-
The insignia of the 493rd Bomb Group.
-
Personnel of the 493rd Bomb Group queue alongside a B-17 (serial number 43-38216) nicknamed "Tempest Turner" that was named after the Hollywood actress Lana Turner, for the world premiere of her latest film: 'Marriage is a Private Affair',
This photograph was taken outside Hangar #1 at Debach Airfield, home of the 493rd BG, on Sunday October 15th 1944
The film had its world premier at the 493rd BG thanks to S/Sgt Milton Elder, Ball gunner on the John Lewis crew. S/Sgt Elder, of the 862nd BS, had been a cameraman at MGM studios prior to being inducted for training as a heavy bomber gunner. His last film featured Miss Turner. After contacting the studios to ask if Miss Turner would visit his base, SSgt Elder was told this was not possible due to her busy schedule, but that she had asked that her latest film be shown to the men of the 493rd BG before it was released to the public.
Included with the original release was a filmed personal message to all of the men of the 493rd BG from Miss Turner.
43-38216 "Tempest Turner" transferred to the 34th BG in late January 1945, after being left on the continent following damage sustained on the combat mission to Giessen, Germany, with the 493rd BG on 11th December 1944.
Image stamped with SHAEF press censor and London News Agency copyright. Handwritten caption on reverse: '16/10/44.' '303 EXTRA.' '34 BG.' ' 4596.'
-
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40437) nicknamed "Hairless Joe" of the 493rd Bomb Group (at the time of this image) is escorted by P-51 Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group, including a P-51 Mustang (B6-F) flown by Captain Don Bochkay.
-
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38276) of the 493rd Bomb Group releases bombs over the target. Image via Ed O' Neill. (493 BG 861 BS, Photo IC Aug 75) Handwritten caption on reverse: C 338276 (has no name).'
-
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 493rd Bomb Group. Image via Ed O'Neill (493rd BG, Photo ICM A75).
Aircraft serial number 43-38276 "The Shack II"
Originally lead aircraft 861st BS transferred to 860th BS January 1945
-
A formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 493rd Bomb Group. Image via Stewart P Evans. Handwritten caption on reverse: '493/ A Formation 9/4/45 27,900 Ft Schleissmen. Taken fron A/C 448448.'
-
A bomber crew, led by Ed O'Neill, of the 493rd Bomb Group and their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via Ed O'Neill. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Ed O'Neill & Crew ICM A75.'
-
Ground personnel of the 493rd Bomb Group load food supplies into a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Bomb Bay of Blues". Printed caption on reverse: 'A-52449 AC- Personnel of the 493rd Bomb Group loading food supplies into the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Bomb Bay of Blues", preparatory to "Food Mission" flight. England 7 April 1945. US Air Force Photo.'
-
A bomber crew of the 493rd Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40321) nicknamed "Old Sack". Image via HS Pete Hay T. Handwritten caption on reverse: '493rd group (debach) Photo taken spring 1944. Lincoln [illegible], just prior for this across Goose Bay- Iceland, Prestwick, Debach. PS. I'm standing back row, far right. On my right is Raymond Boxlierger Russell Kansas, Pilot. I was his co pilot, great guy.'
-
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40398) nicknamed "The Shack" of the 493rd Bomb Group.
The 493rd Bomb Group was the last Eighth Air Force Group to become operational, flying their first combat mission from Debach, Suffolk, on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The Group was known as "the Fighting 493rd", named by their Commanding Officer Colonel Elbert Helton, who held the post for over a year. The Group flew 157 bombing missions, their targets a range of strategic ones in Germany and tactical ones in northern France, Holland and along the Rhine. In additional the crews flew six food missions in May 1945, dropping over 400 tonnes of food into newly-liberated parts of Europe.
- Commanding officers
-
-
Military | Colonel | Group Commanding Officer | 493rd Bomb Group
Elbert Helton led the 493rd BG to the target on 11 combat missions as Command Pilot. He served as Group commander from November 1943 through to February 1945.
In November 1943 he named the 493rd BG "The Fighting 493rd".
-
Military | Major General | Fighter Pilot 1055 single engine/Group Commander | 493rd Bomb Group
CO 56th FG )ct 1943 - Jan 1944 CO 493rd BG
...
-
Military | Colonel | Air Executive | 493rd Bomb Group
AM
Structure
- Part of
-
- Encompassing
-
-
-
-
Squadron
Browse 18th Weather Squadron photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/60
-
-
-
-
- Previously was
-
Not yet known
- Became
-
Not yet known
Missions
-
14 June 1944
Mission #10. Bombed an airfield south of Brussels. Bob Martin flew in place of Hussong.
-
-
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...
-
16 August 1944
Aircraft factories and oil refineries are the primary targets for this mission. A total of 1090 heavy bombers are despatched. See Mission Details for particulars.
...
-
16 August 1944
Aircraft factories and oil refineries are the primary targets for this mission. A total of 1090 heavy bombers are despatched. See Mission Details for particulars.
...
-
-
24 December 1944
1. Decision.
...
Stations
Station |
Location |
Date |
Based |
Debach |
April 1944 – 6 August 1945 |
Connections
People
-
Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Corporal | Clerk-Typist | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Captain | Pilot | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Sergeant | Duty Non-Commissioned Officer | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Assistant Top Secret control Officer | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Captain | Pilot | 493rd Bomb Group
-
Military | Lieutenant | Squadron Engineering Officer | 493rd Bomb Group
Show more
Aircraft
-
B-24 Liberator
Originally assigned to 490th Bomb Group, 851st Bomb Sqdn
-
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 23/1/44; Gr Island 17/2/44; Presque Is 12/3/44; Assigned 728BS/452BG [9Z-M] Deopham Green 13/3/44; Missing in Action Gdynia 6/8/44 with Louis Graber, Co-pilot: Morris Freed, Navigator: Fran Maloney, Bombardier: Nick Milcic, Flight...
-
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 18/9/43; Scott 27/10/43; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-M] Deenethorpe 3/11/43; transferred 487BG Lavenham 15/7/44; then to 860BS/493BG Debach, on local flight 16/8/44 with Capt Wesley Love, Co-pilot: Charles Boyce, Navigator: Fred...
-
B-24 Liberator
Crashed on Mission 554 of 15 August 1944. Target : Florennes / Jusaine airfield, Belgium
-
B-24 Liberator
Shot down by Flak on the 14 June 1944 mission to Laon, France. Crashed near Steene (Nord Department), France. Pilot : Orville H. Brewer Jr; Co-Pilot Lothrop Caldwell; Navigator Wilfred N. Hansen; Bombardier Coleman C. Duncan; Radio Operator/Gunner...
-
-
-
-
B-24 Liberator
The B-24H, 42-94812, named, LITTLE WARRIOR, was assigned to the 850th Bomb Squadron, the 490th Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force USAAF. It was transferred to the 862nd Bomb Squadron, the 493rd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force USAAF in Britain. It...
-
Show more
Citations
None