446th Bombardment Group - RAF Bungay

The 446th Bombardment Group (H) was a B-24 Liberator unit of the 8th Air Force, assigned to the 2nd Air Division during World War II. From late 1943 to April 1945 the group conducted daylight strategic bombing missions against Germany and German-occupied Europe from eastern England. The group adopted the nickname "Bungay Buckaroos" reflecting both their base and unit esprit de corps.

The 446th Bomb Group arrived in England in October 1943 and flew its first combat mission on 16 December 1943 by attacking Bremen, Germany. The group participated in bombing missions that included U-boat installations at Kiel, port facilities at Bremen, a chemical plant at Ludwigshafen, synthetic oil refineries at Politz, ball-bearing works at Berlin, aero-engine plants at Rostock, aircraft factories at Munich, marshaling yards at Coblenz, motor works at Ulm, and oil refineries at Hamburg. The 446th Bomb Group participated in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 February 1944. In addition, support and interdictory operations were carried out including the Normandy invasion in June 1944 by attacking strong points, bridges, airfields, transportation, and other targets in France. On D-Day, the group was one of the first to attack coastal defenses and choke points early in the morning of 6 June 1944. Additional missions included attacks on ground forces at Caen and St Lo during July 1944 by hitting bridges, gun batteries, and enemy troops. The group dropped supplies to Allied troops near Nijmegen during the airborne attack on Holland in September 1944 and bombed marshaling yards, bridges, and road junctions during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 - January 1945. Later the group dropped supplies to airborne and ground troops near Wesel during the Allied assault across the Rhine in March 1945

On 4 April 1945, Commanding Officer Col Troy W. Crawford was flying as an observer aboard an RAF de Havilland Mosquito when it was mistakenly identified as hostile and fired upon and shot down by a B-24 Liberator from the 446th Bomb Group. The incident most likely occurred as crews had been on high alert and told to engage any aircraft that approached their formation too closely, after recent attacks on bomber formations by similar looking enemy aircraft. Both Col Crawford and the Mosquito's pilot, Lt Theodore B. Smith, bailed out of the aircraft and were captured by German forces and became prisoners of war (POWs). Crawford was held in German captivity until the camp was liberated by advancing Allied troops later in April/May 1945. The 446th Bomb Group flew their last combat mission on 25 April 1945 by attacking a bridge near Salzburg.

By the end of the war the group had flown a total of 273 combat missions and destroyed approximately 90 enemy aircraft. The group lost 86 aircraft in combat and non-combat operations.

Campaigns
The 446th Bombardment Group participated in the following campaigns: Air Offensive - Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.

Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC): Gotha, Germany 24 February 1944.

Group Web Site   https://446thbombgroup.com/