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The 445th Bombardment Group was a B-24 Liberator unit serving with the Eighth Air Force from 1943 until the end of the war in Europe.
The group's first operation was an attack on the U-boat base at Kiel on 13 December 1943 (The Eighth Air Force's 154th heavy bomber mission). It spent most of the rest of the way engaged in strategic bombing against targets in Germany and occupied Europe. The unit took part in Big Week (20-25 February 1944), the attack on the German aircraft industry. The unit won a Distinguished Unit Citation for its part in a raid on Gotha on 24 February.
The strategic bombing was interrupted by a series of more tactical missions. The unit took part in the campaign to support the D-Day landings, attacking German targets on the Normandy shoreline on 6 June 1944. It also took part in the operations to support the breakthrough at St. Lo in July 1944. The group attacked German communications during the battle of the Bulge. During the crossing of the Rhine it was used to drop supplies to airborne troops near Wesel.
The 445th Bombardment Group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945, returning to the United States over the next two months.
April 1943-April 1945: Consolidated B-24 Liberator
20 March 1943 | Constituted as 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy) |
1 April 1943 | Activated |
October-December 1943 | Moved to England to join Eighth Air Force |
13 December 1943 | First combat mission |
25 April 1945 | Last combat mission |
May-June 1945 | Returned to US |
12 September 1945 | Inactivated |
Colonel Robert H. Terrill: 1 April 1943
Colonel William W Jones: 25 July 1944-12 September 1945
Gowen Field, Idaho: 1 April 1943
Wendover Field, Utah: 8 June 1943
Sioux City, Iowa: 8 July-20 October 1943
Tibenham, England: 4 November 1943-28 May 1945
Fort Dix, New Jersey: 9 June-12 September 1945
700th Bombardment Squadron: 1943-1945
701st Bombardment Squadron: 1943-1945
702nd Bombardment Squadron: 1943-1945
703rd Bombardment Squadron: 1943-1945
Eighth Air Force: 1943-1945
1943-1945: 2nd Bombardment Wing; 2nd Air Division; Eighth Air Force
1945: 2nd Bombardment Wing; 1st Air Division; Eighth Air Force