The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces connected with a planned ground invasion of France the following summer. This meant they were attacking
ports, missile sites, airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium, and Germany. In June 1944 itself, the Group supported the invasion of Normandy by bombing airfields and other targets near the beachhead. One of the Group's B-17s, named "Milk Wagon", set the record for the number of missions with no turn-backs for a B-17 in the 3rd Air Division with 129 missions.

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Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England in Nov 1943 and assigned to Eighth AF. Entered combat in Dec 1943 and operated chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization.
From Dec 1943 to May 1944, helped to prepare for the invasion of the Continent by attacking submarine pens, naval installations, and cities in Germany; ports and missile sites in France; and airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium, and Germany. During Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry.

Supported the invasion of Normandy in Jun 1944 by bombing airfields and other targets near the beachhead. Aided the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul and the effort to take Brest in Sep. Pounded enemy positions to assist the airborne invasion of Holland in Sep. Also dropped supplies to Free French forces during the summer of 1944. Turned to strategic targets in Germany in Oct 1944, placing emphasis on sources of oil production until mid-Dec.

2nd Lt Robert E Femoyer, navigator, won the Medal of Honor for action on 2 Nov 1944: while on a mission over Germany, his B-17 was damaged by flak and Femoyer was severely wounded by shell fragments; determined to navigate the plane out of danger and save the crew, he refused a sedative and, for more than two hours, directed the navigation of the bomber so effectively that it returned to base without further damage; Femoyer died shortly after being removed from the plane.

During the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, the group assaulted marshalling yards, railroad bridges, and communications centers in the combat zone. Then resumed operations against targets in Germany, attacking oil, transportation, communications, and other objectives until the war ended. During this period, also supported the airborne assault across the Rhine (Mar 1945). Returned to the US in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

Commanders:
Lt Col Robert D McDonald, 10 May 1943
Col Hunter Harris Jr, 23 May 1943
Col William Wrigglesworth, 25 Sep 1944
Lt Col Louis G Thorup, 31 Mar 1945;

Air Force Combat Units of World War II, Maurer, Maurer: USAF, 1986

Source: Eighth Air Force Operations History http://www.8thafhs.com/get_one_acgroup.php?
acgroup_id=8

Commanding officers

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  Hunter Harris

  Military | General | 447th BG Commander | 447th Bomb Group
  From Wikipedia: ...

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  Louis Thorup

  Military | Colonel | Group Air Executive Officer, Pilot, Squadron Commander, Group Commander | 447th Bomb Group
  First Squadron Commanding Officer for the 333rd BS of 94th BG from 19 November to June 1943. ...

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  Wilfred Beaver

  Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Ground Executive Officer | 447th Bomb Group
  Wilfred Beaver (10 May 1897 – 19 August 1986) was a World War I flying ace credited with 19 aerial victories. ...

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  William Wrigglesworth

  Military | Colonel | 447th Bomb Group

Structure

Part of

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  4th Combat Bomb Wing

  Wing

Encompassing

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  711th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  708th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  709th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  710th Bomb Squadron

  Squadron

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  842nd Air Engineering Squadron

  Squadron

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  Headquarters (447th Bomb Group)

  Headquarters

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Missions

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  VIII Bomber Command 164

  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 ...

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  VIII Bomber Command 169

  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...

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  VIII Bomber Command 171

  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...

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  8th Air Force 174

  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...

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  8th Air Force 178

  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. ...

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  8th Air Force 182

  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...

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  8th Air Force 183

  14 January 1944
  This mission is a combined effort of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions to attack V-Weapon sites near the French coast near Pas-de-Calaise. Some targets of opportunity were also bombed. A total of 20 out of 21 V-Weapon sites are hit with varying results. ...

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  VIII Bomber Command 191

  24 January 1944
  The primary target of this mission was the Zukunft power station at Eschweilier, Germany. The mision was composed of 563 bombers three elements from 1BD, 2BD and 3BD. The despatch from 2BD was recalled due to weather before it could take off. Mission...

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  8th Air Force 198

  29 January 1944
  The primary target for this mission was the railroad marshalling yards and industrial areas of Frankfurt, Germany. A combined force of 863 heavy bombers were despatched in three elements to make the attack. The combined bomber gunner claims on enemy...

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  8th Air Force 200

  30 January 1944
  This mission has the aviation industry at Brunswick, Germany as the primary target. The mission is composed of a combined force pf 777 heavy bomber aircraft despatched in three elements: 1st Bomb Division; 2nd Bomb Division and 3rd Bomb Division. The...

