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466th Bomb Group

Group

  • Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed

    Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day - 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th'. The three girls are from the nearby village of Hockering. Their names are Janet Townshend, Tessa and Gloria Grant.

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  • Personnel of the 466th Bomb Group sit atop a B-24 Liberator to watch a pony trap race. Image stamped on reverse: 'New York Times Photo.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 20 August 1944.' [stamp] and '351493.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '100TH MISSION ANNIVERSARY PARTY. LIBERATOR STATION HAS A

    Personnel of the 466th Bomb Group sit atop a B-24 Liberator to watch a pony trap race. Image stamped on reverse: 'New York Times Photo.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 20 August 1944.' [stamp] and '351493.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '100TH MISSION ANNIVERSARY PARTY. LIBERATOR STATION HAS A "DO". Somewhere in England a great party was held for officers and men- girlfriends invited- of a Liberator Bomber station, on reaching the anniversary of the 100th mission over enemy territory. Under the watchful eye of Col Luther Fairbanks, the men had a great day, movie shows, ball games, and pony trotting with bookmakers- were some of the attractions. In the evening dancing was held in the hangars to the accompaniment of two famous dance bands, Glenn Miller's orchestra and Rudy Starita's all girl orchestra. New York Times Photo Shows: A Liberator makes a good grand stand as they watch the ponies being led to the starting point for the pony trotting race. Aug 1944.'

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  • This aircraft is B-24 44-40328 'This Above All'. • It was a 493rd Bomb Group, 863rd Bomb Squadron original aircraft transferred before 6 Jun 1944 (date of 493rd BG's first combat mission) to the 34th Bomb Group, 391st Bomb Squadron. • It was flown on missions of the 34th Bomb Group from 6 June 1944 through 16 August 1944. • It was later assigned to the 466th Bomb Group, 786th Bomb Squadron (squadron code U8, with radio call letter T), and was flown on missions from 25 October 1944 through 25 April 1945. • It was then redeployed to the Zone of the Interior (United States). It was never assigned to 487th Bomb Group. • The nose art was was signed

    This aircraft is B-24 44-40328 'This Above All'. • It was a 493rd Bomb Group, 863rd Bomb Squadron original aircraft transferred before 6 Jun 1944 (date of 493rd BG's first combat mission) to the 34th Bomb Group, 391st Bomb Squadron. • It was flown on missions of the 34th Bomb Group from 6 June 1944 through 16 August 1944. • It was later assigned to the 466th Bomb Group, 786th Bomb Squadron (squadron code U8, with radio call letter T), and was flown on missions from 25 October 1944 through 25 April 1945. • It was then redeployed to the Zone of the Interior (United States). It was never assigned to 487th Bomb Group. • The nose art was was signed "SGT DUANE BRYERS." Sgt Bryers painted the nose art on the aircraft at Sheppard Field, Texas, before the overseas deployment of the 493rd Bomb Group. Sources: 1. Tom Brittan of B-24 BestWeb 2. Ivo de Jong, author of 'The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H)'

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  • The B-24D Liberator. 41-24109, named, Ready & Willing, and, Silver Streak, in the 466th Bomb Group, later used as a flight assembly ship. Handwritten caption on reverse : 'B-24 Leaders ship.'

    The B-24D Liberator. 41-24109, named, Ready & Willing, and, Silver Streak, in the 466th Bomb Group, later used as a flight assembly ship. Handwritten caption on reverse : 'B-24 Leaders ship.'

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  • A crashed Liberator of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on image: '466 BG 2nd Div 8th AF.' Image via Joh Bode. Caption added by 466th BG Historian: B-24H-15-FO #42-52566

    A crashed Liberator of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on image: '466 BG 2nd Div 8th AF.' Image via Joh Bode. Caption added by 466th BG Historian: B-24H-15-FO #42-52566 "Shack Date" Code: U8-P 466th BG - 786th BS. Shown at Attlebridge after being crash landed on 19 April 1944 by the Nick Furnace Crew (Crew #615). This was the regular aircraft of the Richard O. Foster Crew (Crew #606) but they weren't scheduled to fly this mission and the Furnace Crew had their a/c shot up the day before over the same target (Hamm).

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  • MGEN William B. Kepner (Left) - Commander of the 2nd Air Division - 8th AF COL Elvin S. Ligon - Commander of the 466th BG - 2nd Air Division - 8th AF Photo taken on the occasion of the 466th BG's 200th mission party.

