2nd Bomb Division
Division
The groups under the command of the 2nd Bomb Wing came under the command of the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.
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Group
The 446th Bomb Group, who came to be known as "the Bungay Buckaroos" after the name of their Suffolk base, flew B-24 Liberators on strategic, support and interdictory missions over Europe. The Group led the Eighth Air Force and 2nd Bomb Division on the first heavy bomber mission on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and continued to support the ground forces move eastwards, dropping airborne troops into Wesel, north-west Germany, as part of the advance across the River Rhine.
Browse 446th Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/15
Division
The groups under the command of the 2nd Bomb Wing came under the command of the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.
Wing
Prewar bombardment wing in the northwest. Moved to England, May–June 1943, for duty with Eighth Air Force. Received its first groups in November 1943 and served in combat in the European theater from December 1943 until April 1945. Returned to the US...
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Headquarters
16 December 1943
This is a massive mission of 631 heavy bombers directed at the port area of Bremen, Germany. The force of 631 included 1 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG dispersed among the attacking formations. The mission is composed of three elements. The first...
20 December 1943
The port area of Bremen is the target for 546 heavy bombers. The total includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG. All 12 of these are effective on the target and 11 are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 1-1-0 (this total included with...
22 December 1943
This mission is composed of two forces directed at two separate targets, the communication centers at Osnabruck and Munster, Germany. The force attacking at Osnabruck is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 227 B-17s (2 are PFF...
24 December 1943
This mission is directed at V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. The attacks are made between 1330-1510hrs. The mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 277 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG ...
30 December 1943
The port area and oil refineries at Ludwigshaven, Germany are the target for this massive attack of 710 heavy bombers. The despatch includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG, 11 of these are effective on the mission, 3 are damaged, and the bomber...
31 December 1943
This mission is the last heavy bomber operation of 1943. 1943 had been a very "tough" year for the 8th Air Force in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). 23365 B-17s had been despatched on missions and 881 had Failed to Return (FTR) for a loss...
4 January 1944
The port area of Kiel, Germany and the railroad marshalling yards at Munster, Germany are the Primary targets of this Mission which is organised as two elements: one going to Kiel and the other to Munster. Roger A. Freeman begins to designate aircraft...
5 January 1944
This mission consists of five elements: The first element is a combined force of 131 B-17s are despatched by 1st Bomb Division: 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 379BG; 384BG; and 482BG to bomb the shipyards and industrial areas of Kiel, Germany. 119 are...
7 January 1944
The industrial areas of Ludwigshaven, Germany are the primary target for this mission. The formation has three elements. The bomber gunners of the entire force claim 30-6-17 of attacking German aircraft.
...
11 January 1944
Three aviation industry targets in Germany are bombed. The bomber force consists of 291 B-17s despatched from 1st Bomb Division in two elements, one element of 177 B-17s is despatched to Oschersleben, Germany as the primary target, the other 1BD...
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based | Bungay | 4 November 1943 – 5 July 1945 |
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
Military | 446th Bomb Group
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 705BS, 446BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) supply mission to Wesel with Dale Beasley crew; shortly after supplies dropped and while at 300ft, A/C hit by 20mm AAA flak, causing fire to break out between No. 1 and 2 engines. Bail out...
B-24 Liberator
Damaged by AAA on mission to Genshagen/Marienfelde, Germany 21 June 1944 and crashed at Hoofddorp. MACR 6159.
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
Hit by by AA over Ludwigshafen, Germany 26 August 1944, MACR 8471, managed to stay airborne until Saarbrücken, Germany where after coming under further AA fire, was abandoned by its crew and crashed near Schoeneck, France. The SS executed four of the...
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
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Date | Contributor | Update |
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03 February 2022 19:36:35 | dmccullo | Changes to media associations |
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Changed key image. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 January 2022 18:10:06 | dmccullo | Changes to unit encompassing associations |
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Changed key image. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
09 March 2018 15:23:06 | 2nd Air Division Memorial Library | Changes to description |
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2nd Air Division Memorial Library |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
07 February 2015 20:05:23 | AZ MAC | Changes to insignia and mission associations |
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http://www.aviationmuseum.net/ImageLibrary/446BG/Unit%20emblems/446P.jpg |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
07 February 2015 19:36:55 | AZ MAC | Changes to motto and mission associations |
Sources | ||
The Story of the 446th Bomb Group -Edited by Edward H. Castens. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 September 2014 18:42:45 | 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 / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / 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) |