The 456th Bomb Group flew the venerable Consolidated B-24 Liberator on mission after mission during World War II. With its arguably odd-looking high mounted Davis wing, twin tail and cigar-shaped body, it could carry more load, faster, higher and farther than the famed B-17 Flying Fortress (until later in the war when the added weight of armor and guns made them about even). The 456th Bomb Group shared the same "diamond" tail marking as the rest of the aircraft in the 304th Bombardment Wing, but with the lower half of the rudders painted red. Early in 1944 when the aircraft were painted overall an olive drab color, the diamond was white; later, when aircraft were delivered in an all-natural aluminum color, the diamond was black.

It was much more than an aircraft to the men who flew her, and the stuff of both memories and nightmares. Here are a few views of some of the B-24s, paintings and pictures both, of those "Flying Soldiers" of the 456th.

AN ODE TO THE LIBERATOR

456th Bomb Group Aircraft Names: A/C Names

456th Bomb Group Aircraft Losses: A/C Losses

Also, be sure to check the links page for links to sites with pictures and extensive information on the Liberator.

A Flight of Fancy: take a trip aboard the Collings Foundation's restored B-24, the All American, aka The Dragon And His Tail (you have to see the paint job!) Click here!

 

A poster from the period, saluting the Liberator.

B-24G  #2-78435 of the 741st Bomb Squadron of the 455th bomb group after a parachute assisted landing. Easy to see why the Liberator was nicknamed "The Flying Boxcar." (See related story and picture here.) This photo was earlier mistakenly identified as a 456th aircraft.

In formation, on the way to the target.

Click on the above image for a large, detailed view of the B-24, courtesy of FLYING Magazine and Bob Reichard.

Below is a bitmap of the "All American" in flight that has been "Photoshopped" to resemble a 456th aircraft. This bitmap makes an excellent desktop wallpaper for your computer. You will want to use the link below to obtain a bitmap for your own use. Click on the link or the picture below for more details!

>CLICK ME<

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