482nd Bombardment Group (P) - The 8th Army Air Force Pathfinders... They Led the Way...

History

482NDadmin — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 20:14:57 +0000

History 482NDadmin Fri, 09/16/2016 - 21:14

482nd Pathfinders Leader and Radar Pioneers at Alconbury 1943. Left to Right: Col Lawrence 482nd Command Officer, Lord Cherwell, Chief Scientific officer to Winston Churchill, Col Garland 8th Air Force HQ, Dave Griggs advisor to secretary of War Stimson and Sire Watson Watt Inventor of British Radar.

The 482nd Bomb Group (P) was activated on August 20, 1943 at the United States Army Air Force "USAAF" Station 102, Alconbury, Huntingdonshire, England. The "P" stood for Pathfinder and meant the 482nd would lead the Eighth Air Force on combat missions over Europe by means of radar and other electronic navigational devices. The 482nd has the distinction of being the only USAAF group to be activated outside of the United States.

Role and Mission of the 482nd

During 1942 and 1943, experience had shown that the Eighth Air Force precision bombing as done visually by Norden bombsight was possible in the European Theater of Operations (E.T.O) only a few months a year. Several far-sighted officers, veterans of the early mission over German occupied territory, sought an answer to this dilemma. How could the largest air force in the world conquer the clouds that persisted over Europe?

Using new Radar platforms developed by the RAF, a different tactical method was planned. A group was to be formed consisting of the best crews from each of the other groups. Flying B-17 and B-24 aircrafts equipped with specially modified British radar (H2S), these crews were to lead each combat wing as Pathfinders. Thus the idea of the 482nd Bombardment group (Pathfinder) was born.

The 482nd Bomb Group (P) was activated on August 20, 1943 at the United States Army Air Force "USAAF" Station 102, Alconbury, and Huntingdonshire, England. The "P" stood for Pathfinder and meant the 482nd would lead the Eighth Air Force on combat missions over Europe by means of radar and other electronic navigational devices. The 482nd has the distinction of being the only USAAF group to be activated outside of the United States.

Operational History

Upon its inception on August 20, 1943 the 482nd Bomb Group worked with a skeleton crew at Alconbury to convert and prepare the base into a four squadron operational Bomb group and make it ready to receive the incoming planes and crews. The bulk of the personnel came from the 92nd BG, the 479th Anti- Sub group and the 12th Replacement Depot. Some of the new crews came from the states via the Valley Air base in Wales. Other crews were furnished by the bomb groups in already combat and scattered throughout England. It truly became a Composite Bomb Group. The base established a Weather Section, Radar Section, Flying Control section, Maintenance Section and Armory Section. All the necessary sections to operation 8th Bomb Group. It was said that there was a feverish pace of activity for 36 straight days.

B-17 of 482nd BG equipped with British H2S Radar. Note radome under nose.

Work went on day and night and then on the night of September 26, 1943, four H2S radar equipped B-17's were flown to bases of the 1st and 3rd Air Dvisions. The target for the mission was Emden, Germany. A total of 308 B-17’s took part in that mission escorted by 262 P-47's. There were seven B-17's and one p-47 lost due to enemy action. It was the first mission in 8th Army Air Force history that was lead by radar equipped aircraft. Instead of being shackled to the ground as in the winter of 1942-1943, the 8th would fly many more missions setting a combat record in the winter of 1943-1944 all led by the 482nd BG crews.

8th Army Air Force B-17 Waist Gunners scan the sky for Bandits.

Key Operational Facts & Dates of the 482nd Bomb Group

Total sorties: 346
Total Bomb Tonnage dropped: 496.7 tons
482nd A/C MIA: 7
Enemy A/C shot down claims: 27

482nd BG Decorations – (a total 738 decorations were presented to 482nd personal)

Silver Star: 1
Distinguished Flying Crosses: 105
Oak Leaf Clusters to the Distinguished Flying Cross: 8
Air Medals: 120
Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal: 485
Purple Hearts: 19

482nd Claims to Fame

• Only U.S. Bomb Group formed outside U.S.
• Pioneered radar bombing platforms and Navigation aids
• First B-17 over Berlin – March 4, 1944
• They led – they fought – they taught.

Major German Targets Bombed by the 482nd Bomb Group

Brunswick: Led 7 missions
Bremen: Led 6 missions
Frankfurt: Led 6 missions
Berlin: Led 5 missions
Munster: Led 4 Missions
Ludwigshave: Led 4 Missions

Alconbury - Base of Operations

Alconbury’s old control or watch tower

The 482nd set up operations at station #102 USAAF Alconbury. Alconbury had been an RAF (Royal Air Force) base and was allocated to the U.S. in 1942. It had three intersecting concrete runways that were 50 yards wide. The runways were expanded in 1942, the main to 6,000 ft. the two alternates to 4,200 ft each. Alconbury had 56 hardstands in total during WWII. The base encompassed approximately 500 acres.

Alconbury, Station #102 Huntingtonshire, England.

Prior to the 482nd arriving in the fall of 1943, the base had been home to several other groups including the: The 93rd Bomb Group (from September of 1942 to December 1942 – sometimes known as the "Traveling Circus"). It was the first Operational B-24 Bomb Group in the 8th. It was moved to its base at Norfolk.

