News, Updates and Recent Events, listed chronologically.
Last Update: 11/01/2009
Note that Frank Amaditz has a new address - see the Contact Us page - for any membership business.
The 2009 Reunion in Rapid City was a success, with 13 veterans in attendance and many more than that in associates and family members. The Black Hills proved to be a beautiful location for sightseeing with the Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorials, a train ride, the Journey Museum, and more. Photos and details in the October 2009 newsletter >>HERE<<!
CORRECTED DATES TO REUNION: Rapid City, South Dakota will be the place to be come September 2nd though the 6th, 2009, as the 456th Bomb Group Association holds its annual reunion at the Grand Gateway Hotel. More information coming soon, or call Ed Moore at Moore Tours (see newsletter).
The >>January 2009 newsletter<< has been mailed and is available online in PDF now! Just follow the preceding link.
Offered now: 456th Bomb Group Association ! Follow this >>link<< to learn more and help support the Association.
The 2008 reunion in Branson, Missouri was a resounding success. Photos and stories now available in the >>January 2009 newsletter<<.
On May 15th, 2008, noted long-time Association member, past Association President and invaluable, noted Group historian Fred Riley passed away in his sleep. His dedication, skills, charm and humor will be sorely missed by all. Fred's online history page has been updated, and can be viewed >>HERE<<
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PX IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
The Association sends out get-well-soon wishes to Ed Moore, recuperating from injuries sustained in a fall at home. Hang in there, Ed!
The >>February 2008 newsletter<< has been mailed and is available online in PDF now!
The 2008 reunion of the 456th Bomb Group Association will be held in Branson, Missouri , September 3-7! >>MORE INFO<<
>>Volumes 3 through 6 of the 456th BG Association newsletter<< have been scanned and uploaded to the website. Remaining issues will be scanned and uploaded soon!
Effective December 1, 2007, an online message board / forum is available and operational on this site. This forum replaces the previous guestbook and can be used for discussion threads, information sharing and member and guest chat, online. This is where you can ask questions of others and also provide answers when possible. Please visit the >>456th Bomb Group Association Community Forum<< and participate in the discussions!
November 2007: The old GUESTBOOK has been discontinued as a result of outsourcing problems.
The >>December 2006 Newsletter<< is available online, with reunion info past and future!
The 456th Bomb Group Association will hold its 63rd annual reunion in Boise, Idaho from July 18th to the 22nd, 2007. >>More information at this link!!<<
Corgi has released a die cast miniature of a B-24 Liberator stated to be "Sissy Lee" of the 456th Bomb Group, and painted with a red tail - but the Sissy Lee was actually in the 455th Bomb Group, and this model is inaccurate. I am unsure why they would not have properly researched this, but possibly its due to the same error having been made in Bob Dorr's book, "B-24 Liberators of the 15th Air Force". Its still a nice die cast miniature, and can be purchased at numerous outlets like flyingmule.com or aikensairplanes.com
The >>August 2006 Newsletter<< is now online. See the newsletter page for details!
Details on the 2006 Reunion in Cincinnati (Covington, Kentucky) are available! Click >HERE< for more...
The >>March 2006 Newsletter<< is now online. See the newsletter page for details!
On Veteran's Day 2005 the Veterans Memorial Garden in Balboa Park (San Diego) will be dedicated. This includes the B-24 Gardens with a huge bronze B-24 statue, for which George Welsh of Bomber Legends magazine helped raise funds. There is a news article HERE with details. To read more on this page click here.
The 2005 Capital Reunion was a resounding success, a wonderful time had by all! Photos have now been posted and can be seen HERE.
Now posted online is the >>August 2005 Newsletter<<, with an extensive letters section and a story from Australian flyer, Tom Scotland. Also, a photo of Col. Steed as a young lieutenant with his biplane, and may more photos and stories. Just click on the link to go to the newsletters page and take a look!
Here comes the 2005 reunion in Washington, DC.... Bob Capps, current president, had this late announcement: The Department of Defense has invited our Group to participate in a great ' 60th WW ll Anniversary Celebration' at the World War ll Memorial on the Washington Mall, Friday night, September 2, right after our great Italian Night Dinner. DOD is providing buses for getting us there, and they are putting out 10,000 chairs for us octogenarians who participate. There will be many celebrities and fireworks for this great event. This free event will be for those who want to volunteer to participate.
The >>March 2005 newsletter<< contains details on the 2005 Reunion to be held in Washington, DC this September, plus Includes chapter one from James "Bud" McIntosh's book "Recollections of a Young Aviator", plenty of details on the upcoming 2005 reunion, photos from 1944-45 Italy, "Flight of the Lady Corinne" by John S. Mapa, and all the regular columns.
