739th Bomb Squadron

Squadron
media-36976.jpeg UPL 36976 POW card from HG Crissman's 6 month stint in Germany in WWII HG Crissman

From article in Elks magazine, Nov 2005 "American Heroes: Brave Men in B-24s", and certified by my Dad, HG Crissman

Object Number - UPL 36976 - POW card from HG Crissman's 6 month stint in Germany in WWII

The squadron was first activated in June 1943 at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico as the 739th Bombardment Squadron, one of the original four squadrons of the 454th Bombardment Group.[3] The 454th was a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment group. The unit trained under Second Air Force. It deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, and was stationed in southern Italy at San Giovanni Airfield under Fifteenth Air Force.



The squadron engaged in long range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transportation targets. Operations included attacks against such objectives as marshalling yards, aircraft factories, railroad bridges, and airdromes in Italy, Austria, and Rumania. It helped to prepare the way for and supported Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France during July and August 1944. At the same time, it expanded its previous operations to include attacks on oil refineries and storage facilities, locomotive works, and viaducts in France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the Balkans.



The 739th returned to the United States after the surrender of Germany in May 1945. It began to be re-equipped as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombardment squadron. The squadron began training under Second Air Force in August 1945, however it was inactivated in October after the surrender of Japan.[3]

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 454th Bomb Group 739th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34855451
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 454th Bomb Group 739th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15377228
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: radio operator

Aircraft

Miss America 44
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Miss America 44
  • Unit: 739th Bomb Squadron 454th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Thundermist
  • Unit: 454th Bomb Group 739th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

739th Bomb Squadron: Gallery (4 items)