The 92nd Bombardment Group, known as "Fame's Favored Few" moved in from Bovingdon in December of 1942 – August 1943. The 95th BG was also stationed at Alconbury for a short time in 1943 (from April 15 to the first week of June) and it was during their stay while loading 95th BG aircraft that a famous and tragic incident occurred at Alconbury. On May 27, 1943, at approximately 8:30 pm, while ground personnel were loading bombs into B-17 Fortress 42-29685 in the dispersal area; a 500 lb bomb detonated setting off several others, instantly killing 18 men, injuring 21, destroying four B-17’s, and damaging 11 others.

Life on the Base

Alconbury, like most air bases in England during WWII, was hot, damp, wet and cold. It just depended on the season.

Alconbury was located in a farming community about 17 miles from Cambridge, England. Military life presented its daily challenges to all who called the base home. There was both an officers club and non- commissioned officers club. But you had to pay your dues.

Conditions on the base were crowded. There was one Pub in the town of Alconbury, so most times if you were lucky to have a pass the men would head to Cambridge. The problem with Pubs in England was that at 9:50 p.m.the pub keeper would call "Time Gentlemen Time" which means the pub had to close for the night. That was awful early for young airmen on leave. On base there was baseball team, base football team, basketball and boxing. Red Cross dances were most looked forward to by the entire base personal.

Photos of Alconbury

Colonel Howard Turner congratulates Lt. Col Bill Reid and Senior officers of the 92nd BG at Alconbury in June of 1943.

Official 482nd Plaque

482NDadmin — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 16:44:22 +0000

Official 482nd Plaque 482NDadmin Wed, 09/14/2016 - 17:44

Official Plaque Commemorating the 482nd Bombardment Group.

John J. O'Neil

482NDadmin — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 21:02:56 +0000

John J. O'Neil 482NDadmin Tue, 09/13/2016 - 22:02

U.S. 8th Army Air Force Staff Sergeant John J. O’Neil was the waist gunner on the first B-17 to release its bombs on Berlin on March 4, 1944. It was John, who after reconnecting with Marshall and George at an 8th Army air Force reunion, became involved in their project. He completed "Bombs Away by Pathfinders of the Eighth Air Force" in their memory and published it with his family-owned publishing company.

John was born in Malden, Massachusetts on February 13, 1923. He entered the service on July 3, 1941, and was assigned to Grenier Field, Manchester, NH. He arrived in Scotland on January 12, 1943 and was sent to the 4th Fighter Group.

Staff. Sgt. O’Neil Alconbury, England

He trained to be an aerial gunner at RAF Kirkham, Lancashire. In August, 1943, he joined the 482nd Bomb Group (Pathfinder) at Alconbury and completed his first mission on December 20, 1943 to Bremen. On March 4, 1944, he flew with the 95th Bomb Group to Berlin, and was credited with being the first USAAF heavy bomber to bomb Berlin. Also during March of 1944, the 482nd BG (P) became a radar training station for navigators and bombardiers.

John was discharged on August 19, 1945. He flew 14 missions and received two Air Medals, Presidential Unit Citation, European Theater of Operations and four Battle Stars, American Defense Medal, and Victory Medal. He attended Boston University and received a BA degree in 1952 and a MA degree in 1953. He attended MIT and received a MS in 1956. He spent ten years in food R & D, and entered publishing in 1966. In 1976, he started his own publishing company, and expanded the company to include a military division in its later years. FNP Military has remained a family owned business dedicated to John’s memory. He married Lillian Mildred Bechan in 1954 and they had six children. John passed away on April 22, 2006 after a brief illness. John was the founder of FNP Military Press and his spirit lives on in everything we do.

Staff Sergeant John O’Neil back in the right waist gun position that he manned on the first U.S. 8th Air Force Mission to Berlin on March 4, 1944. On the left is John’s daughter Monica wearing the 56th Fighter group hat.

Homepage

482NDadmin — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 17:18:34 +0000

Homepage 482NDadmin Wed, 08/31/2016 - 18:18

Welcome to the 482nd Bomb Group Website

This site is dedicated to both the Air and Ground Crews of the 482nd Bomb Group, 813th Bomb Squadron, and B-17 #25731 piloted by Lt. Bill Owen, who against all odds were credited with being the first American B-17 Bomber to release their bombs on the German capital of Berlin on March 4,1944.

The remarkable true story of the 8th Army Air Force "Pathfinders"

The 482nd Bomb Group was the only U.S. 8th Army Air Force Bomb Group formed outside of the United States during WWII. The Bomb group was formed to develop, train, and deploy the Top Secret Radar Platforms of "BTO" (Bomb Through Overcast) during the Strategic Bombing campaign against Nazi Germany. The 482nd primarily utilized two distinct operational radars code named H2S "Stinky" and H2X "Mickey". The first B-17 to release its bombs on Nazi Berlin belonged to the 482nd Bomb Group. It was one of the only Bomb Groups to fly both major U.S. Bombers of WWII the B-17 and B-24 in its three operational bomb squadrons.

"In leading the greatest aerial warfare in history throughout the fall, winter and spring of 1943-1944 against the Hun's capacity to produce the aircraft and other vitally needed implements of war, many of our gallant 482nd officers and men have given their lives.

They were among those who kept the attack going relentlessly and at ever increasing pace despite severe weather, the need for improvisation under trying conditions, and determined enemy opposition, reducing the enemy's capacity to resist at a time when he had every expectation of increasing his strength. Their work proved the feasibility of the new Radar technique of attack and helped develop this technique so that all Bomb Groups could finally be trained and fitted to use it. Truly, their work lives on.

We shall not see these brave young comrades again but neither we nor the enemy will forget them..." - 482nd Bomb Group History