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497th Bomb Squadron

Squadron

  • The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95903) nicknamed

    The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95903) nicknamed "Hard to Get" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Hard to Get"- 497th Sqdn. Commander D D Bentley, actually taken on Stansted in July 1944.'. Caption from “The Martin B-26 Marauder” by J.K.Havener, p215 - ' Nose art on the 497th Sqdn. Commander D.D. Bentley's ship in the 344th BG. The dual-meaning name worked and it was never "got" by flak or fighters during Bailey's tenure as 497th CO. As a Lt. Col. he was transferred to the 322nd BG as Deputy Commander in August 1944'.

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  • Lieutenant J.K. Havener a pilot of the 497th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group on top of a B-26 Marauder nicknamed

    Lieutenant J.K. Havener a pilot of the 497th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group on top of a B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Terre Haute Tornado". Handwritten caption on reverse: '344BG, 497BS, B-26.'

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  • Ground crew at work servicing a B-26 Marauder ('7I') nicknamed

    Ground crew at work servicing a B-26 Marauder ('7I') nicknamed "Terre Haute Tornado" of the 497th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Terre Haute Tornado", 344BG, 497BS.'

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  • Ground crew at Stansted airfield at work on the 9 March 1944 repairing the right engine of a 344th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder to the right of the camera. Another 497th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (7I-K, serial number 42-95815) is in the background. Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '344BG, 497BS, Stansted.' Printed caption on reverse: 'B-26s Come In For Overhaul. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Mechanics on a B-26 Bomber Base in England get to work on damaged ships which are quickly put back into service. (21) 9-3-44-EM.' Censor no: 310502. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

    Ground crew at Stansted airfield at work on the 9 March 1944 repairing the right engine of a 344th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder to the right of the camera. Another 497th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (7I-K, serial number 42-95815) is in the background. Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '344BG, 497BS, Stansted.' Printed caption on reverse: 'B-26s Come In For Overhaul. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Mechanics on a B-26 Bomber Base in England get to work on damaged ships which are quickly put back into service. (21) 9-3-44-EM.' Censor no: 310502. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

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  • Lieutenant Jack Havener of the 344th Bomb Group admires a pin up nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95952) nicknamed

    Lieutenant Jack Havener of the 344th Bomb Group admires a pin up nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95952) nicknamed "You've 'Ad It". Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"You've 'Ad It!"- Harrison. Actually taken on Stansted, July 1944.'

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  • de Havilland DH98 Mosquito PR Mk XVI RG157

    de Havilland DH98 Mosquito PR Mk XVI RG157 "Q" taxying.

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  • de Havilland DH98 Mosquito PR Mk XVI RG157

    de Havilland DH98 Mosquito PR Mk XVI RG157 "Q".

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  • The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95899) nicknamed

    The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95899) nicknamed "Maffry's Mottled Marauder" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Maffy's Mottled Marauder"- Maffry. May 1944.' Caption from “The Martin B-26 Marauder” by J.K.Havener, p163 - 'Nose art shot of Capt. J.C. Maffry's 497th Sqdn. 344th BG partially stripped Marauder. Inscription below name reads "The wings are coming by ATC." Spring 1944, Stansted Mountfichet.'

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  • A Group of airmen of the 344th Bomb Group at Stansted-Mountfitchet, March 1944. Associated caption: 'Original occupants of Hut #10 (later known as the

    A Group of airmen of the 344th Bomb Group at Stansted-Mountfitchet, March 1944. Associated caption: 'Original occupants of Hut #10 (later known as the "Hut-Too-Three-Fo!") in the 497th Sqaudron officer's area. Standing L to R. Hollinger, Wroneski, Healy, Borreson. Kneeling L to R. Havener, McLaughlin, Horn, Nemeth. Early March and snowing!'

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  • RE Wilson a pilot of the 344th Bomb Group, in the cockpit of B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95906) nicknamed

    RE Wilson a pilot of the 344th Bomb Group, in the cockpit of B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95906) nicknamed "Terre Haute Tornado". The bombardier RF Humes is in the nose gun position. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'My ship "Terre Haute Tornado" after 4 missions, pilot RE Wilson in cockpit and bombardier RF Humes in nose, April 1944.'

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Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Not yet known
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Stansted Mountfitchet

Connections

People

  • Robert Ahern

    Military | bomber (flight engineer and top turret gunner) | 344th Bomb Group

  • Ballard Bentley

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Flight Engineer, Top Turret Gunner | 344th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 497BS, 344BG, 9AF USAAF. FTR Erkeland in B-26 43-34565; shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Erkeland, Germany. 23-Feb-45. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 12649 Awards: PH.

  • Delwin Bentley

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Squadron Commander | 322nd Bomb Group

  • Edward Borresen

    Military | Colonel | 344th Bomb Group
    344th BG, 497th BS. POW Stalag Luft III.

  • Kenneth Bowdish

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 344th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 497BS, 344BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Erkeland in B-26 43-34565; shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Erkeland, Germany. 23-Feb-45. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 12649 Awards: PH.

  • Vernon Bratten

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 344th Bomb Group
    Shot down and wounded on his third mission, evaded capture. AM & 1 OLC, PH.

  • Julian Burgess

    Military | Lieutenant

  • John Catlin

    Military | Major | Pilot | 344th Bomb Group

  • Carl Chapman

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 344th Bomb Group
    Capt Carl F. Chapman Jr. attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega, Georgia. ...

  • John Erickson

    Military | Staff Sergeant | 344th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

Citations

None

Air Force
9th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 15:59:03 rossingtonj Changes to type
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:49 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / 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)

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