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The 493rd Bomb Group of the 8th AF in the E.T.O.


493rd Bombardment Group (H)
"Helton's Hellcats"
Assigned Eighth AF: 1st January 1944

Wing & Command Assignments

3rd BD, 93 CBW:       04.1944
3rd AD, 93 CBW:    01.01.1945


Bombardment Squadrons (H):
	860th      NG
	861st      Q4
	862nd      8M
	863rd      G6

Combat Aircraft:
B-24 H (Block 20) till 24.08.1944
B-24 J till 24.08.1944
B-17 G (Block 80-BO) from 08.09.1944

Stations:

• Debach, Suffolk; 04.1944 till 06.08.1945
• Little Walden; 01.03.1945 till 01.04.1945

Group COs:

• Col. Elbert Helton; 01.11.1943 to 15.02.1945
• Col. Robert B. Landry; 16.02.1945 to 05.1945
• Lt.Col. Shepherd W. Fitzgerald Jr.; 05.06.1945 to 08.1945

Facts:

First Mission:    06.06.1944
Last Mission:     20.04.1945
Total Missions:   158 (of which 47 with B-24s)
Bomb Tonnage:     11,733 tons
A/C MIA:          41
Other Losses:     31
Major Awards:     none