1944

The 445th is now a full fledged operational bomb group. The initial shock of combat and their first losses were now behind them. Ahead lay the grim task of destroying the German war machine. The Group would fly 203 missions this year. The months of February, April, September, and November would try even the heartiest members of the unit to their limit.

Names like Gotha, Kassel, Magdeburg, Wilhenshafen, Misburg would be indelibly etched into their memories. At one point late in the year, the 445th was almost wiped out in a single mission. They suffered the greatest loss by an individual bomb group on a single mission in all of World War II. That the ten (10) remaining aircraft would go back to the same target the day after losing so many friends and comrades speaks volumes of their determination and bravery.

Each month's operations are broken down into ten-day segments. Each segment gives some information as to the specific targets that were struck, losses incurred, and enemy losses claimed.

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Last Updated: October 04, 2009