Bob Capps has just announced that "Diary of a Flying Colt", his outstanding, remarkably detailed book that covers his time as a 456th pilot (and more) is in print once again! In addition, Bob will donate his profits from the sale of this book to the 456th Bomb Group Association treasury. Click >>HERE<< to learn more!
Just received here is a copy of James F. "Bud" McIntosh's book "Recollections Of A Young Aviator". Bud was in the 745th and has put together an excellent account of his time in training and overseas. >>CLICK HERE<<
The October 2004 Newsletter has been mailed to all on the member list - if you did not get one and think you should, contact Roy. The entire newsletter has been made available ONLINE right here in PDF! Follow this link to view it on your screen. >>Click Here<<
Guestbook has been modified and changed by the outsourced provider - watch for a new one to come in the near future.
Letter from the President with more details on the 2005 reunion... >>Click Here<<
Limited supply of artist signed prints of "Mission 207" now available! These are excellent prints on heavy stock, signed by Jerry Lind, the artist (Baron von Lind of pin-up fame...) >>Click Here<<
Date and location for the 2005 Reunion announced! Follow this >>link<<
Now available, 456thBombGroup.org POLO SHIRTS - show your support for this site!
A new book just published details the history of the 456th heavy bomber Boojum. Written by David F. Abner, son 456th veteran Frederick Abner, this new book provides considerable insight into the crew that experienced the "Incident Over Mostar."
The website "hit" counter that used to be on the home page has been removed. Since this site was moved to a new server by the domain host the number reset so it was no longer accurate.
Available again, another printing run of "Mission 207" printed on heavy 90# card stock. For more information click here, and help support this site!
A recent visit to the village of Stornara, the old airfield, and with Vito Campagna (Col. Steed's houseboy)!
Due to the huge amounts of "spam" (junk email) received by the 456th website email addresses it is necessary to remove all email links from this site by changing them to remove the "@" symbol and using "(at)". Please bear this in mind if using any email links from the site pages.
Dick Miller of the 376th Bomb Group Association has announced the 376th Liberandos History Book is being reprinted. The 376th rolled into the 456th at the end of the war. Details available HERE.
The latest 456th Bomb Group Association Newsletter is online. You can read the entire November 2003 newsletter here on the web. Included in the current issue is a detailed account of the 2003 reunion in New Orleans. Click here!
The B-24 Memorial - San Diego committee is raising funds to build a B-24 memorial in the birthplace of the Liberator, San Diego, California. This memorial will honor those who built and flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator and her sisters, the PB4Y1 and 2 (and the LB-30 -ed.) A bronze B-24, identical to the one located at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, will be built by the same sculptor, Robert Henderson. It will be located in front of the Veteran's Memorial Center as the centerpiece of the Veteran's Memorial Garden. The city and state are supporting the project and the land has been donated by the city, but funding for the memorial itself must come from private donations. This fundraising is being spearheaded by George Welsh, tireless publisher of Bomber Legends, the new magazine that replaces the Briefing from the retired B-24 Liberator Club.
Read about the major theft of World War II German aircraft parts here.
Still in the works: a scanned copy of the 456th Bomb Group 1945 calendar will be added to this site. This is taking some time due to the odd size of the calendar.
The 456th Bomb Group Association, through the generous offer of Jerry Lind, is pleased to offer 11" X 17" full color prints of the Mission 207 painting Jerry did and donated to the Association. This unique print includes the entire story as well as crew photo and squadron patches. You can read the story here: Mission 207. Copies are currently available for a suggested donation of $20.00 and are mailed postpaid, which helps support this site. But I will be happy to provide a copy at cost to any veteran of the group that contacts me directly. SOLD OUT - NO LONGER AVAILABLE
It was brought to my attention by Scott Burris of heavybombers.com (thanks!) that there is a scam being perpetrated on many veterans and their families by an unscrupulous individual. This person operates a so-called "war library" and uses numerous aliases and self-promotion to make him appear legitimate, but to use these services requires you to dial up on the phone - which results in huge phone bills. This person has linked his sites to many legitimate history sites such as the 456th here to try and gain some authenticity - I have insisted he remove the link, and he has, replacing it with his own!
This man now is also stealing email addresses from guestbooks and such and sending out scam emails... The American War Library has been aggressively farming e-mail addresses from W.W.II AAF guest books, message boards, e-mail lists, and web sites. They then mass mail invitations for "Army-Air-Corps" to all of the collected addresses. Those who have requested instructions to be removed from the list are told to "unsubscribe themselves", but not told how.
