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

Structure

Part of

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  15th Air Force

  
  The Fifteenth Air Force was one of two Strategic Air forces in Europe, along with the Eighth Air Force. ...

Encompassing

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  760th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron
  Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber squadron in mid-1943, it was assigned to the II Bomber Command for training. It trained primarily in New Mexico and Utah. The squadron received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations ...

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  761st Bomb Squadron

  Squadron
  Activated as the 761st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in mid-1943;[1] assigned to II Bomber Command for training with B-24 Liberators. Primarily trained in New Mexico and Utah. Received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO)...

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  762nd Bomb Squadron

  Squadron
  Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron in mid-1943, it was assigned to II Bomber Command for training. It trained primarily in New Mexico and Utah. It received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in August...

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  763rd Bomb Squadron

  Squadron
  Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber squadron in mid-1943, it was assigned to II Bomber Command. It was primarily trained in New Mexico and Utah. The unit received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in August 1943...

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	Spinazzola	January 1944 – July 1945

Connections

People

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  John Alexander

  Military | Second Lieutenant | 460th Bomb Group
  Cited as being the pilot of B-24 41-29320 "Alexander's Ragtime Band". Air Medal - 1 OLC.

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  George Boone

  Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 460th Bomb Group
  B-24 Pilot

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  Robert Gardner

  Military | Colonel | Pilot | 460th Bomb Group

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  Rubin Harkey

  Military | Sergeant | Engineer | 460th Bomb Group
  KIA. Shot while trying to evade capture at/near Paling, Ger. US trial found no war crime and acquitted the soldier who shot him.

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  Balus Holleman

  Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 460th Bomb Group
  B.J. was a B-24 pilot, shot down and taken prisoner in March 1945

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  Edward Kovaleski

  Military | First Sergeant (1st Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner and Assistant Flight Engineer | 460th Bomb Group
  On April 26, 1945, he was an Assistant Engineer aboard the B-24 44-40495, named the “Seldom Available”, on a mid-day bombing mission from Spinnazola Air Field to Klagenfurt (Austria) Rail Marshalling Yards. The ship suffered mechanical failure, and...

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  Gerald McCarthy

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | 460th Bomb Group

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  Armin Van Dale

  Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 460th Bomb Group
  Shot down in B-24J #42-50888 on 22/09/44, E of Tittmoning, Ger. and taken POW. Returned to Duty.

Aircraft

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  41-28904

  B-24 Liberator

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  42-52337 Cuddles

  B-24 Liberator

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  44-41019

  B-24 Liberator

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  42-50888

  B-24 Liberator
  Shot down 22/09/1944 east of Tittmoning, Ger. MACR 8739

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  44-49392 Rough Rider

  B-24 Liberator

Citations

The 460th Heavy Bombardment Group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for leading the 55th Bomb Wing through adverse weather and heavy enemy fire to attack an airfield and aircraft facilities in Zwolfaxing, Austria, on 26 July 1944. The group also flew some interdiction and support missions and supported the invasion of southern France in August 1944 by raiding submarine pens, marshalling yards and gun positions in the assault area. It struck bridges, viaducts, ammunition dumps, railroads and other targets to aid the advance of Allied forces in northern Italy.