bomb Group / 854th Bomb Squadron in England. He was on... -
Earl Alleman
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 491st Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down near Soest on 9/26/44 in B-24 #4410500 -
David Allen
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight engineer / Top turret | 491st Bomb Group
Assigned to 852BS, 491BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. Crashed, exploded and burned 5-Jan-45 in assembly ship B-24 44-40165 'Rage in Heaven' near Swaffham after taking off in a snowstorm to lead the assembly of the group. Killed in Action (KIA) ... -
Elmore Austin
Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 491st Bomb Group
Assigned to 854BS, 491BG, 8AF USAAF. 1 x combat missions. ... -
William Austin
Military | Staff Sergeant | Flight Engineer/Gunner | 492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
B-24 flight engineer for 492nd Bomb Group, 856th Bomb Squadron and 8th air force. Shot down 4 August 1944 in A/C #42-50770. Interned in Sweden. He was predeceased by his 12 siblings and wife, Inga-Lisa, who he met whilst in Sweden. -
Benjamin Babitz
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 467th Bomb Group
Transferred 467th BG -
Robert Baker
Military | Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 491st Bomb Group
Shot down near Soest in B-24 #44-10500, Killed in Action (KIA). -
Haynes Baumgardner
Military | Pilot | 491st Bomb Group
Haynes Baumgardner served as a B-24 pilot in the 491st Bomb Group. He flew a supply mission on Sept. 18, 1944 in support of Operation Market Garden. After dropping a load of supplies from tree top level to troops on the ground, his group headed home.... -
Frank Beatty
Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 Pilot / Fighter pilot | 467th Bomb Group
Assigned to 859BS, 492BG, 8AF USAAF 5 x missions plus an abort. Transferred to 788BS, 467BG, 8AF USAAF 35 combat missions plus a couple of fuel hauls for Patton. Transferred to 436FS, 479FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed Tour of Duty (ETD). ...
Aircraft
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41-28884 Problem Child
B-24 Liberator
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41-29470
B-24 Liberator
On its first mission as an 856th BS plane, it was lent to the 857th BS and was shot down by flak. 23 Jun 44: Lost with Monroe Crew R-01, shot down by flak over Brussels, Belgium. 8 KIA, 2 POW, MACR 6242 -
42-110091 Bold Venture
B-24 Liberator
The deputy lead ship of the 453rd BG was shot up by the Luftwaffe. Assumption is that the pilots were immediately killed, since the plane began flying aimlessly by itself. It veered into the path of the 492nd. Either Lt Cary of Bold Venture didn't see... -
42-110107 "Wham Bam Thank You Ma'm"
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 854BS, 491BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Hanover mission; downed by flak over Russelheim, Germany, on 24-Aug-44. 3 x POW, 6 x KIA. MACR 8296 ... -
42-110151 Alvin
B-24 Liberator
This aircraft was shot up over Germany by GAF. Immediately 2 gunners were KIA and another WIA. The crew helped the wounded man bail out. As the fire aboard spread out of control, the order to abandon ship was given. Only 3 more made it out before the... -
42-110152 The Lady Will
B-24 Liberator
The 856th BS lost all of their planes while en route to their target. How many of them made an attempt to reach Sweden is unknown. Although Sweden was a mere 20 minutes from the air battle, only two of the shot-up Liberators made it there. Some of the... -
42-110153
B-24 Liberator
Shot up over Germany, dropped out of formation and was never seen again. 10 KIA, MACR 5240 -
42-5910 'Hell-Cat' 'Ruthie' 'Homesick Angel'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 5/5/43; Denver 11/5/43; Dow Fd 31/5/43; Assigned 326BS/92BG [JW-N] Alconbury 6/6/43 RUTHIE; transferred 365BS/305BG [XK-N] Chelveston HELL-CAT 10/6/43; then 422BS [JJ-Z/N]; 858BS/8AFCC Cheddington 26/6/44; battle damaged Romilly 15... -
42-7563 'Hells Warrior'
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 701BS, 445BG, 8th AF. Transfered to the 859BS, 492BG and modified for use in Carpetbagger missions. After August 1944 the 492nd Bomb Group was used as a cover for special operations missions in Europe, such as supply drops to Underground... -
42-95177
B-24 Liberator
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 25 August 2016 15:26:00 | White Knight | Changes to known as, usaaf from date, usaaf to date, construction date and closure date |
| Sources | ||
The 492nd and 491st Bomb Groups in Norfolk Peter Bodle, Liberator Publishing. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 April 2016 02:22:08 | Cebby | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Harold W. Burdekin Records |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:02:17 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978) Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (2nd edn, London, 2001) Michael Bowyer, Action Stations 1: Wartime Military Airfields of East Anglia 1939-1945 (Cambridge, 1979) Owen Thetford, Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918 (London, 1979) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_North_Pickenham http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/north-pickenham |
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