Links within the tables take you to their official web sites on the net. Clicking on the link opens up a new browser window when doing so.
Bomber assembly areas showing splasher beacons and base locations in East Anglia.
| 1st Combat Wing | 40th Combat Wing | 41st Combat Wing | 94th Combat Wing |
|---|---|---|---|
91st Bomb Group  Bassingbourn |
92nd Bomb Group  Podington |
303rd Bomb Group Molesworth |
351st Bomb Group  Polebrook |
381st Bomb Group  Ridgewell |
306th Bomb Group  Thurielgh |
379th Bomb Group  Kimbolton |
401st Bomb Group  Deenthorpe |
398th Bomb Group  Nuthampstead |
305th Bomb Group  Chelveston |
384th Bomb Group  Grafton Underwood |
| 93rd Bomb Group Hardwich | 467th Bomb Group Glatton | 389th Bomb Group Hethel | 445th Bomb Group Tibenham |
| 44th Bomb Group Shipham | 446th Bomb Group Bungay | 448th Bomb Group
|
453rd Bomb Group Old Buckenham |
| 489th Bomb Group Halesworth |
491st Bomb Group Metfield | 492nd
/ 801St Bomb  Group North Pickenham |
392nd Bomb Group Wendling |
| 458th Bomb Group Horsham St. Faith | 466th Bomb Group Attlebridge | 467th Bomb Group |
|
| 34th BG (Converted to B-17s, 3rd Div) |
| 45th Combat Wing | 13th Combat Wing | 4th Combat Wing | 93rd Combat Wing |
|---|---|---|---|
96th Bomb Group  Shetterton Heath |
95th Bomb Group Horham |
94th Bomb Group Bury St. Edmonds |
385th Bomb Group  Great Ashfleld |
388th Bomb Group  Knettishal |
100th Bomb Group Thorpe Abbotts |
447th Bomb Group Rattlesden |
34th Bomb Group Mendelsham |
452nd Bomb Group  Deopham Green |
390th Bomb Group  Framlingham |
486th Bomb Group  Sudbury |
Aircraft ID Code |
| 487th Bomb Group  Lavenham |
493rd Bomb Group Debach |
| 4th Fighter Group | 357th Fighter Group | 365th Fighter Group |
"Our two countries, parted long ago by war, were brought together again by war in a unity and under-standing such as we had never known."
"Through long years of endeavor and endurance we shared all things, and though we lost so much we found a lasting friendship. We shall never forget those gallant American soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought with us, some in our own ranks, count-less others from our shores."
"To those who did not return the best memorial is the fellowship of our
two countries, which by their valour they created and by their sacrifice they
have preserved."
— WINSTON CHURCHILL
The 486th and 487th, former B-24 groups from the 92nd Combat Wing, joined the 94th and 447th to form the 4th Combat Wing after converting to B-17's In mid-1944. The 34th, 490th, and 493rd also converted to B-17's in mid-1944 to form the 93rd Combat Wing. They were joined by the B-17 385th in early 1945.
The 482nd Bomb Group flew some missions In both B-17's and B-24's, but was essentially
a training and experimental bombing unit at Alconbury.
Group markings came from the newsletter of the 398th BG.
Eventually I will convert these into color.
The "Hard Luck Group" in the 8th Air Force was the 492nd BG. The 492nd flew 67 missions and lost 55 Liberators.
On June 20, 1944 it lost 14 B-24s on that day alone!
In August, 1944 the 492nd was disbanded due to excessive losses.
This came from rick Centore whose dad was on one of the B-24s lost on June 20. His dad spent the rest of the war as a POW.
One of the problems of lossing so many a/c at one time is that the replacement pilots have no experience thus they cannot fly formations as tight as required when flying into Germany and thus makes it even easier for them to be shot down by enemy fighters.
CarpetBaggers aka 801 & 492 BG, was The American unit that flew spies - both British & U.S.A. OSS agents - using B-26s, B-17s, B-24s, Lysanders plus others, into and out of Europe. They took on the designation of 492nd Bomb Group after August 13 of 1944 when the daylight bombing version of 492 BG was disbanded.
Burtonwood - The massive repair depot created to support aircraft.
The medium bombers all started out as part of the 8th Bomber Command, then after reorganization in September / October 1943 all the mediums were transferred into the 9th.
Pvt Benjamin Leroy Vaughan's site about B-26s lists all the serial numbers of them.
