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491st Bomb Group

Group

  • 491st Ringmasters

    491st Ringmasters

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  • A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at Arnhem, Sept 1944.' However, the 491st flew to drop zones north of Eindhoven on 18 September 1944, not Arnhem. This B-24 (SN 42-51691) is not on the Fuel Consumption Report that lists the 41 aircraft that participated in that mission.

    A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at Arnhem, Sept 1944.' However, the 491st flew to drop zones north of Eindhoven on 18 September 1944, not Arnhem. This B-24 (SN 42-51691) is not on the Fuel Consumption Report that lists the 41 aircraft that participated in that mission.

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  • Airmen of the 491st Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-110146) nicknamed

    Airmen of the 491st Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-110146) nicknamed "Unconditional Surrender". Image stamped on reverse: '342123.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2110140 491 BG.' Printed caption on reverse of another photo in series: 'MOCK BATTLE FOR US WOUNDED TO MAKE THEM FIGHTING FIT. A US Army Rehabilitation hospital, where soldiers wounded in Italy and Normandy are brought back to physical fitness and now able to go into battle again, is in operation in the Midlands. The course is taken in several phases from convalescence to mock combat. Keystone photo shows: Former aircrew now grounded because of wounds receive instruction on plane repair and installation. An old Flying Fortress [sic] is being used for the demonstration and practice.'

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  • Squadron commanders of the 491st Bomb Group stand atop the control tower. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tower- No pick, early '45 prob. L-R Stepney- 853rd CO, Strauss- 852nd CO, Reed- Gp Co, Watts- 855th Co.'

    Squadron commanders of the 491st Bomb Group stand atop the control tower. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tower- No pick, early '45 prob. L-R Stepney- 853rd CO, Strauss- 852nd CO, Reed- Gp Co, Watts- 855th Co.'

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  • A bomber crew of the 491st Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Top L-R, S/Sgt Mener, Eng, Lt Day, Co-pilot, Lt Bowens, Bomb, Lt Fisher, Nav, Lt Yarina, pilot. Bot L-R, PFC Allison, gunner, S/Sgt Begley, gunner, Cpt Rogers, passenger, S/Sgt Silverfole, Radio, Sgt Boggs, gunner.'

    A bomber crew of the 491st Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Top L-R, S/Sgt Mener, Eng, Lt Day, Co-pilot, Lt Bowens, Bomb, Lt Fisher, Nav, Lt Yarina, pilot. Bot L-R, PFC Allison, gunner, S/Sgt Begley, gunner, Cpt Rogers, passenger, S/Sgt Silverfole, Radio, Sgt Boggs, gunner.'

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  • Squadron staff of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '853rd Staff-Sq, 491st BG, Early '45. L-R Shoemaker- Asst Ops, Prochaska- Aim (not sure of spelling), Stepney- CO, Fillon- Ops, Leppert- Squadron Navigator, Mercado- Squadron Bombardier.'

    Squadron staff of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '853rd Staff-Sq, 491st BG, Early '45. L-R Shoemaker- Asst Ops, Prochaska- Aim (not sure of spelling), Stepney- CO, Fillon- Ops, Leppert- Squadron Navigator, Mercado- Squadron Bombardier.'

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  • Personnel of the 491st Bomb Group relax at a cafe in Marrakech. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Sidewalk cafe (Atlas) Marrakech, May 1944, en route to Metfield.'

    Personnel of the 491st Bomb Group relax at a cafe in Marrakech. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Sidewalk cafe (Atlas) Marrakech, May 1944, en route to Metfield.'

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  • Personnel of the 491st Bomb Group at a mission briefing. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Final Briefing Rhine Supply Mission 3-24-45. Capt Miskewich facing in cap, think in the jacket in foreground- Reed.'

    Personnel of the 491st Bomb Group at a mission briefing. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Final Briefing Rhine Supply Mission 3-24-45. Capt Miskewich facing in cap, think in the jacket in foreground- Reed.'

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  • Police officers line up outside a Nissen Hut during a visit to the 491st Bomb Group at Metfield. Handwritten caption on reverse: '6/4/44- Metfield- Police visitors- 2nd Mission.'

    Police officers line up outside a Nissen Hut during a visit to the 491st Bomb Group at Metfield. Handwritten caption on reverse: '6/4/44- Metfield- Police visitors- 2nd Mission.'

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  • Ground personnel of the 491st Bomb Group unload a truck besides a B-24 Liberator.

    Ground personnel of the 491st Bomb Group unload a truck besides a B-24 Liberator.

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The 491st Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators in bombing missions over northern France and Germany from June 1944 until April 1945. Missions over Germany included bombing the headquarters of the German General Staff at Zossen. The Group was awarded a DUC for persevering with a raid on an oil refinery at Misburg on 26 November 1944, despite half of its bombers being destroyed by enemy aircraft.

Browse 491st Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/48

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
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Missions

  • 8th Air Force 226 BIG WEEK - DAY 1

    20 February 1944
    This mission is the opening salvo of the Allied Combined Bomber Offensive known officially as "Operation Argument" but remembered in 8th Air Force History as "BIG WEEK". The immediate strategic objective of this six-day operation is the degradation of...

  • 426

    20 June 1944

  • 455

    6 July 1944

  • 8th Air Force 554

    15 August 1944
    Airfields in NW Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium are the primary targets for this mission. 8th Air Force despatches a total of 932 aircraft. The raid is coordinated with 1,000 Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers and Mosquitos attacking 9 airfields...

  • 725

    26 November 1944

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Metfield 25 April 1944 – 15 August 1944
Based North Pickenham 15 August 1944 – 4 July 1945

Connections

People

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Aircraft

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames

" The Ringmasters "

Motto
" Postremum Et Optimum " "The Last and the Best "
Insignia
A Circus Ringmaster with top hat and whip
Aircraft used
  • B-24 Liberator

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
07 July 2019 21:10:46 hardway1 Changes to nicknames, motto and insignia
Sources

Kurt Knutsen
Date Contributor Update
09 March 2018 15:34:36 2nd Air Division Memorial Library Changes to description
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library
Date Contributor Update
31 March 2016 05:41:37 Cebby Changes to mission associations
Sources

Key Image Chosen
Date Contributor Update
05 March 2015 16:33:58 Timothy McKeown Changes to nicknames and mission associations
Sources

C. Timothy McKeown
Date Contributor Update
09 November 2014 01:48:37 jmchristel Changes to type, aircraft types and mission associations
Sources

Added unit type and aircraft type
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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