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B-24 Liberator
Crew members of the 458th Bomb Group pose beside a Consolidated B-24 at an 8th Air Force Base somewhere in England. - B-24JAZ-155-CO Liberator 44-40277 named "Miss Used" from the 753rd BS, 458th BG, 8th AF. Veteran of 64 combat missions. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A11961-78906AC. Additional caption added by 466th BG Historian - This photo was taken before the aircraft and ferry crew departed from Horsham St. Faith for the United States as part of Operation Home Run. Late May/Early June 1945
Crew members of the 753rd Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group, pose beside a Consolidated B-24 somewhere in England. 13 November 1944. B-24JAZ-155-CO Liberator 44-40277 "Miss Used" from the 753rd BS, 458th BG, 8th AF. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12020-81704AC The crew in the photo flew "Miss Used" from the U.S. to England: Standing (L-R): Pilot - 1st Lt. Gerald W. Matze, Navigator - 1st Lt. Arthur L. Smith, Bombardier - 1st Lt. Charles W. Bullard, Copilot - 1st Lt. Melvin E. Fields Middle Row (L-R): Engineer - T/Sgt. Clarence "Pops" W. Ferris, Tail Gunner - S/Sgt. Karl E. Van Kuran,Jr., Radio Operator - T/Sgt. Michael P. Agresta, Left Waist Gunner - S/Sgt. Adolph "Tex" Janowski. Front Row (L-R): Nose Turret Gunner - S/Sgt. James P. Keel, Right Waist Gunner - S/Sgt. Albert J. Pizzica. The crew all completed tour.
Nose art of Consolidated B-24J Liberator 44-40277 'Miss Used' 753BS, 458BG, 8AF USSAF.
Consolidated B-24J Liberator 44-40277 'Miss Used' 753BS, 458BG, 8AF USSAF.
Ferry Crew 28 - B-24JAZ-155-CO 44-40277 J4 P 'Miss Used'
SAV target photo - Kirtorf, Germany. B-24J 44-40277 J4-P 'Miss Used'
Aircraft flew 64 missions with 458th and was one of the 10 original AZON/Aphrodite project** control planes. Served as 'Mother Ship' to B-17F 41-24639 'Careful Virgin' on mission to bomb Mimoyecques, France. 4-8-44.
**Retasked war weary bomber to explosive filled remote controlled flying bomb.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 9/9/42; Boise 16/9/42; wrecked on landing with broken crankshaft, rep; Cheyenne 11/10/42; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-W] Bassingbourn 29/1/43 and first in group to have AFCE fitted at 2 SAD Lt Staughton 8/3/44; transferred 7/5/44 50+m...
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Group
The 458th Bomb Group (H) entered combat with the 8th Air Force in February 1944. Based at Horsham St. Faith in England, the combat crews participated in the decisive Campaigns 'Big Week', 'Big B', D-Day and the assault on Germany's oil industry waged...
Squadron
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 458th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 458th Bomb Group
30 combat missions. Lead Bombardier on 20 missions.
DFC/ Air Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ ETO Ribbon w/ 5 Battle Stars
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 458th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 458th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 458th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Nose Gunner | 458th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 458th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 458th Bomb Group
Albert Pizzica served as a gunner with the 753rd Bomb Squadron of the 458th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Horsham St Faith, England.
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 458th Bomb Group
4 August 1944
6 August 1944
1 March 1945
7 March 1945
8 March 1945
Mission 872: 1,353 bombers and 326 fighters are dispatched to hit benzol plants, an oil plant and rail targets in Germany using PFF; NO AIRCRAFT ARE LOST AND THERE ARE NO CASUALTIES!
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10 March 1945
19 March 1945
22 March 1945
23 March 1945
Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
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24 March 1945
"8th AF Aided Paratroops
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Military site : airfield
Horsham St Faith was an RAF Bomber Command Station opened in June 1940. It was home to Bristol Blenheim medium-bombers, and was for a time occupied by fighters, including those of No. 19 Squadron and No. 264 Squadron. From September 1942 the airfield...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| AZON/Aphrodite Project | Mimoyecques, 62250, France | 4 August 1944 |
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Served as 'Mother Ship' to B-17F 41-24639 'Careful Virgin' on mission to bomb Mimoyecques, France. 4-8-44. |
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| Crashed | Horsham St Faith, Norwich, Norfolk, UK | 14 March 1945 |
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Involved in ground accident along with 9 other B-24's whilst parked at Horsham St Faith/Sta 123. Cat 3 damage. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 12 January 2016 13:38:19 | Al_Skiff | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Liberator: The Consolidated B-24 By Graham Simons |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 December 2015 18:39:09 | Al_Skiff | Changes to description, events and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Liberator: The Consolidated B-24 By Graham Simons |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 December 2015 15:45:07 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, description, aircraft associations, unit associations, person associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Liberator: The Consolidated B-24 By Graham Simons |
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