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457th Bomb Group

Group

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  • The status board of the 457th Bomb Group at Glatton, after the end of combat operations May 1945. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

    The status board of the 457th Bomb Group at Glatton, after the end of combat operations May 1945. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-6111) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-6111) nicknamed "Hell's Belle" of the 457th Bomb Group with open bomb bay doors. Handwritten caption on reverse: '457 BG in Ch?? (No 406).'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97571) of the 457th Bomb Group lands at Glatton. Handwritten caption on reverse: '571 lost on the mission to Weimar, Germany 24 Aug 1944. Pilot Lt Winfred Pugh. Landing at Glatton, Rose Court Farm in background.'

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97571) of the 457th Bomb Group lands at Glatton. Handwritten caption on reverse: '571 lost on the mission to Weimar, Germany 24 Aug 1944. Pilot Lt Winfred Pugh. Landing at Glatton, Rose Court Farm in background.'

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  • The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

    The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

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  • The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

    The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 457th Bomb Group with P-51 Mustangs of the 355th Bomb Group. Image via L Nitschke. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Mar 1-15, 44. 457 BG Glatton.'

    A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 457th Bomb Group with P-51 Mustangs of the 355th Bomb Group. Image via L Nitschke. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Mar 1-15, 44. 457 BG Glatton.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-85784), currently known as

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-85784), currently known as "Sally B", used for training purposes following the end of the Second World War and painted in the colours of the 457th Bomb Group sometime during the 1970s.

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  • B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 457th Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission. B-17 (serial number 43-38534) nicknamed

    B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 457th Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission. B-17 (serial number 43-38534) nicknamed "Wolf Pack" is the top-most aircraft.

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  • A Dumbo SB-17 Flying Fortress of the 457th Bomb Group used for air-sea resucue operations. A lifeboat has been fitted beneath the aircraft's nose.

    A Dumbo SB-17 Flying Fortress of the 457th Bomb Group used for air-sea resucue operations. A lifeboat has been fitted beneath the aircraft's nose.

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The 457th Bomb Group began combat operations during the Big Week of 20-25 February when American bombers carried out concentrated raids against German aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The air crews' targets on that first mission were Gutersloh and Lippstadt. Although the Group continued to strike German industrial targets, they also undertook tactical missions. D-Day found them bombing coastal defences along the Cherbourg peninsula. The Group continued to switch between strategic and support missions for the remainder of the war. After VE Day, the Group transported POWs from Austria to France.

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • 8th Air Force 228 BIG WEEK - DAY 2

    21 February 1944
    Day 2 of BIG WEEK is another maximum effort by 8th Air Force to bomb 6 airfields in Germany as primary targets: Diepholz, Gütersloh, Lippstadt, Werl, Achmer and Handorf. In addition the industrial areas of Brunswick city are included as a primary...

  • 8th Air Force 228 BIG WEEK - DAY 2

    21 February 1944
    Day 2 of BIG WEEK is another maximum effort by 8th Air Force to bomb 6 airfields in Germany as primary targets: Diepholz, Gütersloh, Lippstadt, Werl, Achmer and Handorf. In addition the industrial areas of Brunswick city are included as a primary...

  • 8th Air Force 230 BIG WEEK - DAY 3

    22 February 1944
    The German aircraft industry is again targeted in Day 3 of BIG WEEK. A combined total od 789 bombers (maximum effort) are despathed from 1st 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. Fighter opposition is heavy and bomber losses in 1st Air Division are massive - 39...

  • 8th Air Force 233 BIG WEEK - DAY 5

    24 February 1944
    BIG WEEK resumes with full intensity against the German aircraft industry. Bomber tactics are changed slightly in that each Air Division will be directed at more widely dispersed primary targets whoch it is thought will frustrate concentration...

  • 8th Air Force 235 BIG WEEK - DAY 6

    25 February 1944
    On this final operation of BIG WEEK, Day 6, a combined force of 754 heavy bombers from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions are despatched to bomb the German aircraft industries at Regensburg, Augsburg, Stuttgart and Furth, Germany. Mission Summary follows: ...

  • 8th Air Force 244

    2 March 1944
    The primary targets for this mission are: the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany; and the German air depot ar Chartres, France. The mission is composed of two entierly separate forces. 327 B-17s from 1st Air Division joined by 154 B-24s...

  • 8th Air Force 244

    2 March 1944
    The primary targets for this mission are: the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany; and the German air depot ar Chartres, France. The mission is composed of two entierly separate forces. 327 B-17s from 1st Air Division joined by 154 B-24s...

  • 8th Air Force 246

    3 March 1944
    A combined force of 748 heavy bombers are despatched to bomb the primary targets of Berlin, Erkner and Oranienburg, Germany, but weather and dense contrails forced most of the formations to turn back or seek Targets of Opportunity (TOs). 1st Combat...