    MGEN William B. Kepner (Left) - Commander of the 2nd Air Division - 8th AF COL Elvin S. Ligon - Commander of the 466th BG - 2nd Air Division - 8th AF Photo taken on the occasion of the 466th BG's 200th mission party.

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  • A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-52511) nicknamed

    A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-52511) nicknamed " The Queen of Hearts" of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on image: 'The Queen of Hearts, 8th AAF England.' Printed caption on reverse: 'This a/c belonged to third ranking (Lt Taylor) in 786 therefore called the Queen of Hearts (Ace reserved for #1 crew, King for #2 crew). Per J Auman, Eng on Taylor's crew.'

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  • A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95248) nicknamed

    A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95248) nicknamed "The Falcon"of the 466th Bomb Group. Image via John Bode. Handwritten caption on image: 'Has coloured cowlings?! 8th AF 2 Div, 466 BG?'

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  • The wreckage of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40093) nicknamed

    The wreckage of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40093) nicknamed "Lovely Ladies Avenger" of the 466th Bomb Group that has crashed in Malmo, Sweden. 21 June 1944. Image via E Olov Sundgren. Handwritten caption on reverse: '466th BG place unknown.'

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  • The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-50465) nicknamed

    The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-50465) nicknamed "Damfino" of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '466 BG Liberator- nose art.'

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The 466th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Attlebridge, Norfolk, during the last year of the war in Europe. The Group flew 232 missions in the course of the year and celebrated the 100th one by inviting local people onto the base to mark the occasion. The Group flew missions against strategic objectives like U-boat installations in Kiel, ball bearing works in Berlin, aircraft factories in Munich and oil refineries in Hamburg. Remarkably, the 785th Bomb Squadron flew 55 consecutive missions without loss.

Browse 466th Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/45

Commanding officers

  • Arthur Pierce

    Military | Colonel | Commander - 466th Bomb Group | 466th Bomb Group
    Between 31 March 1942 and 1 February 1943, Pierce was promoted 4 times, from 1LT to full Colonel. ...

  • Elvin Ligon

    Military | Colonel | Commander - 466th Bomb Group | 466th Bomb Group
    Retired from the USAF as a Major General http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/106386/major-general-elvin-s-ligon.aspx

  • Luther Fairbanks

    Military | Colonel | Commander - 466th Bomb Group | 466th Bomb Group

  • Walter Bryte

    Military | Colonel | Commander - 466th Bomb Group | 466th Bomb Group

  • William Cleveland

    Military | Colonel | Chief of Staff; Commanding Officer | 25th Bomb Group
    Cleveland was Chief of Staff of the 325th Wing and assumed command on July 4 1944. Cleveland was C.O. of the 466th BG: 1 November 1944 - 16 February 1945

Structure

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

Missions

  • 8th Air Force 273

    22 March 1944
    The German aviation industries at Oraneinburg and Basdorf were the intended primary target for this mission but dense cloud cover prevented the attack on these targets. The secondary target of Berlin, Germany and surrounding Targets of Opportunity (TOs...

  • 8th Air Force 275

    23 March 1944
    The industrial areas of Brunswick, Munster, Osnabruck, and Achmer, Germany as well as the airfield at Handorf, Germany become the targets for a force of 768 heavy bombers despatched by all three Air Divisions. The bomber gunner claims on German...

  • 8th Air Force 277

    24 March 1944
    This mission is composed of two elements, one from 1st Air Division and the other from 2nd Air Division. A total of 436 hevay bombers are despatched. The primary target for 1st Air Division is the the ball bearing plants at Schweifurt, Germany. 2nd Air...

  • 8th Air Force 282

    27 March 1944
    This mission might be likened to a "shotgun blast" as a combined force 714 heavy bombers are despatched form all three Air Divisions to attack 11 different German airfields and air depots in France. Mission summary follows: ...

  • 301

    13 April 1944

  • 339

    5 May 1944

  • 376

    28 May 1944

  • 379

    29 May 1944
    Mission #2. The target was an aircraft assembly plant. Flak was exceedingly heavy. We were in the air 7-1/2 hours.

