| Air Force Assigned to: | 15th AF (Dec. '43 - end WWII) |
| Stations flown from: | San Giovanni, Italy (Jan '44 - end of WWII) |
| Campaigns: | Air combat, EAME Theatre |
| Air Offensive, Europe | |
| Rome-Arno | |
| Normandy | |
| Northern France | |
| Southern France | |
| North Apennines | |
| Rhineland | |
| Central Europe | |
| Po Valley | |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation: Bad Voslau, Austria - 12 April '44 |
| Distinguished Unit Citation: Linz, Austria - 25 July '44 | |
| Squadrons | 736th B.S. | 737th B.S. | 738th B.S. | 739th B.S. |
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B-24 Liberators of the 454th enroute (or returning?) from a mission
Jim Sterling photo |
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"Flying Home' 736th B.S., #41-28914
Jim Sterling photo |
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Another shot of 'Flying Home'
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Bruise Cruiser' 736th B.S., #42-52324
Jim Sterling photo |
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Unknown...
Jim Sterling photo |
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same as above
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Ladies Delight' 736th B.S., #42-78204
Jim Sterling photo |
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ladies Delight with crew
Jim Sterling photo |
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Da Great Speckled Boid - no info Jim Sterling photo |
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Da Great Speckled Boid - no info Jim Sterling photo |
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'Club 400' 736th B.S., #41-28808
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Ophelia Bumps' 736th B.S. (3 different ones)
Jim Sterling photo |
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Another shot of Ophelia Bumps (with no crewmen)
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Delayed Action' 736th B.S., #42-52242
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Our Mom' no real info
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Shack Up' 737th B.S., #42-51323
Jim Sterling photo |
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Engine maint... unknown plane
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Natcherly' 736th B.S., #42-52255
Jim Sterling photo |
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Another 'Natcherly' with her crew
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Shamrock' - no info
Jim Sterling photo |
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'R Baby' 736th B.S., #??-??619
Jim Sterling photo |
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'(The) Final Approach' 736th B.S., #42-78432
Jim Sterling photo |
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Snowfall in Italy!!
Jim Sterling photo |
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More snow- unknown plane but last three digits of serial are 251
Jim Sterling photo |
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Another sloppy snow shot- plane name is 'Back Bay ?'
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Good Heavens' 736th B.S. #44-414059
Jim Sterling photo |
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'Good Heavens' 736th B.S. #44-414059
Jim Sterling photo |
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Pieces 'n parts... hopefully no one needed this engine!
Jim Sterling photo |
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More pieces 'n parts... hopefully no one wanted this gun!!
Jim Sterling photo |
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Ouch... a little damage to the bomb bay doors of this B-24
Jim Sterling photo |
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Damage to 'Flying Home' - something was left behind!
Jim Sterling photo |
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Overhead view of San Giovanni perhaps?
Jim Sterling photo |
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Parts planes I would assume
Jim Sterling photo |
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A P-40 visitor
Jim Sterling photo |
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The crewman this album probably belonged to- many photos of him
throughout, SSgt Harry Loeb
Jim Sterling photo |
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Men of the 454th
Jim Sterling photo |
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Sightseeing in Italy
Jim Sterling photo |
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Be sure you return your parts!
Jim Sterling photo |
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Someone got a little close to the action it would seem.
Jim Sterling photo |
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A message for Hitler...
Jim Sterling photo |
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more of the guys
Jim Sterling photo |
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With the serial numbers listed, I assume this is a board telling of
plane status?
Jim Sterling photo |
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Sloppy looking ground around camp- fun fun fun!
Jim Sterling photo |
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More slop...
Jim Sterling photo |
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Damaged building- whoever said war wasn't hell?
Jim Sterling photo |
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More damaged buildings - check out all the bullet holes
Jim Sterling photo |
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This is a photo of "Miss America '44". It
flew 133 missions. The crew member under the girl with his hand up is the
crew chief, John Hilton Monsees.
Photo courtesy of Anthony Gaster |
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This is the left side of Miss America '44
Photo courtesy of Anthony Gaster |
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These guys flew "Our Mom". The 737th Squadron from
Cerignola, Italy. (52 combat missions) According to my Dad all ten of these
guys flew over and all ten made it home on board "Our Mom". The picture was
taken at Gowan Field in Boise ID before deployment. Rear: L to R...Navigator-Lt. Zimmerman; Pilot 1st Lt. Rusty Hall; Co-pilot Lt. Dan Johnson; Bombardier-Ernie Manzo. Front: L to R...Flight Engr Tony Schebergen; Radio Operator Daschbach, Gunners Swarat, Howard, Weiling, Frederick Photo courtesy of Dan Johnson Jr. |
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Leo James Nelson B-24 Pilot with the 454th Bomb Group.
Flew twenty two combat sorties with: Co-pilot: C.H. POLAND I believe his planes name was "BALL OF FIRE" but not sure. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Jerry Nelson |
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same as above |
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J.D. Green,
738th Squadron (on left). He was a waist gunner on a B-24. After 15
months of training in the US, he went overseas and was killed 3 months later
on a bombing mission. He was stationed in Italy when he was reported missing
in action on March 19, 1944 over Yugoslavia and was officially reported
killed Dec.17, 1944 courtesy of Billie Jane Harper |
| TEXT | 738th BS pilots log (Word .Doc with images) courtesy of Suellen Willetts Clark |
| TEXT | another photo with captions in a Word .Doc file courtesy of Suellen Willetts Clark |
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Official 454th Bomb group webpage
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