458th Bombardment Group

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The 458th Bombardment Group (Heavy) formed on 19th May 1943 and was activated on 1st July 1943 with Consolidated B-24 Liberators. Following training the Group deployed to England in January and February 1944 and was assigned to the 2d Air Division of the Eighth Air Force.

1 Missions
2 Demob
3 Squadrons
4 Operating Stations
5 Commanders
6 Modern Day Successors
7 References and Links

[edit] Missions

B-24s of the 753d and 754th Bomb Squadrons on a mission from Horsham St. Faith.

The Group flew its first diversionary missions on 24th and 25th February 1944 to draw enemy fighters from German targets being attacked by other USAAF bombers. The groups first bombing mission was on 2nd March 1944, and afterward the group operated primarily against strategic targets in Nazi Germany, examples being the industrial areas of Saarbrücken, oil refineries at Hamburg, an airfield at Brunswick, aircraft factories at Oschersleben, a fuel depot at Dulmen, a canal at Minden, the aircraft works at Brandenburg, the marshalling yards at Hamm and an aircraft engine plant at Magdeburg.

The Group helped to prepare for the D-Day invasion of Normandy by striking gun batteries, V-weapon sites, and airfields in France and hit coastal defenses in support of the assault on 6th June 1944. Afterward the Group supported the Allied advance through France, bombing bridges and highways to prevent the movement of enemy materiel to the beachhead and by attacking enemy troops to aid the Allied breakthrough at St Lo in July 1944. The Group ceased bombing activity briefly during September 1944 to carry fuel as cargo to airfields in France.

During Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945 the Group struck transportation lines, later attacking enemy airfields to assist the Allied assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

[edit] Demob

The Group flew its last combat mission on 25th April 1945, returning to the USA almost immediately through June and July 1945. The Group was redesignated 458th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in August 1945, training with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress until it was inactivated on 17th October 1945.