  • 388

    3 June 1944

  • 419

    17 June 1944

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Attlebridge 7 March 1944 – 6 July 1945

Connections

People

  • Robert Abbott

    Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 466th Bomb Group

  • James Abercrombie

    Military | Unknown | 466th Bomb Group

  • John Abplanalp

    Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
    completed 34 missions Good Conduct/Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters/EAME Medal with 4 Bronze Stars

  • Norman Abrahams

    Military | Corporal (5th Grade) | Aircraft Electrician | 466th Bomb Group

  • Herbert Achterberg

    Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Draftsman | 466th Bomb Group
    Worked in Group operations as a draftsman. Memorable days -- years -- in England Good Conduct & 'Mouse Medal'

  • Nolan Adair

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
    Crew?

  • Edsel Adams

    Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
    January - March 1945. On 23 February 1945, 6th mission, ditched our B-24. 3 of 9 crew members survived. Picked up by air-sea rescue in life raft after 8 hours. Flown to England. AM/ ETO w/ 3 battle stars/ PH

  • Joseph Adams

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 466th Bomb Group

  • Warren Adams

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
    Shot down 9 May 1944 in B-24 #42-52584 'Worry Bird II', Killed in Action (KIA). PH

  • Curtis Adamy

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 466th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

  • 41-28664 Merchant of Venice

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 785BS, 466BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew on 466BG's first mission. Failed to Return (FTR)mission to Epinal. A/C seen with one engine feathered and another smoking, radio message received that pilot was heading for Switzerland. Not seen again. 11 x KIA...

  • 41-28743 Eastern Beast

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 785BS, 466BBG, 8AF USAAF. Hit by 20mm flak direct hit taking out the Oxygen, electrical and hydraulic systems and starting a large fire. Went into dive after leaving the target area of Brunswick 8-May-44. S/Sgt's Carlson and Cannon bailed...

  • 41-28746 Jamaica?

    B-24 Liberator

  • 41-28747 Gruesome Goose

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24H “Gruesome Goose” while on a mission to bomb Mourmelon-Sur-Marne Ammuniton Dump in France ditched over the Channel with the loss of all 10 on board. ...

  • 41-28754 Tell Me More

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 787BS, 466BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Berlin. Forced down, crash landed Apeldourn, Netherlands. 29-Apr-44 10 x POW. MACR 4447.

  • 41-28932 Ramblin' Wreck

    B-24 Liberator
    This aircraft's last mission was on August 15, 1944, when it was flown by a makeshift crew led by pilot Robert W. Harrington from Attlebridge air base. The target was a Luftwaffe airfield in Vechta, near Bremen, Germany. The target was successfully...

  • 41-29350 Spare Parts

    B-24 Liberator
    B-24 41-29350 was lost on 18 July 18 1944 over France. The aircraft took a direct hit by flak in the bomb bay while leaving the target, severing the control cables and forcing the pilots to attempt to ditch in the Channel off the coast of France. Four...

  • 41-29353

    B-24 Liberator

  • 41-29364 Stardust

    B-24 Liberator

  • 41-29365

    B-24 Liberator
    Mission 291 350 B-24s are dispatched to aviation industry targets in Brunswick 1944-04-08 - MACR #: 3840 Notes:29365 (466th BG, 787th BS) lost Apr 8, 1944. MACR 3840

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames

The Flying Deck

Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known
Aircraft used
  • B-24 Liberator
  • P-47 Thunderbolt

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
06 January 2019 01:13:03 James Cleveland Changes to nicknames
Sources

James Cleveland
Date Contributor Update
06 January 2019 01:10:45 James Cleveland Changes to nicknames
Sources

James Cleveland
Date Contributor Update
09 March 2018 15:31:01 2nd Air Division Memorial Library Changes to description
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library
Date Contributor Update
11 May 2015 03:05:54 466thHistorian Changes to unit encompassing associations and mission associations
Sources

466th BG Historian
Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 19:08:15 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to mission associations and media associations
Sources

my photo
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2015 01:36:36 466thHistorian Changes to mission associations
Sources

466th BG Historian
Date Contributor Update
04 December 2014 17:04:02 466thHistorian Changes to unit part of associations, mission associations and stations
Sources

466th BG Historian
Date Contributor Update
28 November 2014 16:59:53 466thHistorian Changes to unit encompassing associations and mission associations
Sources

466th BG Historian
Date Contributor Update
31 October 2014 01:10:43 466thHistorian Changes to type, nicknames, aircraft types, commanding officers associations, mission associations and stations
Sources

Chris Brassfield
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:46 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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