  • 8th Air Force 247

    4 March 1944
    The industrial areas in the suburbs of Berlin, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. All three Air Divisions despatch formations. However, the despatch from 2nd Air Division aborted the mission because of severe weather in the assembly area...

  • 8th Air Force 250

    6 March 1944
    The industrial areas of Berlin and Genshagen, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. A combined force of 730 heavy bombers are despatched from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. The despatch from 3rd Air Division bombs Targets of Opportunity in...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Glatton 21 January 1944 – 21 June 1945

Connections

People

  • Harold Aaser

    Military | 457th Bomb Group

  • Elmer Abel

    Military | Sergeant | Ball turret gunner | 457th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) 10 September 1944 PH

  • Sidney Abraham

    Military | 457th Bomb Group

  • Ed Achilling

    Military | Second Lieutenant | 457th Bomb Group

  • William Ackerson

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 457th Bomb Group
    Shot down 7 October 1944 in B-17 #44-6469. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Vincento Acunto

    Military | 457th Bomb Group

  • Darwood Adams

    Military | Corporal | 457th Bomb Group

  • Dean Adams

    Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 457th Bomb Group

  • Dencil Adams

    Military | 457th Bomb Group

  • Donald Adams

    Military | 457th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

  • 42-102458

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 5/3/44; Kearney 6/4/44; Grenier 29/4/44; Assigned 757BS/457BG Glatton 1/5/44; no other info; Salvaged battle damaged SAD 27/6/44.

  • 42-102464 "What's Next?"

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 5/3/44; Kearney 5/4/44; with David Steele force landed base 16/4/44; Dow Fd 6/5/44; Assigned 750BS/457BG Glatton [G] 7/5/44; Missing in Action Le Bouget A/fd 14/6/44 with Chas Blackwell, Co-pilot: Theo Baskette, Radio Operator: Ed...

  • 42-102905

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 16/4/44; Kearney 7/5/44; Grenier 15/5/44; Assigned 748BS/457BG [J] Glatton 16/5/44; Missing in Action Politz 7/10/44 with Clarence Jennings, Co-pilot: Dick Garland, Navigator: Martin Schwartz, Bombardier: Hardy Bell, Flight engineer...

  • 42-102948 The Denver Bandit

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 21/4/44; Kearney 2/5/44; Grenier 21/5/44; Assigned 749BS/457BG [D] Glatton 23/5/44; Missing in Action Magdeburg 28/9/44 with Keylon Clarke, Navigator: Walt Sundling, Bombardier: Bob Smith, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albt...

  • 42-106998 Paper Doll

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 21/1/44; Gr Island 29/1/44; Assigned 379BG Kimbolton 28/2/44; transferred 751BS/457BG [V] Glatton 2/3/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 2/11/44 with Graeme Bow, Navigator: George McGee, Bombardier: Dick Hibschman, Ball turret gunner:...

  • 42-107001

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 23/1/44; Dow Fd 5/2/44; Grenier 26/2/44; Assigned 751BS/457BG [W] Glatton 2/3/44; damaged over Melun, pilot ordered bale ou, but apparently not heard by rest of crew 14/6/44 with Bill Gibbons (evaded capture); Co-pilot: Capt Ray Syptak...

  • 42-107015

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 26/1/44; Presque Is 3/2/44; Assigned 750BS/457BG [W] Glatton 3/3/44; Missing in Action Berlin 21/6/44 with Bob Krumm, Co-pilot: Leo Green, Navigator: Frank Vandevelde, Bombardier: Joe Hibbs, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob...

  • 42-107026

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 1/2/44; Presque Is 21/2/44; Assigned 751BS/457BG [Y] Glatton 4/3/44; Flak, Zeitz 30/11/44 with John White, (9POW?); Moderwitz, Thuringia - Germany, Missing Air Crew Report 11150. HAMTRAMACK MAMA.

  • 42-107034 Rampant Pansy

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 3/2/44; Dow Fd 18/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 1/5/44; no ops, transferred 749BS/457BG [K] Glatton 3/5/44; battle damaged Stuttgart 9/12/44 with ?; crash landed continent, Salvaged 2 SAD. RAMPANT PANSY.

  • 42-30167 Destiny's Tot, Angel Pumpkin

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 21/4/43; Tinker 27/4/43; Smoky Hill 5/5/43; Tinker 12/5/43; Lincoln 20/5/43; Bangor 23/5/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-H] Framlingham; Horham 15/6/43; ...

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames

The Fireball Outfit

Motto
Fait Accompli
Insignia
Not yet known
Aircraft used
  • B-17 Flying Fortress

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
02 November 2015 00:54:51 mseeber99 Changes to mission associations
Sources

Wikipedia
Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 18:32:49 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to mission associations and media associations
Sources

my photo
Group emblem far left,
others not related to unit
Date Contributor Update
23 October 2014 11:37:48 Tony A Changes to type, nicknames, motto, aircraft types and mission associations
Sources

The Fireball Outfit by Ken Blakeborough
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)

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