8th Air Force, 448th BG, 712, 713, 714, & 715 Sq (WWII & B-24)

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About 8th Air Force, 448th BG, 712, 713, 714, & 715 Sq (WWII & B-24)

This group is dedicated to the research and remembrance of the 712th, 713th, 714th, and 715th Squadrons of the 448th Bomb Group of the Mighty Eighth Air Force of World War Two.

448th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

The airfield was opened on 1 December 1943 and was used by the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force 448th Bombardment Group (Heavy). The 448th arrived from Sioux City AAF Iowa and was assigned to the 20th Combat Bombardment Wing. The group tail code was a "Circle-I". It's operational squadrons were:

•712th Bomb Squadron (CT)
•713th Bomb Squadron (IG)
•714th Bomb Squadron (EI)
•715st Bomb Squadron (IO)

The 448th flew B-24 Liberators as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign. The group enered combat on 22 December 1943, and until April 1945 served primarily as a strategic bombardment organization, hitting such targets as aircraft factories in Gotha, ball-bearing plants in Berlin, an airfield at Hanau, U-boat facilities at Kiel, a chemical plant at Ludwigshafen, synthetic oil refineries at Politz, aircraft engine plants at Rostock, marshalling yards at Cologne, and a Buzz-bomb assembly plant at Fallersleben. The group took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 February 1944.

In addition to strategic operations, flew interdictory and support missions. Bombed V-weapon sites, airfields, and transportation facilities prior to the Normandy invasion in June 1944, and on D-Day attacked coastal defenses and choke points. Struck enemy positions to assist the Allied offensive at Caen and the breakthrough at St Lo in July. Dropped supplies to airborne troops near Nijmegen during the airborne attack on Holland in September. Bombed transportation and communications centers in the combat zone during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945. Dropped supplies to troops at Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

The group flew its last combat mission on 25 April, attacking a marshalling yard at Salzburg. It returned to Sioux Falls AAF South Dakota the US in Jul 1945.
After the war, the field was closed in 1945.


Links:

12 O'Clock High!
forum.12oclockhigh.net/index.php

448th Bombardment Group
www.448bg.com/

HOMEPAGE of the 448th Bomb Group
www.pastonroot.co.uk/golds/448.html

HOMEPAGE of the 448th Bomb Group
www.pastonroot.co.uk/golds/448.html

448th Bombardment Group
mighty8thaf.preller.us/php/1Unit.php?Unitkey=448

448th Bombardment Group - 448th BG - WWII
www.448bg.com/

448th Bomb Group
www.448bg.com/

448th BG - Seething
forum.armyairforces.com/fb.ashx?

448th Bombardment Group
www.heritageleague.org/groups/448bg.htm

448thBGp Other Crews
hqmc2.tripod.com/

USAAF - 448th Bomb Group
www.jcs-group.com/military/war1941aaf8th2/448bg01.html

448th Bomb Group Museum - Seething Control Tower
www.seething-airfield.com/museum.php