Albert R Krassman Jr

Military
Sergeant Albert R Krassman of the 446th Bomb Group with a B-24 Liberator (RT-H, serial number 44-40268) nicknamed "Kentucky Belle". Image via Albert R Krassman Jr Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Kentucky Belle" call "H". B-24J-156-Co, 4440268, 706 Bomb Squadron (H), 446 Bomb Group (H), 20th Combat Bomb Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th USAF. Sgt Albert R Krassman JR, AAF station 125, Flixtion, Bungay, Suffolk, England, Spring 1945.' media-395433.jpg FRE 7671 Sergeant Albert R Krassman of the 446th Bomb Group with a B-24 Liberator (RT-H, serial number 44-40268) nicknamed "Kentucky Belle". Image via Albert R Krassman Jr Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Kentucky Belle" call "H". B-24J-156-Co, 4440268, 706 Bomb Squadron (H), 446 Bomb Group (H), 20th Combat Bomb Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th USAF. Sgt Albert R Krassman JR, AAF station 125, Flixtion, Bungay, Suffolk, England, Spring 1945.' Roger Freeman Collection

Page 28, The Mighty Eighth in Color, Roger Freeman

Object Number - FRE 7671 - Sergeant Albert R Krassman of the 446th Bomb Group with a B-24 Liberator (RT-H, serial number 44-40268) nicknamed "Kentucky Belle". Image via Albert...

Born in Colorado, Krassman enlisted in 1943 and served as ground crew with the 706th Bomb Squadron of the 446th Bomb Group, based at Bungay in Suffolk. He worked as a gunsight, turret and armour mechanic, referring to himself playfully as a ‘bomb-stuffer-inner’. His crucial work helped maintain the B-24s for combat missions.



Krassman painted nose art on many of the 446th Bomb Group aircraft. His subjects included scantily-clad women, cartoon characters and the plane names themselves. Such images were usual for USAAF crews who also decorated aircraft with song titles, puns and even depictions of wives or girlfriends left behind.

Connections

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Units served with

A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40268) nicknamed "Kentucky Belle" of the 446th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Kentucky Belle" painted on other side of nose.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Kentucky Belle
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 490th Bomb Group 493rd Bomb Group 706th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorCarl Peplow
Changes
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personal ephemera

Date
ContributorLucy May
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Associated photos that Al Krassman took and later shared with aviation historian Roger Freeman.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.446bg.com/

Albert R Krassman: Gallery (68 items)