456th Bombardment Group
The 456th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces heavy-bomber unit that flew B-24 Liberators in the European theater during the Second World War.
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Overview
The 456th Bombardment Group was a United States Army Air Forces heavy-bomber formation created in 1943 for overseas service during the Second World War. Equipped primarily with Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft, it served in the Fifteenth Air Force from a base near Stornara, in the Foggia area of southern Italy. The group was informally known as “Steed’s Flying Colts,” a reference to its first commanding officer, Colonel Thomas W. Steed. The organization was constituted on 14 May 1943 and activated without personnel or equipment on 1 June at Wendover Field, Utah. It was subsequently organized at Gowen Field, Idaho, where an initial cadre was assembled, and trained at a series of American bases including Bruning Army Air Field, Nebraska; Kearns Army Air Base, Utah; and Muroc Army Air Base, California. Training was affected by shortages of aircraft, spare parts, and time. The group received fewer aircraft than planned and had limited opportunity to practice fully loaded, high-altitude formation flying before being ordered overseas. Although originally intended for the Eighth Air Force in Britain, the 456th was diverted to the newly expanding Fifteenth Air Force in Italy. Its air echelon ferried aircraft across the South Atlantic route through the Caribbean, Brazil, West Africa, North Africa, and Tunisia. The ground echelon traveled by ship from the United States to Italy, reaching the Stornara area in January 1944. The group headquarters became operational there on 26 January, and its B-24s began arriving from Tunisia in early February. The 456th flew its first combat mission on 10 February 1944. During the campaign it conducted 249 bombing missions, initially attacking tactical and operational targets in Italy and later striking strategic objectives across German-occupied Europe. Its targets included marshalling yards, aircraft factories, airfields, railroad bridges, locomotive works, viaducts, oil refineries, storage depots, and other transportation and industrial facilities. It participated in the strategic air campaign against oil production, including repeated attacks on the Ploiești complex in Romania, and supported Allied ground operations in Italy and the invasion of Southern France. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations. The first recognized its mission against the industrial center at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, on 10 May 1944. Despite severe weather that caused other formations to turn back, the 456th reached the target and continued through repeated attacks by enemy fighters. The second citation followed a 2 July 1944 mission against oil facilities in Budapest, Hungary, during which the group endured heavy fighter opposition and antiaircraft fire. In April 1945, as Allied armies advanced through northern Italy, the group shifted much of its effort toward close support and interdiction targets such as gun positions, bridges, roads, depots, and railway lines. After Victory in Europe, it transported supplies to airfields in northern Italy. The group returned to the United States in July 1945 and moved to Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas, on 17 August. It was redesignated as a very-heavy bombardment group and assigned to Second Air Force for conversion to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, but Japan's surrender ended the Pacific war before that conversion was completed. The group was inactivated on 17 October 1945. Its lineage was later associated with successor formations, including the 456th Bombardment Wing, but the wartime group itself is no longer active.
History
The 456th Bombardment Group was constituted on 14 May 1943 and activated on 1 June at Wendover Field, Utah, without an initial complement of personnel or aircraft. Four heavy-bombardment squadrons were assigned to it: the 744th, 745th, 746th, and 747th Bomb Squadrons. On 14 July, the organization moved administratively to Gowen Field, Idaho, where Colonel Thomas W. Steed assumed command and a cadre was assembled from other Army Air Forces units. The group trained at Gowen, Bruning, Kearns, and Muroc. Its preparation was hampered by shortages of aircraft and spare parts. By November 1943, it had received only 28 aircraft for roughly 70 crews, and many of those aircraft were unavailable for service. The group therefore received less than the normal period of preparation for overseas movement and had limited experience with fully loaded, high-altitude formations. Although intended initially for the Eighth Air Force, it was redirected to the Fifteenth Air Force as Allied forces developed airfields in Italy. The air echelon ferried new B-24H Liberators to the Mediterranean by way of the South Atlantic route. The ground echelon crossed the Atlantic by ship and reached Italy in January 1944. The group headquarters was established near Stornara, southeast of Foggia, on 26 January. The unit operated from a basic airfield with a pierced-steel-plank runway, aircraft revetments, tent accommodations, and facilities improvised from nearby farm buildings. The first combat mission took place on 10 February 1944 against a German command post near Grottaferrata, although cloud cover prevented the release of bombs. The group subsequently used the Fifteenth Air Force's defensive six-box formation and began sustained operations against targets in Italy and occupied Europe. Early missions included attacks on command centers, airfields, marshalling yards, factories, bridges, and other transportation objectives. On 15 March, during operations connected with the Italian campaign, one element mistakenly bombed Allied troops at Monte Cassino; the deputy group commander was removed following the incident. The 456th expanded its strategic role in April and May. It attacked aircraft and engine plants in Austria, airfields and industrial targets in the Balkans, and oil installations in Romania and elsewhere. It made ten attacks on the Ploiești oil complex. These missions exposed the crews to heavy flak and Luftwaffe interception, and the group suffered aircraft losses in several engagements. On 10 May 1944, it pressed on to Wiener Neustadt through weather that turned back other formations and fought through repeated interceptor attacks. The action earned the first of two Distinguished Unit Citations. A second citation followed the 2 July attack on Budapest oil facilities, conducted under severe fighter and antiaircraft opposition. The group also supported the Allied invasion of Southern France in July and August 1944. Its target set broadened to include refineries, fuel-storage sites, locomotive works, viaducts, bridges, and rail lines in France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Balkans. During the final phase of the Italian campaign in April 1945, it attacked gun positions, roads, bridges, depots, and rail infrastructure in support of the United States Fifth Army and the British Eighth Army. After V-E Day, its aircraft transported supplies to airfields in northern Italy. The group returned to the United States in July 1945 and moved to Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas, on 17 August. Under Second Air Force control, it was redesignated the 456th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, and began conversion planning for B-29 Superfortress operations against Japan. Japan's surrender ended the war before the conversion could be completed. The group was inactivated on 17 October 1945. Later Air Force formations inherited aspects of its lineage, but the wartime bombardment group did not continue as an active unit.
