445th Bomb Group

Group
A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell. media-395486.jpg FRE 6666 A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 6666 - A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a...

The 445th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Tibenham, Norfolk. The crews' first mission was bombing U-boat installations at Kiel on 13 December 1943. The Group continued to hit strategic targets in Germany, including the aircraft components factory at Gotha on 24 February 1944, during USAAF's Big Week of raids against the German aircraft industry, which earned the Group a Distinguished Unit Citation. The Group was awarded the Croix de Guerre

with Palm by the French government for operations in the European theater from December 1943 to February 1945.



Browse 445th Bomb Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/41

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group Headquarters (445th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-18833
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Service Numbers: O-393142
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Group Operations Officer, later became Group Commanding Officer

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Tibenham 4 November 1943 - 28 May 1945

Encompassing

Related media

  • Media Type: Video
  • Object Number: UPL 16671
  • Description: Faces of War series, featuring 2nd Lt. James Dowling, 703rd Squadron, 445th Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force
  • Media Type: Video
  • Object Number: UPL 16673
  • Description: Willow Run Production Plant, responsible for assembling B-24's in the effort to win the war.
  • Media Type: Video
  • Collection Name: Rob Edwards collection
  • Object Number: UPL 31789
  • Description: Video and photographs of the memorials to the 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy) who served at Tibenham, Station 124.
  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: William L Beigel Collection
  • Object Number: Document 15718
  • Description: Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Staff Sergeant Alfred H Luhmann of the 445th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill...
  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: William L Beigel Collection
  • Object Number: Document 15826
  • Description: Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Staff Sergeant George V McGuiness Jr of the 445th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The...
  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: William L Beigel Collection
  • Object Number: Document 15922
  • Description: Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Technical Sergeant Raymond H Taylor of the 445th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill...
  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: William L Beigel Collection
  • Object Number: Document 15927
  • Description: Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Lieutenant Jennis M Strickland of the 445th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel...
  • Media Type: Document
  • Object Number: Document 21183
  • Description: Aerial photographs taken over Royan France on April 14, 1945 Top: Target No. 137, bounded by Blvd. de la Falaise, Rue de Roches, Cotreau la Beautre...
  • Media Type: Document
  • Object Number: Document 21184
  • Description: B-24s in Flight, Photo probably taken by Tsgt. Harry Aaron Berger during the April 14, 1945 Royan Mission

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library

Date
ContributorB24Mike
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Sources

NARA records of the 445th Unit Historian

Date
Contributorusafdo
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Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date
Contributorusafdo
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Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date
Contributorusafdo
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Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date
Contributorusafdo
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Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date
ContributorAAM
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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)

445th Bomb Group: Gallery (232 items)