490th Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 490th Bomb Group. media-395164.jpg FRE 5221 The insignia of the 490th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5221 - The insignia of the 490th Bomb Group.

The 490th Bomb Group, like the 486th and 487th Bomb Groups transitioned from flying B-24 Liberators to B-17 Flying Fortresses, which were used in combat missions from late August 1944. Based at Eye, Suffolk, the Group were focused in the early months in flying tactical missions in support of ground forces in northern France. After the Group's conversion to B-17s, the crews switched focus and flew longer distance missions over Germany to bomb industrial sites. After VE Day, the Group dropped food supplies to flooded parts of Holland and transported French, Belgian and Spanish POWs out of Austria.

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Eye 26 April 1944 - 24 August 1945

Encompassing

People

Albert Aguiar

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14084751
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer

Albert Aland

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group

Adolph J Ascensio

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 851st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36667276
  • Role/Job: Radar Mechanic, Sea Search

Albert Barnash

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 848th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16003661
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Airplane Armorer / Gunner

Adolph A Barnes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 848th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-832078
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-38047) nicknamed "Fever Beaver" of the 100th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '238047.'

42-38047

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fever Beaver
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 490th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-0003) nicknamed "Ol' Gappy". Printed caption on reverse: '.'70915 AC A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses in front of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Ol' Gappy" at an 8th Air Force base in England on 12 June 1944.'

42-40003

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: TOPPER/ Ol Gappy
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 490th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron

42-61005

  • Aircraft Type: C-46 Commando
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group
A crashed B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94784) nicknamed "Sanfuperman" of the 490th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'C/L near south coast.'

42-94784

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group
The B-24H Liberator, 42-94812, named, Little Warrior, in the 493rd Bomb Group in flight with its engines aflame. A veteran has handwritten on the reverse: 'To Roger Freeman, from a friend, Clifford Stocking. I took the picture 493rd BG, 862nd Sqd.'

42-94812

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Little warrior
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 850th Bomb Squadron 861st Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

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ContributorBluejay89
Changes
Sources
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Contributorrossingtonj
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Aircraft type added

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Contributorrossingtonj
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Type added.

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Contributorrossingtonj
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Type added.

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ContributorAAM
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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)

490th Bomb Group: Gallery (230 items)

Farmers work in a field of poppies, near Eye, home of the 490th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Eye.'

Object number: FRE 10512 - Farmers work in a field of poppies, near Eye, home...

The town square in Eye, near the base of the 490th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Eye.'

Object number: FRE 10513 - The town square in Eye, near the base of the 490th...

Airmen of the 490th Bomb Group look at a monument. Image by Captain Arnold Delmonico, photographic officer 490th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Continent?'

Object number: FRE 10697 - Airmen of the 490th Bomb Group look at a monument...

Combat and ground crew of the 490th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-83254) nicknamed "Old Doc Stork". Image via Tim L Bivens. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17G "Old Doc Stork", 44-83254, B-, 850th BS, 490th BG.'

Object number: FRE 2084 - Combat and ground crew of the 490th Bomb Group...

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 490th Bomb Group fly in formation. Image via TV Ivie.

Object number: FRE 2085 - Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 490th Bomb...

A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-37995) of the 490th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GAD-37-5-490)(13-12-44)(A/C 995- B-17-B)(Crash).'

Object number: FRE 2086 - A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43...

The crumpled nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 490th Bomb Group that has snapped in half on crash landing. Official caption printed on image: '(GAD028060490)(13-12-44)(A/C-838- B-17G)(Crash)(Rest).'

Object number: FRE 2087 - The crumpled nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the...

The smoking wreckage of an aircraft of the 490th Bomb Group that has crashed near Brome. Handwritten caption on reverse: '29/7/44 Crash Brome, 294955.'

Object number: FRE 2088 - The smoking wreckage of an aircraft of the 490th...

A crashed B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94784) nicknamed "Sanfuperman" of the 490th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'C/L near south coast.'

Object number: FRE 2089 - A crashed B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94784)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 490th Bomb Group is lit at night by anti-aircraft light trails. Image via Lt Col Arnold N Delmonico. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAAF.'

Object number: FRE 2090 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 490th Bomb Group is...

A Cletrac tows a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-37902) of the 490th Bomb Group into a hangar.

Object number: FRE 2091 - A Cletrac tows a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial...

The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-52086) nicknamed "Red Hot Riding Hood" of the 490th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '490 BG 252086.'

Object number: FRE 2092 - The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42...