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Stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	Rattlesden	30 November 1943 – 2 August 1945

Connections

People

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  Clarence Aaberg

  Military | Second Lieutenant | Command Pilot | 447th Bomb Group
  Lt. Clarence Aaberg was killed on his 3rd mission, flying the B-17 42-37855, returning from a mission to Regensburg, Germany, 25-Feb-44. His Fortress was hit and lost the #3 engine 10 minutes after bombing it's target. The crew saw quite a few German...

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  Sam Abate

  Military | 447th Bomb Group

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  Anthony Abbatiello

  Military | 447th Bomb Group

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  Robert Abbott

  Military | First Lieutenant | 447th Bomb Group

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  Henry Abelmann

  Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
  Shot down by flak and crashed near Abbeville, FR after crew bailed out on a mission to Ardouval and Marquenville on 13 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31157, Prisoner of War (POW). POW

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  James Abernathy

  Military | Captain | 447th Bomb Group

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  Wilson Abraham

  Military | 447th Bomb Group

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  Jerome Abrams

  Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 447th Bomb Group
  Shot down 31 December 1943 in B-17 #42-31125. Prisoner of War (POW). PH/ POW

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  Willis Abramson

  Military | Master Sergeant (1st Grade) | Flight Chief-710 Bomb Squadron | 447th Bomb Group

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  Theodore Abrouski

  Military | 447th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

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  42-102395

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Gr Island 15/3/44; Grenier 2/4/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG Rattlesden 8/4/44; Missing in Action Brux 12/5/44 with Tom Mandrell, Co-pilot: Bill Popovich, Navigator: Don McDougall, Bombardier: Okley Wheeler{Wounded in Action},...

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  42-102419

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Cheyenne 2/3/44; Hunter 16/3/44; Nashville 23/3/44; Dow Fd 12/4/44; Assigned 709BS/447BG [IJ-E] Rattlesden 20/4/44; crashed on take off for mission 28/6/44 with Tom Brown, Co-pilot: Bob Jacobs, Navigator: Herbert Wolf, Bombardier: T/Sgt Tom Middleton,...

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  42-102421

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 2/3/44; Gr Island 16/3/44; Presque Is 2/4/44; Assigned 709BS/447BG [CQ-M] Rattlesden 6/4/44. ...

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  42-102441 'TNT KATIE'

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 3/3/44; Gr Island 13/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG Rattlesden 8/4/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 7/10/44 with Bob Harwood, Jim Kelley, Karl Wendell, Russell Tolle, Sam Manipella, Dick Roberts, Ron Fleming (7 Prisoner of...

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  42-102471

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Kearney 6/4/44; Dow Fd 14/4/44; Assigned 710BS/447BG [IJ-B] Rattlesden 22/4/44; Missing in Action Chemnitz 11/9/44 with Leroy Hyder (KIA-chute failed, crashed through factory roof); Co-pilot: Harry Wood, Navigator: Jim...

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  42-102479 Mississippi Lady

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 708BS/447BG [CQ- ] Rattlesden 8/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 29/4/44 with Edgar Farrell, Co-pilot: John Benedict, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Peters, Radio Operator:...

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  42-102494

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 8/3/44; Kearney 5/4/44; Dow Fd 19/4/44; Assigned 708BS/447BG [CQ- ] Rattlesden 20/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 24/5/44 with Ralph Simon, Co-pilot: Ed Tully, Navigator: Joe Teixeira, Bombardier: Ralph Pittman, Flight engineer/top...

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  42-102567 Sarah Gray

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 15/3/44; Gr Island 1/4/44; force landed base with Clark Graham 19/4/44; Dow Fd 24/4/44; Assigned 710BS/447BG Rattlesden 3/5/44; crashed on take off with Lt. Jesse Sills 1/1/45, Written Off (damaged beyond repair). The aircraft was...

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  42-102591 Cactus Pete

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 17/3/44; Kearney 1/4/44; Dow Fd 14/4/44; Assigned 708BS/447BG [CQ-] Rattlesden 22/4/44; returned from Caen 6/6/44 with Phil Chase, Co-pilot: George Phillips, Navigator: Francis PrendercastWounded in Action, Bombardier: George Betker,...

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  42-102604 Mac's High Hats

  B-17 Flying Fortress
  Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Hunter 13/4/44; Presque Is 19/5/44; Assigned 710BS/447BG Rattlesden 22/4/44; force landed continent 10/1/45; Salvaged 11/1/45.

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Citations

None