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482nd Bomb Group

Group

  • 1st Air Division Special Orders #94, page 1 of 3, 18 December 1943

    1st Air Division Special Orders #94, page 1 of 3, 18 December 1943

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (MI-O, serial number 42-39880) of the 812th Bomb Squadron, 482nd Bomb Group during a visit to Fowlmere. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'How about this then! 482nd B.G. B-17 with codes!! MI-O 42-38880? at Fowlmere by the tower.'

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (MI-O, serial number 42-39880) of the 812th Bomb Squadron, 482nd Bomb Group during a visit to Fowlmere. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'How about this then! 482nd B.G. B-17 with codes!! MI-O 42-38880? at Fowlmere by the tower.'

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  • John F Lester is Bottom left. Believe this crew is one he flew with while associated with the Pathfinders as most are British. If anyone can identify any of them please do so.

    John F Lester is Bottom left. Believe this crew is one he flew with while associated with the Pathfinders as most are British. If anyone can identify any of them please do so.

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  • 482nd Bomb Gp. Det., St. Eval, England. 1 August 1943 to 25 November 1943

    482nd Bomb Gp. Det., St. Eval, England. 1 August 1943 to 25 November 1943

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  • Signatures on reverse of photo: 482nd Bomb Gp. Det., St. Eval, England. 1 August 1943 to 25 November 1943

    Signatures on reverse of photo: 482nd Bomb Gp. Det., St. Eval, England. 1 August 1943 to 25 November 1943

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  • 42-3491 B-17F-70-DL One of the last 86 Douglas F models, these aircraft were built with chin turrets. This plane is one of the original twelve H2X radar equipped pathfinders. Distinguished from later versions by the radome mounted behind the chin turret. Hit by flack near Berlin on 3-6-44, broke up and crashed, 4 POW, 6 KIA.

    42-3491 B-17F-70-DL One of the last 86 Douglas F models, these aircraft were built with chin turrets. This plane is one of the original twelve H2X radar equipped pathfinders. Distinguished from later versions by the radome mounted behind the chin turret. Hit by flack near Berlin on 3-6-44, broke up and crashed, 4 POW, 6 KIA.

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  • Second Lieutenant John Cary Morgan, United States Army Air Corps, is awarded the Medal of Honor by Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker, commanding 8th Air Force, 18 December 1943.. (U.S. Air Force)

    Second Lieutenant John Cary Morgan, United States Army Air Corps, is awarded the Medal of Honor by Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker, commanding 8th Air Force, 18 December 1943.. (U.S. Air Force)

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  • General Orders #41, 1st Air Division, 3 February 1944

    General Orders #41, 1st Air Division, 3 February 1944

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  • SFC Robert F. Day US Army Air Force (USAAF) - 8th Air Force 92nd Bomb Group; 325th Squadron - March 1942 to August 1943 482nd Bomb Group; 813th Squadron - August 1943 to September 1945 Bases; Bovington, Alconbury

    SFC Robert F. Day US Army Air Force (USAAF) - 8th Air Force 92nd Bomb Group; 325th Squadron - March 1942 to August 1943 482nd Bomb Group; 813th Squadron - August 1943 to September 1945 Bases; Bovington, Alconbury

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Chopstick - G. George" of the 482nd Bomb Group goes down in flames over Berlin after being hit by flak in the right fuel tanks, 6 March 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '6/3/44.' Printed caption on reverse: '50380 AC & A - Stricken Fortress Hurtles Berlin-Ward ... With flames shooting out from its No. 3 engine and right wing, a doomed Fortress of the 8th AF starts its fatal dive into the heart of Berlin, after being hit during the March 6th Attack. Other photo shows the Fort dropping towards the center of the German capital in its death dive. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

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The 482nd Bomb Group was a Pathfinder Group, which using radar-equipped aircraft to support bombing missions until March 1944. Aircraft from this Group went ahead of other Bombers and sent information back about the best routes to take and the extent to which targets were obscured by the weather. The Group won a DUC as part of the First Bomb Division for unescorted raid on aircraft factories at Oschersleben on 11 January 1944. After March 1944, the Group sent detachments to other stations to train different squadrons in pathfinding techniques.

