460th Bomb Group

Group
Two B-24 Liberators of the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force fly together during a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: '15 AF B-24s 460th BG.' media-418527.jpg FRE 4605 Two B-24 Liberators of the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force fly together during a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: '15 AF B-24s 460th BG.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4605 - Two B-24 Liberators of the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force fly together during a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: '15 AF B-24s 460th BG.'

Constituted as 460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in May 1943. Activated on 1 July 1943. Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment unit; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in New Mexico and Utah. Received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in August 1943. Moved to Georgia and Virginia where the group flew coastal patrol missions over the Southeast, October 1943 – January 1944 while station in Italy was being constructed.



Deployed to Southern Italy in January 1944; entered combat in January 1944, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force 55th Bombardment Wing. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives.



The group flew its last World War II combat mission on 26 April 1945. After V-E Day, was assigned to Green Project which was the movement of troops from Europe to the United States via the South Atlantic Transport Route. B-24s were modified with sealed bomb bays, removal of all defensive armament and internal fuselage equipped with seating to carry approximately 30 personnel. Was assigned to Air Transport Command at Waller Field, Trinidad and to Natal, Brazil. Moved personnel from Dakar in French West Africa where personnel were transported across the South Atlantic to Brazil and eventually to Morrison Field, Florida via Trinadad. Provided air transport until the end of September when the unit was inactivated

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Spinazzola

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group 761st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-808351
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-771377
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group 760th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-808411
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group 760th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34772208
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28904) of the 465th Bomb Group flies with A B-24 (serial number 42-52337) nicknamed "Cuddles"of the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force fly as one of their comrades burns in mid air.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group 760th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28904) of the 465th Bomb Group flies with A B-24 (serial number 42-52337) nicknamed "Cuddles"of the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force fly as one of their comrades burns in mid air.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Cuddles
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group 763rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group 760th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force attend to a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-41019) with a collapsed nose wheel.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 460th Bomb Group

Revisions

Date
Contributorav8torrg
Changes
Sources

personal photos - Lt Robert Gardner, USAAF

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes

460th Bomb Group: Gallery (21 items)