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The 446th Bombardment Group was formed during the spring of 1943, and after spending six months training in the United States moved to England in October-November 1943, beginning combat missions in December.
Most of the group's missions were flown as part of the strategic bombing offensive, but like most Eighth Air Force groups the 446th BG took part in a number of support operations. It took part in the campaign to support the D-Day landings, attacking German strong points, bridges, airfields and transportation in France, as well as supporting the troops fighting at Caen and St Lo.
During Operation Market Garden the group was used to drop supplies to Allied troops near Nijmegen, and during the operation to cross the Rhine in March 1945 to drop supplies to troops near Wesel. During the Battle of the Bulge the group attacked German transport links. The group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945.
Consolidated B-24 Liberator (Crowood Aviation), Martin W. Bowman. A well balanced book that begins with a look at the development history of the B-24, before spending nine out of its ten chapters looking at the combat career of the aircraft in the USAAF, the US Navy and the RAF.
B-24 Liberator Units of the Eighth Air Force, Robert F. Dorr. Although the Eighth Air Force is famous for operating the B-17, even at the end of the Second World War the B-24 still equipped one third of all Eighth Army Bombardment Groups. Here Dorr looks at the role the Liberator played with the Eighth Army, from its tiny beginnings in 1942 to the final massive air armadas of 1944 and 1945. Dorr also looks at the sizable detachments sent to North Africa during 1943, and the famous Ploesti mission.
April 1943-April 1945: Consolidated B-24 Liberator
| 20 March 1943 | Constituted as 446th Bombardment Group (Heavy) |
| 1 April 1943 | Activated |
| October-November 1943 | Moved to England to join Eighth Air Force |
| December 1943-April 1945 | Operational from England |
| 25 April 1945 | Last combat mission |
| June-July 1945 | Returned to the United States |
| 28 August 1945 | Inactivated |
Lt Colonel Arthur Y Snell: 25 April 1943
Colonel Jacob J Brogger: 28 September 1943
Colonel Troy W Crawford: 23 September 1944
Lt. Colonel William A Schmidt: 4 April 1945-
Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona: 1 April 1943
Lowry Field, Colorado: 8 June 1943-October 1943
Flixton, England: c. 4 November 1943-July 1945
Sioux Falls: July-August 1945
704th Bombardment Squadron: 1943-1945
705th Bombardment Squadron: 1943-1945
706th Bombardment Squadron: 1943-1945
707th Bombardment Squadron: 1943-1945
1943-February 1944: 20th Bombardment Wing; VIII Bomber Command; Eighth Air Force
February 1944-1945: 20th Bombardment Wing; 2nd Air Division; Eighth Air Force
1945: 96th Bombardment Wing; 2nd Air Division; Eighth Air Force