484th Bomb Group

Group
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-78289) nicknamed "Flak Strainer" of the 484th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. Image via P Gandillet. Handwritten caption on reverse: '42078289 B024L 824 BS- 84 BG 15th AF "Flak Strainer" Dijon-Longvic Oct 1944.' media-418239.jpg FRE 8764 A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-78289) nicknamed "Flak Strainer" of the 484th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. Image via P Gandillet. Handwritten caption on reverse: '42078289 B024L 824 BS- 84 BG 15th AF "Flak Strainer" Dijon-Longvic Oct 1944.' Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 8764 - A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-78289) nicknamed "Flak Strainer" of the 484th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. Image via P Gandillet. Handwritten...

The 484th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was constituted on 14 September 1943 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment group and activated on 20 September at Harvard Army Air Field, Nebraska. Its original squadrons were the newly activated 824th,[2] 825th,[3] and 826th Bombardment Squadrons[3] and the 827th Bombardment Squadron,[4] which moved to Harvard AAF after two years of anti-submarine warfare experience on the east coast of the United States[5]



The group completed training at Harvard AAF in February 1944 and then deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in Southern Italy. It departed the United States in early March and arrived in April at Torretto Airfield, Italy, where it was assigned to Fifteenth Air Force. The group was redesignated 484th Bombardment Group (Pathfinder) in May 1944 but did not perform pathfinder functions. It became the 484th Bombardment Group, Heavy again in November 1944 and operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization, April 1944 – April 1945. The 484th attacked such targets as oil refineries, oil storage plants, aircraft factories, heavy industry, and communications in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, and Yugoslavia.[5]



On 13 June 1944 a heavy smoke screen prevented the group from bombing railroad marshalling yards at Munich; however, in spite of severe damage to its aircraft from flak and interceptor aircraft, and despite heavy gunfire encountered at the alternate target the group bombed the marshalling yards at Innsbruck and received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for its persistent action.[5] The 484th received a second DUC for its performance on 22 August 1944 when, unescorted, the organization fought its way through intense opposition to attack underground oil storage installations in Vienna, Austria.[5]



In addition to strategic missions, the 484th participated in the drive toward Rome by bombing bridges, supply dumps, viaducts, and marshalling yards in April through June 1944. It also ferried gasoline and oil to Allied forces in southern France in September 1944 and supported the final advance by Fifth Army through northern Italy in April 1945.[5]



After V-E Day, was assigned to Green Project which was the movement of troops from Europe to the United States via the South Atlantic Transport Route. B-24s were modified with sealed bomb bays, removal of all defensive armament and internal fuselage equipped with seating to carry approximately 30 personnel.[citation needed] It was assigned to Air Transport Command at Casablanca Airfield, French Morocco.[5] The group moved personnel from staging areas in France and Italy to Casablanca and also south to Dakar in French West Africa where personnel were transported across the South Atlantic to Brazil and eventually to Morrison Field, Florida.[citation needed] Provided air transport until the end of July when the unit was inactivated.

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Torretta 9 April 1944 - 25 May 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13075755
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight engineer / gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2075183
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33546267
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18138003
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807648
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Little Mac
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-52648) nicknamed "Sweet Revenge" of the 484th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Sweet Revenge
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 827th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Sleepless Knights
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-78289) nicknamed "Flak Strainer" of the 484th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Flak Strainer '44' 82435/ 484 BG Dijon-Longvic 10/44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24L- -CO. 824 BS, 484 BG Italy 15 AF "44" "Flak Strainer" Oct 1944.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Flak Strainer
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-78439) of the 484th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force after a forced landing in Dubendorf, Switzerland. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Dubendorf 3-8-1944.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 484th Bomb Group 825th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

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Changes

484th Bomb Group: Gallery (11 items)