452nd Bomber Group
Squadrons of the 452nd BG
728th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy729th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
730th Bombardment Squadron -Heavy
731st Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
Assigned 8th AAF: January 1944
Wing/Command Assignment
3 BD, 45 CBW 8 Jan 1944
3 AD, 45 CBW 1 Jan 1945
3 AD, 45 CBW 1 Jan 1945
Combat Aircraft:
B-17G
Stations
DEOPHAM GREEN 3 January 1944 to 5 August 1945
Group COs
Lt. Col. Herbert O. Wangeman 1 June 1943 to 8 February 1944, Aircraft MIA
Lt. Col. Robert B. Satterwhite 8 February 1944 to 27 February 1944
Lt. Col. Marvin F. Stalder 28 February 1944 to 29 March 1944
Col. Thetus C. Odom 30 March 1944 to 24 July 1944
Col. Archibald Y. Smith 24 July 1944 to 28 July 1944. Aircraft MIA
Col. William D. Eckert 1 August 1944 to 12 September 1944
Lt. Col. Charles W. Sherburne 13 September 1944 to 24 September 1944
Col. Burnham L. Batson 25 September 1944 to 6 June 1945
Col. Jack E. Shuck 6 June 1945 to July 1945
First Mission: 5 February 1944
Last Mission: 21 Apr 1945
Missions: 250
Total Sorties: 7,279
Total Bomb Tonnage: 16,467 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 110
Lt. Col. Robert B. Satterwhite 8 February 1944 to 27 February 1944
Lt. Col. Marvin F. Stalder 28 February 1944 to 29 March 1944
Col. Thetus C. Odom 30 March 1944 to 24 July 1944
Col. Archibald Y. Smith 24 July 1944 to 28 July 1944. Aircraft MIA
Col. William D. Eckert 1 August 1944 to 12 September 1944
Lt. Col. Charles W. Sherburne 13 September 1944 to 24 September 1944
Col. Burnham L. Batson 25 September 1944 to 6 June 1945
Col. Jack E. Shuck 6 June 1945 to July 1945
First Mission: 5 February 1944
Last Mission: 21 Apr 1945
Missions: 250
Total Sorties: 7,279
Total Bomb Tonnage: 16,467 Tons
Aircraft MIA: 110
Major Awards:
Distinguished Unit Citations: 7 April 1945, Kaltenkirchen
Medal of Honor: 1LT Donald J. Gott 9 Nov 1944
Medal of Honor: 2LT William E. Metzger 9 Nov 1944
Medal of Honor: 1LT Donald J. Gott 9 Nov 1944
Medal of Honor: 2LT William E. Metzger 9 Nov 1944
Claims to Fame
More Commanding Officers than any other Bomb Group during the course of hostilities
Early History:
Activated 1 June 1943 at Geiger Field, Washington. Unit was transferred to Rapid
City AAB, South Dakota on 15 June 1943 and trained there until early October
1943. Then unit was moved to Pendleton Field Oregon on 11 October 1943 and to
Walla Wallla AAFd Washington on the 4th of November 1943. Ground unit left for
Camp Shanks New York on the 23rd of December 1943 and sailed on the Queen Elizabeth
on the 2nd of January 1944, and arrived in Clyde on the 8th of January 1944.
The air echelon began overseas movement in early December 1943 via the southern
ferry route. Most of the aircraft reached England a few days before the ground
units arrived.
Subsequent History:
Redeployed to the US June/August 1945. The air echelon departed the United Kingdom
late June 1945. Ground echelon sailed on the Queen Elizabeth from Greenock on
the 5th of August 1945, and arrived in New York on the 11th of August 1945.
The unit established at Sioux Falls AAFd, South Dakota where the Group was inactivated
on the 28th of August 1945.