Structure

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

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 104

    27 September 1943
    The industrial areas of Emden, Germany are the targets for this two-element mission. The first element is a combined force of 141 B-17s despatched from 3rd Bomb Division and include the 94BG (19); 95BG (22); 96BG (21); 100BG (20); 385BG (18); 399BG (20...

  • VIII Bomber Command 106

    2 October 1943
    This mission is composed of three elements, two or which are directed at the industrial areas of Emden, Germany and the other at the German airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland. The first element is a formation of 163 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division which...

  • VIII Bomber Command 128 SPECIAL OPERATION

    11 November 1943
    The mission is a special night operation desgined to test Oboe equipment. 1 B-17 from 482BG is selected for the operation. The aircraft is despatched to Rees, Germany and drops 2 2000lb general purpose bombs and a 1000lb photoflash bomb. There are no...

  • VIII Bomber Command 129 SPECIAL OPERATION

    11 November 1943
    This mission is a special night operation to test Oboe equipment. 1 B-17 from 482BG is selected and despatched to Emmerich, Germany where is drops 2 2000lb general purpose bombs and a 1000lb photoflash bomb. There are no losses or claims.

  • VIII Bomber Command 130

    13 November 1943
    The port area of Bremen, Germany is the focus of this mission composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 154 B0-17 of 1st Bomb Division including 94BG (16); 385BG (17); 95BG (21); 100BG (18); 390BG (21); 96BG (40); and 388BG ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 134

    19 November 1943
    The primary target for this mission was Gelsenkirchen, Germany by adverse weather conditions and failure of the PFF equipment caused al formations to seek out targets of opportunity along the German-Dutch border. The force was composed of 168 B-17s...

  • VIII Bomber Command 138

    26 November 1943
    The industrial areas of Bremen, Germany are the target for this massive mission (largest to date) of 505 B-17s which included 14 B-17 Pathfinders from 482BG spread among the B-17 formations - 13 of these completed the mission and 7 were damaged. ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 140

    29 November 1943
    This is another massive raid on Bremen, Germany by a force of 360 B-17s. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 182 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 94BG (40); 95BG (20); 96BG (41); 100BG (20);...

  • VIII Bomber Command 142 SPECIAL OPERATION

    29 November 1943
    1 B-17 from 482BG is despatched on a special operation to Emmerich, Germany and drops 2 2000lb general purpose bombs and a 1000lb Photoflash. There are no losses or claims.

  • VIII Bomber Command 143

    30 November 1943
    This mission is directed at a single target - the industrial areas of Solingen, Germany. The mission consists of three elements. The first element is a force of 221 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (24); 92BG (20); 303BG (20); 305BG (16...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Established Alconbury 20 August 1943
Based Alconbury 20 August 1943 – 24 June 1945

Connections

People

  • August Ackerman

    Military | Sergeant | Military Occupation Specialty 867 - Radar Mechanic, Bombardment | 482nd Bomb Group
    Assigned to the 384th Bomb Group from the 482nd Bomb Group on AAF Station 106 SO #147 dated 25 July 1944.

  • Edmond Aiken

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 482nd Bomb Group
    Flew on first daylight bombing mission to Berlin 4 Mar 1944

  • Winfred Albee

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 392nd Bomb Group
    B-24H #42-7669 crashed near Gissing, Norfolk after mid-air collision during assembly on mission to Frankfurt on 29 Jan 1944. Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Don Albinson

    Military | Second Lieutenant | 482nd Bomb Group

  • David Alford

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Command Pilot, Pilot, Command | 482nd Bomb Group
    Shot down by flak enroute to the Marshalling Yards at Frankfurt and again on the return on 4 Feb 1944 in B-17F #42-3500. Most of crew baled out, pilot was wounded so LtCol Alford, the H2X operator, made a forced landing near Winterswijk, Holland. LtCol...

  • Andrew Allison

    Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 100th Bomb Group
    KIS in B-17F #42-5793 crashed at Brome, Suffolk, en route to leading the 100th Bomb Group. He was the PFF plane, sent to lead the group. This group was a 'secret' group that flew on special OSS missions. DFC, AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster

  • William Altekruse

    Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 482nd Bomb Group
    Hit by flak and exploded in mid-air on a mission to the Marshalling Yards at Frankfurt on 4 Feb 1944 in B-17F #42-5909. Killed in Action (KIA).

