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788th Bomb Squadron

Squadron

  • The insignia of the 788th Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group.

    The insignia of the 788th Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group.

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  • 44-40140 B-24J

    44-40140 B-24J "Alice"

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  • Scene at Rackheath immediately following the return of the crews from the Groups' first mission. Pictured are members of the 788th Lt. Ken Driscoll crew and senior staff. The Driscoll crew flew the lead position accompanied by Command Pilot Col. Albert Shower in a successful first operation that targeted an aircraft assembly plant and airfield at Bourges in France. The crew flew B24H

    Scene at Rackheath immediately following the return of the crews from the Groups' first mission. Pictured are members of the 788th Lt. Ken Driscoll crew and senior staff. The Driscoll crew flew the lead position accompanied by Command Pilot Col. Albert Shower in a successful first operation that targeted an aircraft assembly plant and airfield at Bourges in France. The crew flew B24H "Wabbit" which returned unscathed from the mission. - Andy Wilkinson

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  • B-24 42-52623

    B-24 42-52623 "Wabbit"

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  • B-24 42-52623

    B-24 42-52623 "Wabbit"

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  • Stunning photo of elements of the 788th Squadron participating on the 16th April 45 mission to Landshut, Germany. Note the 791st B.S. Lead Squadron B24 with H2X radar scanning furthest left. - Andy Wilkinson

    Stunning photo of elements of the 788th Squadron participating on the 16th April 45 mission to Landshut, Germany. Note the 791st B.S. Lead Squadron B24 with H2X radar scanning furthest left. - Andy Wilkinson

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  • B24H 42-95234

    B24H 42-95234 "Everything's Jake" 788th B.S. Originally 492nd BG, 859 BS (X4 E+). Flew nine missions before transfer to 467th BG. Photo Credit: James Mahoney. Courtesy of Brian Mahoney

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  • B24H 42-95234

    B24H 42-95234 "Everything's Jake" 788th B.S. Originally 492nd BG, 859 BS (X4 E+). Flew nine missions before transfer to 467th BG.

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  • B24H 42-95234

    B24H 42-95234 "Everything's Jake" 788th B.S. Originally 492nd BG, 859 BS (X4 E+). Flew nine missions before transfer to 467th BG

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  • B24H 42-95234

    B24H 42-95234 "Everything's Jake" 788th B.S. The aircraft was formerly 492nd BG with which it flew 9 missions. Upon the introduction of the "new" 788th Squadron in August 44, this aircraft and 13 others from the 492nd BG began combat operations commencing 14th August 44. The aircraft was returned to the U.S. after the War.

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During early May 1944, General Peck, Commanding general of the 96th CBW, invited Colonel Shower, CO of the 467th BG, Colonel Isbell, CO of the 458th BG, and Colonel Pierce, CO of the 466th BG, to wing HQ at Horsham St. Faith. They were told that one of them was to give up a B24 Squadron to be transferred to the 801st(P)BG at Harrington. They each got out a half-crown to toss: the loser was to give up a squadron from his group. Col. Shower lost, and he chose to offer the 788th Squadron, formerly commanded by Major Robert Salzarulo, who had gone down a few days earlier on the mission to Berlin 29th April 44 and taken POW. The 11th May 44, Group Mission number 25 was the last mission to be flown by the original 788th Squadron with the 467th BG.

Structure

Part of
  • VIII Air Force Composite Command

    VIII Air Force Composite Command

    Command

  • 467th Bomb Group

    467th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 467th Bomb Group, or the "Rackheath Aggies" as they came to be known, flew B-24 Liberators on missions from April 1944. Its air crews became known for their accuracy and the Group had the best overall standing for accuracy within the Eighth Air...

  • 801st Bomb Group

    801st Bomb Group

    Group
    The 801st Bomb Group was established as part of the Eighth Air Force in late March 1944 to carry out 'Carpetbagger' missions. These were night missions over France and other parts of occupied Europes to support resistance forces by dropping in agents,...

Encompassing
Not yet known
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Cheddington

Connections

People

  • James Abell

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 467th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed at Lostau in B-24 42-50481. (Transferred 467th BG)

  • Ernest Adams

    Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 467th Bomb Group
    Flew on B-24 'Slick Chick'. MACR 9843. B-24H #42-95224 'LONELY HEART'. Returned to base on mission to Hamburg after CP fell from A/C bomb bay into the North Sea. RTD.

  • Donald Adamson

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 467th Bomb Group
    Returned from operations and crash landed on a Carpetbagger mission in A/C 42-50584 on August 6/7, 1944.

  • Henry Allen

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 467th Bomb Group
    Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-24 #4252506. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • James Anslow

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 467th Bomb Group
    Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-24 #4252506. Evaded.

  • Carl Appel

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radar Counter Measures Operator | 467th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) at Berlin in B-24 #42-52546.

  • Lee Arlin

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 467th Bomb Group
    Returned from operations and crash landed on Carpetbaggers mission in ac 42-50584 on August 6/7, 1944.

  • Frank Ayers

    Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 467th Bomb Group
    Crashed into North Sea in B-24 'Umbriago' #44-40068, Killed in Action (KIA).

  • James Bahrman

    Military | Sergeant | Engineer | 467th Bomb Group
    Flew on B-24 'Slick Chick'

  • John Barker

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 467th Bomb Group
    Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-24 #4252477. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

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Aircraft

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
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Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
03 April 2019 09:42:28 general ira snapsorter Changes to description
Sources

http://www.the467tharchive.org/altgallerytwo788a.html
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 16:51:43 rossingtonj Changes to type
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:51 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

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 / 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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