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448th
| The Scrapbook Archives - Seething, Norfolk
448th Bomb Group
The focus of this scrapbook is the 448th Bomb Group, stationed at Seething, Norfolk.
The 448th was organized on April 6, 1943 and activated May 1, 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho to fly B24 Liberators as part of the Allied bombing campaign against the Axis countries. Much of the training for the air crews took place in Florida, initially, then their training moved to Wendover Field, Utah, where the entire group was assembled. Both air and ground crews completed their training together at Sioux City, Iowa before separating for the transfer overseas.
The ground crews arrived in Seething by early December 1943, while the air crews arrived via the southern ferry route by December 22, 1943. This was also the first day of missions against Nazi Germany, with Gacabruck, Germany as their first target. From December 22, 1943 through April 25, 1945, the 448th flew 262 missions. It suffered 101 aircraft lost in action during 6,774 sorties.
The 448th was redeployed to the United States in late June and early July, 1945. The ground crews sailed on the Queen Mary, while the air crews flew their planes back. The 448th was officially deactivated on August 4, 1946, although the 715BS continued as part of the 509th Bomb Group, serving until 1965.
Crew photograph from the 448th. Personnel include Daner E. Anderson, Roger O. Vance, Lloyd T. Williams, William E. Ruck, Kenneth L. Hess, Marvin Joseph, and James J. Bell. From the collection of Bill Ruck (MC 371/349 720x5), Norfolk Record Office.
A B24 from Seething in heavy flak. From the collection of Howard R. Morton (MC 371/340 720x5), Norfolk Record Office.
There are several good histories of the 448th Bomb Group available for use in the 2nd Air Division memorial Library, in addition to the standard histories of the 2nd Air Division and the 8th Air Force. Among those histories are:
Brett, Jeffrey E: 448th BG
Kramer, Ronald V. and Michalczyk, Joseph T comp.: 448th Bomb Group.
Copyright © 2001-2007 2nd Air Division Memorial Library
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Created 13 July 2007
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