For the record, removal is easy. The user should just send a blank e-mail to the following address: "army-air-corps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com".Please read all about this at the following links:
As most of you know, the United States National World War Two Memorial is being constructed on the Mall in Washington, D.C., and will be dedicated Memorial Day 2004. In the year 2001 they released their calendar full of photos and text to help raise funds for the memorial. For the month of May there is a photo shown of a 456th aircraft, specifically "The Short Snorter". It is the same photo as seen on this site but perhaps better and more detailed. In fact, you can see this photo as part of the opening collage on our home page. Of all the aircraft photos that could be used to represent the USAAF one of the Liberators of the 456th was their selection! And the Calendar for the year 2004 again features a 456th aircraft, believed to be "The Lady Corinne."
The War Returns To Italy: a page has been added to the site with text and photos from Giuseppe Versolato, aviation historian in Vicenza, Italy, about the ongoing discovery of unexploded bombs. The recent discovery of a British "cookie" (4000-pounder) in the center of the city is the focus of this current piece. Click the title to read about it. Also, coming soon, a section written by Giuseppe, taken from his remarkable book on the bombing of Vicenza, "Bombardementi Aeri Degli Alleati Nel Vicentino."
September 3 - 7 2009
The 456th Bomb Group Association held its 64th annual reunion in Branson, Missouri from September 3rd to the 7th, in remarkable Branson, Missouri. Riverboat rides, shows and hometown charm made for a memorable time. See the February 2009 newsletter for pictures and details!
Jun - 25 Jun 2006
The 456th Bomb Group Association held its 63rd annual reunion in Boise, Idaho from July 18th to the 22nd, 2007. A fabulous location and an excellent time! See the January 2008 newsletter for details!
21 Jun - 25 Jun 2006
The 456th Bomb Group Association 62nd reunion was held starting on Wednesday, June 21st, and ran through Sunday, June 25th, 2006. The location was the Radisson Hotel Cincinnati Riverfront in Covington, Kentucky. Activities included a visit to the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Hall of Fame Museum, a riverboat ride, and a visit to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. See Newsletter for photos and details!
31 Aug - 4 Sep 2005
The 456th Bomb Group Association 61st reunion was held starting on Wednesday, August 31, and ran through Sunday, September 4th, 2005. The location was the Crystal City Embassy Suites. Events included tours of the Washington Museums and Galleries, as well as of the nearby Civil War Battlefields and Monuments. More information available at this >>link<<, and in the October 2005 newsletter.
12 - 16 May, 2004
The 456th Bomb Group Association 60th reunion commenced on Wednesday, May 12th, and ran through Sunday, May 16th, 2004. The location was the beautiful Mission Inn, in Riverside, California. Events included a city tour, a 456th plaque and "Mission 207" painting dedication at the museum of nearby March Air Force Base and lunch at the Hap Arnold Club, a wine country tasting tour, a memorial service, and even hot air balloon rides!
There were many photos taken and new officers were elected for the coming year. Next year's reunion will be held in Washington, DC.
7 - 11 May, 2003
The 2003 Annual Reunion of the 456th Bomb Group and Attached Units, 744th, 745th, 746th and 747th Bomb Squadrons, was held May 7 through 11, 2003. Read complete details in the November 2003 newsletter here.
2002 Reunion in Charleston, SC
15 - 18 May, 2002
The 2002 Annual Reunion of the 456th Bomb Group and Attached Units, 744th, 745th, 746th and 747th Bomb Squadrons, in Charleston, South Carolina 15 May - 18 May, 2002, was held at the Radisson Hotel Airport. Another great time was had by all, hangar flying, remembering good friends and remarkable times. A detailed report is coming soon.
2001 Reunion in Phoenix, Arizona
6 - 10 June 2001
Phoenix, Arizona was the place to be. . . . The 456th Bomb Group and Attached Units the 744th, 745th, 746th and 747th Bomb Squadrons who served so well as a unit in Cerignola-Stornara, Italy 1943 - 1945 met again from 6 June until 10 June 2001.
2000 Millennium Reunion in Nashville, Tennessee
24 - 28 May, 2000
The 456th Bomb Group and Attached Units 744-745-746-747 Bomb Squadrons recently held their 55th Reunion of World War II Veterans of the 456th Bomb Group Serving in Cerignola-Stornara, Italy, 1943-1945.
Details on the Nashville Reunion HERE!
Created 7/20/98 RJF Last Edited 11/01/09 RJF
