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453rd Bomb Group

Group

  • 453 Bomb Group Insignia

    453 Bomb Group Insignia

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  • Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'

    Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'

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  • Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image:

    Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: "(GP-164-453)(3-8-44)(Col Thomas -CO)." Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas.'

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  • A crashed B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95353) nicknamed

    A crashed B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95353) nicknamed "Zeus" of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Zeus 30/5/44 453BG.'

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  • The officers club of the 453rd Bomb Group at Old Buckenham. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Officers club 'Ole Buck'.'

    The officers club of the 453rd Bomb Group at Old Buckenham. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Officers club 'Ole Buck'.'

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  • An airman of the 453rd Bomb Group with the nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23738) nicknamed

    An airman of the 453rd Bomb Group with the nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23738) nicknamed "Wham Bam".

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  • A bomber crew of the 453rd Bomb Group look on as the 100th mission marking is added to the nose of their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51108) nicknamed

    A bomber crew of the 453rd Bomb Group look on as the 100th mission marking is added to the nose of their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51108) nicknamed "Arrowhead". Handwritten caption on reverse: '453 BG, Project N 9268s-R Robinson's Raunchy Raiders, 251108 100 trips. Crew Chat, AS Cumming.'

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  • JG

    JG "Jim" Kotapish" of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'JG "Jim" Kotapish 453BG.'

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  • Leon Quesnel and Walter Scott, ground crewmen of the 453rd Bomb Group, with a B-24 Liberator nicknamed

    Leon Quesnel and Walter Scott, ground crewmen of the 453rd Bomb Group, with a B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Sweet Sue". Image via Leon Quesnel First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Leon Quesnel, So Hadley Mas (left), Walter Scott, Little Falls NY (right) Crew-chief. Bomb in fist emblem of 735 BG.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '449926.'

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  • The crumpled tail of a crashed B-24 Liberator of the 453rd Bomb Group. Image via Kenneth W Clendenin. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'H_ of 453rd BG, 735 BS? JSH 42-51865 1 Jan 45 Olf Buckenham. Lt AC Judd.'

    The crumpled tail of a crashed B-24 Liberator of the 453rd Bomb Group. Image via Kenneth W Clendenin. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'H_ of 453rd BG, 735 BS? JSH 42-51865 1 Jan 45 Olf Buckenham. Lt AC Judd.'

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As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945. The 733rd Bomb Squadron completed a record 82 consecutive missions without loss. Actor James Stewart was Group Executive Officer from March 1944.

Browse 453rd Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/43

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • 8th Air Force 210

    5 February 1944
    German airfield in France are the targets for this mission. All three Bomb Divisions despatch aircraft. The combined bomber gunner's claims of all three Bomb Divisions were 5-0-5 (displayed with Chateauroux element of 1BD). Summary as follows: ...

  • 8th Air Force 212

    6 February 1944
    German airfields and V-Weapon sites in France are the primary targets of this mission. A combined force total of 642 heavy bombers are depatched from 8th Air Force 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions. The primary targets of 1st Bomb Division were the...

  • 8th Air Force 212

    6 February 1944
    German airfields and V-Weapon sites in France are the primary targets of this mission. A combined force total of 642 heavy bombers are depatched from 8th Air Force 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions. The primary targets of 1st Bomb Division were the...

  • 8th Air Force 216

    10 February 1944
    This mission is a despatch of two separate formations. One formation is a combined force of 169 B-17Fs from 3rd Bomb Division: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 482BG despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Brunswick, Germany....

  • 8th Air Force 218

    11 February 1944
    This mission is composed of two separate elements. 3rd Bomb Division stands down having sustained massive losses of 29 aircraft on the previous day. ...

  • 8th Air Force 221

    13 February 1944
    17 V-Wepons sites in France are the primary targets for this mission. The mission is divided into two separate forces: one force of B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division and one force of B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division. Mission summary follows: ...

  • 8th Air Force 223

    15 February 1944
    A combined force of 54 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division: 93BG; 389BG; 445BG; 453BG are despatched to bomb the V-Weapon site at St. Pol/Siracourt, France. 52 aircraft are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims in this force but 29 aircraft...

