It was constituted as the 465th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May 1943
and activated on 1 Aug 1943.
The Group prepared for duty overseas with B-24's and moved to the Mediterranean
theater, Feb-Apr 1944; the air echelon received additional training in Tunisia before
joining the ground echelon in Italy.
Assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force, the Group entered combat on 5 May 1944
until it's last mission, 26 April 1945.

As the war progressed more objectives were set for targets associated with preparing for the Invasion of Southern France which would take place on 15 August 1944.
Attacking marshalling yards, dock facilities, oil refineries, oil storage plants, aircraft factories, and other objectives in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans.
On two different missions - to marshalling yards and an oil refinery at Vienna on 8 Jul 1944 and to steel plants at Friedrichshafen on 3 Aug 1944 - the group bombed its targets despite antiaircraft fire and fighter opposition, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation
for each of these attacks.

Other operations included bombing troop concentrations and bivouac areas in May 1944 to aid the Partisans in Yugoslavia; attacking enemy troops and supply lines to assist the drive toward Rome, May-Jun 1944; striking bridges, rail lines, and gun emplacements prior to the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944; bombing rail facilities and rolling stock in Oct 1944 to support the advance of Russian and Rumanian forces in the Balkans; and hitting troops, gun positions, bridges, and supply lines during Apr 1945 in support of Allied forces in northern Italy.

In the year the 465th was engaged in combat the Group successfully accomplished the mission assigned. It helped knock out Germany’s refineries, aircraft and munition factories as well as shooting down a number of Nazi Fighters in the sky. It also participated in knocking out strategic gun positions in France paving the way for the invading US 7th Army.
Moved to the Caribbean area in Jun 1945

The Group was inactivated in Trinidad on 31 Jul 1945.

Structure

Part of

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  55th Bombardment Wing

  Wing

Encompassing

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  780th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  781st Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  782nd Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

• 

  783rd Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	Pantanella	April 1944 – June 1945

Connections

People

• 

  Lee Billings

  Military | Master Sergeant | Engineer/Gunner | 465th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was blown out of the aircraft, fortunately with his chute attached, he survived to be...

• 

  James Bourne

  Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 465th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 41-28853 lost a wing over the target he was blown out of the aircraft, fortunately with his chute attached, he survived to be...

• 

  Floyd Coffield

  Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 446th Bomb Group

• 

  Milton Duckworth

  Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 465th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he bailed out of the aircraft and survived to be captured. 20-Nov-44. Prisoner of War. MACR...

• 

  Paul Flynn

  Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 465th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was engulfed in the ensuing fireball. 20-Nov-44. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 9889. ...

• 

  Robert Hockman

  Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 465th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he bailed out of the aircraft and survived to be captured. 20-Nov-44. Prisoner of War (POW)....

• 

  Joseph Kutger

  Military | Colonel | Navigator | 465th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was grabbing his chute when he was blown out of the aircraft, able to attach it to his...

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  Clarence Lokker

  Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Squadron Commander - Command Pilot | 465th Bomb Group
  Clarence Jack Lokker has answered that last call, and now stands on the “Plains of Valhalla” with others of that “long gray line” who await us all. ...

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  Edmund Miosky

  Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Radio Operator | 465th Bomb Group

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  Jack Rabkin

  Military | Sergeant | Top turret Gunner | 465th Bomb Group
  Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was unable to bail out. 20-Nov-44. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 9889. Awards: PH.

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Aircraft

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  42-52762 'Scorpio'

  B-24 Liberator
  Assigned 834th BS, Transferred to 833rd BS (4N F). After storage at BAD 3, Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland, it was transferred to MTO 14 Feb 45 and assigned to 465th BG / 781st BS (T). Sadly, its service in 15th AF was very short indeed because it was...

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  41-28853

  B-24 Liberator

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  42-78259 Bugs

  B-24 Liberator

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  42-52466 Jackpine Joe

  B-24 Liberator

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  42-52500 The Monster

  B-24 Liberator

Citations

None