Comes with hand-signed C.O.A.

This incredible, original, and museum-worthy WWII bombing raid photograph was taken using an aerial reconnaissance amercan from the U.S. B-24 Liberator during a bombing mission of the 460th Bombardment Group. This specific B-24 bombing raid photograph was from the bring back wartime collection a veteran of the 460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment unit.

The combat history of the 460^th Bombardment Group is a proud one from the day the Group flew its first mission in March, 1944, until its last in May, 1945. Its history involves 217 bombing missions deep into enemy-held territory throughout France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Roumania, Greece and Italy.

Aerial raid photographs such as this were taken on nearly every bombing raid mission. These aerial photographs provided the Fifteenth Air Force’s high-ranking officers and intelligence officials with vital intelligence information that they used to direct future bombing missions and strategical advantages to out-guess the enemy. Thousands of pilots and aircrew throughout the war risked their lives to take photographs such as this one right here.

Full WWII Combat History of the 460th Bomb Group:

Constituted as 460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in May 1943. Activated on 1 July 1943. Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment unit; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in New Mexico and Utah. Received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in August 1943. Moved to Georgia and Virginia where the group flew coastal patrol missions over the Southeast, October 1943 – January 1944 while station in Italy was being constructed.

Deployed to Southern Italy in January 1944; entered combat in January 1944, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force 55th Bombardment Wing. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives.

The group flew its last World War II combat mission on 26 April 1945. After V-E Day, was assigned to Green Project which was the movement of troops from Europe to the United States via the South Atlantic Transport Route. B-24s were modified with sealed bomb bays, removal of all defensive armament and internal fuselage equipped with seating to carry approximately 30 personnel. Was assigned to Air Transport Command at Waller Field, Trinidad and to Natal, Brazil. Moved personnel from Dakar in French West Africa where personnel were transported across the South Atlantic to Brazil and eventually to Morrison Field, Florida via Trinadad. Provided air transport until the end of September when the unit was inactivated.

Commanders of the 460th Bombardment Group:

Colonel Robert T. Crowder
of
Lawrence, Kansas
Commanding Officer of the 460^th Bombardment Group
from
August 1943, to April, 1944

His intelligent guidance and courageous leadership was a source of inspiration to every officer and enlisted man under his command. In order to understand every difficulty his men had to face, he insisted on leading his Group on its first and succeeding bombing missions until on April 1944, his aircraft was mortally hit by cannon fire from enemy fighter planes. Col. Crowder struggled valiantly to keep the plane in flying altitude while his crew members tried to escape. Some of them did, but the plane got entirely out of control and Col. Crowder was killed in the ensuing crash. His tragic and heroic death was mourned by all who had known and worked with him.

He was awarded the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart posthumously and was entitled to wear the European-African-Middle East Theatre Ribbon, the American Defense Ribbon and the American Theatre Ribbon.

Colonel Bertram C. Harrison
of
Leesburg, Virginia
Commanding Office of the 460^th Bombardment Group
from
April, 1944, to September, 1944

Veteran of fifty-two missions in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre and two bombing sorties in the China-Burma-India Theatre, Col. Harrison has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and is entitled to wear the American Defense Ribbon, the American Theatre Ribbon, the European-Middle East Theatre Ribbon with four bronze battle stars and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbons with one bronze battle star.

Lt. Colonel Harold T. Babb
of
Dalton, Georgia
Commanding Officer of the 460^th Bombardment Group
from

September – October, 1944

Lt. Col. Babb is a veteran of thirty-five bombing sorties in the European-African-Middle East Theatre and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and is entitled to wear the American Defense Ribbon, the American Theatre Riibbon and the European-African-Middle East Theatre Ribbon with five battle stars.

Colonel John M. Price
of
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Commanding Officer of the 460^th Bombardment Group
from
October, 1944, to September, 1945

Veteran of twenty-three bombing sorties in the European-African-Middle East Theatre, Col. Price has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and is entitled to wear the American Defense Ribbon, the American Theatre Ribbon, and the European-African-Middle East Theatre Ribbon with six bronze battle stars.