- 1945
Returned to the United States
[1]The group returned from Italy in July after the end of combat in Europe.
- 1945
Inactivated
[1]Following an incomplete planned conversion to B-29 operations, the group was inactivated on 17 October.
- 1944
Established in Italy
[1]The group headquarters became operational at the Stornara airfield near Foggia on 26 January.
- 1944
First combat mission
[1]The first combat sortie was flown on 10 February against a German command post near Grottaferrata.
- 1944
First Distinguished Unit Citation
[1]The group was cited for its 10 May mission against Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
- 1944
Second Distinguished Unit Citation
[1]The group received a second citation for its 2 July attack on oil facilities in Budapest.
- 1943
Constituted as a heavy-bomber group
[1]The 456th Bombardment Group was constituted on 14 May for future overseas service.
- 1943
Activated at Wendover Field
[1]The group and its four assigned squadrons were activated on 1 June without personnel or equipment.
Products and positioning
A wartime heavy-bomber group positioned within the Fifteenth Air Force for long-range strategic bombing, interdiction, and battlefield support against Axis military, industrial, and transportation targets.
Heavy-bomber combat operations · 1943
B-24 Liberator operations
The group's principal operational capability was the deployment of Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers from Italy. These aircraft conducted long-range formation missions against industrial, fuel, transportation, and tactical targets throughout Axis-controlled Europe.
Planned very-heavy-bomber capability · 1945
B-29 Superfortress conversion
After returning to the United States, the group was redesignated for very-heavy bombardment and began conversion planning for B-29 Superfortress operations against Japan. The Pacific war ended before the transition became operational.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Final Italian offensive and postwar supply operations
Northern Italy
The group attacked roads, railways, bridges, depots, and gun positions during the final Allied advance, then transported supplies after the European war ended.
Outcome. Combat operations ended with the German surrender, followed by logistical support missions.
- 1944Italian campaign
Italy
The group attacked German command, transportation, airfield, and defensive positions in support of Allied operations in Italy, including missions connected with Anzio and Monte Cassino.
Outcome. The group continued operations through the Allied advance in Italy and later supported the Fifth and Eighth Armies.
- 1944Strategic bombing of Central and Southeastern Europe
Austria · Romania · Hungary · Germany · Czechoslovakia · Balkans
The 456th attacked aircraft factories, oil facilities, storage sites, marshalling yards, railways, bridges, and other strategic infrastructure across Axis-controlled territory.
Outcome. The campaign brought two Distinguished Unit Citations but also substantial exposure to fighter interception and antiaircraft fire.
- 1944Southern France invasion support
Southern France
During July and August, the group supported preparations for and operations surrounding the Allied invasion of Southern France.
Outcome. Its bombing contributed to interdiction of transport and military infrastructure in support of the invasion.
Brand decisions
1945
Planned conversion to B-29 SuperfortressesGeneration changeBackground
After returning to the United States, the group was reassigned for very-heavy bombardment operations against Japan.
Action taken
It moved to Smoky Hill Army Air Field and began conversion to B-29 equipment and procedures.
Aftermath
Japan's surrender ended the requirement before conversion was finished, and the group was inactivated.
1943
Diversion from the Eighth Air Force to ItalyStrategyBackground
The group had initially been intended for deployment to Britain, but expanding operations from captured Italian airfields led Army Air Forces planners to redirect it to the Fifteenth Air Force.
Action taken
The group moved its air and ground echelons through the Mediterranean theater and established operations near Stornara, Italy.
Aftermath
It became a Fifteenth Air Force B-24 unit and conducted its entire combat career from Italy.
Sources1 sources
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