456th Bomb Group Association

2004 Reunion

Col. Steed's Flying Colts Cerignola-Stornara 1943 - ITALY - 1945

2004 Reunion in RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA

May 2004

The 60th Annual Reunion of the 456th Bomb Group and Attached Units, 744th, 745th, 746th and 747th Bomb Squadrons, was held in May, 2004. New officers are listed below and the business meeting minutes will be posted soon. This page is a HUGE cache of photos and will take a while to load up so be patient. I did not get all the names for every photo so please help by emailing me with names for the blanks!

Special thanks to Leon Staab, group photographer, for several of these photos, and to Gene Judd for the "Great Balloon Raid" photos and story!

Principles and Officers, 2004-2005

President:     Robert S. Capps
1st Vice President:     Robert C. Gullett
2nd Vice President:     Vacant
Secretary/Treasurer:     Frank Amaditz
Vice Sec/Treas.     Vacant
Editor and Historian:     Fred H. Riley
Photographer:     Leon Staab
Webmaster:     Roy J. Firestone
Reunions and Travel:     Edmund S. Moore
Parliamentarian:     Philip N. Savage
Directors: All of the past Presidents and
    Chairman: Harry Edwards
    Ralph Dexter    Gene Judd
    William C. Bahr    Albert Couture
    Robert S. Cooper     Phillip N. Savage
    Dominic Jemella   Frank Amaditz

The Mission Inn, Riverside, California

Thursday Night Socializing

Ed Moore and Ray Callan standing, Jim Watkins and Harry Edwards sitting

Bill Bahr and Harold Hirt

Ed Moore, Garfield Klinger and Ralph Exter

Ed Moore and Ray Callan

Phil and Alyce Savage

Ed knows something apparently...

At the business meeting and breakfast

Al Couture, Leo Florick, ? and John Singer

Gene Judd names new officers

Frank Amaditz with a financial report

Dick Miller, Gene Judd and Harry Edwards - and plenty of California orange juice!

Phil Savage presents Jim Watkins with a Certificate of Appreciation for Jim's tireless, long term dedication to the association as secretary and treasurer. Frank Amaditz is going to take on the duties of the position this year.

Dick Miller presents the 376th Liberandos History Book. Dick served in the 376th before it was rolled into the 456th. Ed Lincoln looks on.

The Hospitality Room

Ed Moore puts together a large assortment of photos and reunion books in the San Diego Room.

The March Field Dedications

The Freedom Wall at March Field with P-38 Memorial

The Viet Nam Canine Memorial, dedicated to the rescue dogs of that war. B-25 in the background.

The Jimmy Doolittle Memorial Bust

Gene Judd, association president for 2003-2004, starts the dedication ceremony.

Jerry Lind, brother of Robert Lind who was killed on mission 207, dedicated his painting in honor of his brother. The painting, depicting the last flight of 568 in "Mission 207," will be displayed at the March Field Museum.