  • 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...

  • 8th Air Force 228 BIG WEEK - DAY 2

    21 February 1944
    Day 2 of BIG WEEK is another maximum effort by 8th Air Force to bomb 6 airfields in Germany as primary targets: Diepholz, Gütersloh, Lippstadt, Werl, Achmer and Handorf. In addition the industrial areas of Brunswick city are included as a primary...

  • 8th Air Force 230 BIG WEEK - DAY 3

    22 February 1944
    The German aircraft industry is again targeted in Day 3 of BIG WEEK. A combined total od 789 bombers (maximum effort) are despathed from 1st 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. Fighter opposition is heavy and bomber losses in 1st Air Division are massive - 39...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Old Buckenham 22 December 1943 – 9 May 1945

Connections

People

  • Marvin Aaker

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
    Marvin Aaker served as a flight engineer and top turret gunner with the 735th Bomb Squadron of the 453rd Bomb Group, flying missions out of Old Buckenham, England.

  • Robert Aaker

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer | 453rd Bomb Group
    Robert Aaker served as a flight engineer with the 734th Bomb Squadron of the 453rd Bomb Group, flying missions out of Old Buckenham, England.

  • Myron Abel

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 453rd Bomb Group

  • Leon Abele

    Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 453rd Bomb Group

  • T Abercrombie

    Military | Private First Class | Ordnance | 453rd Bomb Group

  • Earl Abke

    Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group

  • Nate Ackerman

    Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 453rd Bomb Group

  • Fred Acord

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group

  • William Acton

    Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-24 #42-52169 'Lucky Penny'. Killed in Action (KIA). PH

  • Cyrus Adams

    Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 453rd Bomb Group

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Aircraft

  • 41-28591 'Archibald'

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 735BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Berlin attacked by E/A setting two engines alight, crashed at Mangelsdorf, crew baled out 21-Jun-44. 10 x POW. MACR 5933.

  • 41-28615 'Ginnie'

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 733BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down by fighters and exploded upon striking the water near Steenbergen, Holland on a mission to Gotha 22-Feb-44 in B-24 41-28615 'Ginnie'. 10 x Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 2895.

  • 41-28619 'Begin The Beguine'

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned 732BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Juvincourt. Shot down by flak and crashed at Vlissingen. 3 x POW, 7 x KIA. MACR 6232.

  • 41-28629 Blondes Away

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 733BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 734, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission 13-Apr-44. Last seen 12 miles past IP heading across lake near Friedrickshafen in direction of Switzerland. Oil leak on #4 engine and oxygen...

  • 41-28641 'Cee Gee'

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 732BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) practice mission, A/C became lost shortly after take off, failing to form up with section. Landed in Czechoslovakia with badly wounded crew members [Sgt Nissen and Sgt Tollefsen]. 2 x WIA, 10...

  • 41-28649 'Little Bryan'

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 733BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Friedrichshafen, hit by flak causing loss of fuel and mechanical failures, A/C abandoned over Amiens, 1 x EVD, 10 x POW. MACR 3552.

  • 41-28650 'Rooster'

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 732BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Brunswick, A/C left formation short of IP due to attack by Bf109 in which pilot was killed by 20mm cannon shell. A/C abandoned by crew 8-Apr-44. 1 x KIA, 11 x POW. MACR 3929.

  • 41-28745

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 486BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 733BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Brunswick. Shot down flak went down 2km west of Salzdahlum, four chutes seen, one on fire 8-May-44. 3 x POW, 7 x KIA. MACR 4590.

  • 41-29005 Dolly's Sister

    B-24 Liberator

  • 41-29250

    B-24 Liberator

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
06 May 2019 20:27:03 jjskhodges Changes to media associations
Sources

Photos owned by Jan Hodges
Date Contributor Update
09 March 2018 15:27:59 2nd Air Division Memorial Library Changes to description
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 15:20:05 rossingtonj Changes to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 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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