  • William Altemus

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Armorer | 482nd Bomb Group
    Pres Unit Cit/Amer Defense/ACEA,APC,Victory Medal,Good Conduct, Army of Occupation WWII

  • William Anderson

    Military | Major | Pilot | 482nd Bomb Group
    Major William Anderson was Commanding Officer of the 813th Bomb Squadron. He was pilot of B-17E Serial 41-9051 on a navigational training exercise to Turnhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland as final destination on 14 Sept 43. The B-17 somehow flew off course by...

  • John Apetz

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 446th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

  • 41-24359

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 301BG Westover 8/9/42; instead of assignment to 12AF, Italy transferred to Chelveston 16/9/42; 813BS/305BG Grafton Underwood/Chelveston 25/11/42, sent to pathfinder base RAF Wyton of installation of Oboe Mk I radar equipment; 325BS/92BG [NV-F]...

  • 41-9017 Heidi Ho

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Boeing B-17E ...

  • 41-9019 Li'l Skunk Face

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 414BS/97BG 3/42 as LI'L SKUNKFACE; transferred 305BG Grafton Underwood 6/11/42; 381BG Ridgewell 11/6/43; 327BS/92BG Bovingdon [UX-V] 10/7/43 as target tug; 482BG Alconbury 27/8/43 for operations; with Gene Smith in landing accident at Deopham...

  • 41-9051 Flaming Mayme

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 342BS/97BG Polebrook 3/42; 327BS/92BG Bovingdon, then 326BS [UX-O] (?407)] /9/42; col with 41-9021 in taxi accident with Roland Sargeant 25/6/43; repaired and transferred 813BS/482BG Alconbury 1/9/43; detailed UK navigation operation 14/9/43,...

  • 42-29811 'CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO' aka 'BLASTED EVENT'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 21/2/43; Gore 7/3/43; Gulfport 31/3/43; Assigned 335BS/95BG [ET-U] Alconbury 15/4/43; taxi accident with Bill Adams 4/5/43; Framlingham 12/5/43; Horham 15/6/43; practice mission to RAF St. Eval, Cornwall 28/9/43 with Norman Hargert,...

  • 42-29994

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 23/3/43; Smoky Hill 3/4/43; Dow Fd 15/4/43; Assigned 325BS/92BG [NV-K] Alconbury 25/4/43; transferred 812BS/482BG [MI-K] Alconbury 25/8/43; 360BS/303BG Molesworth 15/1/44; Salvaged 25/5/45.

  • 42-30280 Crazy Horse

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Boeing (by land) 17/6/43 (H2X); Wright Fd 5/7/43; Rome 21/7/43; Patterson 3/8/43; Kansas City 8/8/43; Gd Island 22/9/43; Assigned 812BS/482BG [MI-L] Alconbury 30/9/43; Missing in Action Brunswick 21/2/44 with Capt Gerald Binks (Com P, evd....

  • 42-30721 Sweet and Lovely

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Dallas 19/7/43; Gr Isle 11/8/43; Assigned 482BG Alconbury 31/8/43; transferred 533BS/381BG [VP-T] Ridgewell 20/9/43; 28m 8AF Fight Com, Debden (Radwinter) as radio relay aircraft 25/4/44; 610BS/398BG [3O- ] Nuthampstead 15/11/44; to 435 ASGp...

  • 42-30800 Cock O' The Walk

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 30/7/43; Gr Isle 9/8/43; Assigned 563BS/388BG [-O] Knettishall 3/9/43; Missing in Action Brunswick 29/2/44 with 452BG crew, p-Jake Colvin, Co-pilot: Dick West, Ball turret gunner: Andy Saari, Waist gunner: John Clayton (4 Killed in...

  • 42-31767 Our Gal Sal

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Denver 12/12/43; Kearney 31/12/43; RAF Nutts Corner (N.Ire) 16/1/44; Assigned 351BS/100BG [EP-E] Thorpe Abbotts 17/1/44; transferred 482BG Alconbury 20/5/45; 100+m, Returned to the USA 5/45; 121 BU Bradley 31/5/45; 4168 Base Unit, South...

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known
Aircraft used
  • B-17 Flying Fortress
  • B-24 Liberator

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
03 October 2014 19:56:55 Paul Bellamy Changes to type, aircraft types, unit encompassing associations, mission associations and stations
Sources

482BG records (ARG Archive, Alconbury)
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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