The 484th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was constituted on September 14, 1943 and officially activated on September 20 at Harvard Airfield in Nebraska where they began training for combat with B-24’s. The commander, Col. William B. Keese, took the lead in October 1943. This squadron included the 824th, 825th, 826th, and 827th Bomber Squadrons.
They were then based at Torretta Airfield in Italy beginning March 1944 and assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force. The Fifteenth Air Force was a part of the United States Army Air Forces in the World War II Mediterranean Theater of Operations. This strategic air force began combat operations, drawing its operational forces from heavy bombers. |