Operations: Combat in MTO and ETO (19 May 1944 to 26 Apr 1945)
Service Streamers: American Theater
Emblem: None.
References: Books
460th Bomb Group History by Duane :/ amd Bettu Bohnstedt (Published 1996)
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force in World War II, Edited by: Maurer Maurer
Air Force Combat Units in World War II, Edited by Maurer Maurer
B-24 Liberator Units of the Fifteenth Air Force by Robert F. Dorr
Fifteenth Air Force Story by Kenn C. Rust
Name of Award Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
Year Awarded 1944
Details behind Award: Austria - 26 Jul 1944. The Citation describes the mission as follows: "Throughout the day and night prior to the attack, the ground crews worked untiringly and enthusiastically to have their aircraft at the peak of mechanical perfection to insure the success of this vital operation. On 26 Jul 1944, twenty-four B-24 type aircraft, heavily loaded with thousand pound bombs, took off, and as lead group of a wing formation, set course for the objective. Intercepted by approximately thirty enemy fighters, displaying outstanding professional skill, coordination and courage, the gunners threw such an effective curtain of protective fire from the extremely tight formation, that the enemy fighters were forced to break off their attack and withdraw. Severe and adverse weather conditions were encountered and with the target completely obscured by dense cloud formation, the Group was forced to drop to lower altitude. without hesitation the Group descended into barrages of heavy, extremely intense and very accurate enemy anti-aircraft fire. Three aircraft went down in flames, two were so badly crippled that they were forced to drop from the protective formation, and fourteen others sustained sever damages. Unwavering, despite the intense opposition, these gallant crew continued through the enemy defenses for a highly successful bombing run, inflicting rave damage to vital enemy installations. Through this outstanding achievement the enemy was deprived of one of its most important assembly bases.
Last Updated: Jul 22, 2017
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