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About this website
This site is a tribute to those who served with the 458th Bomb Group during World War II. It is also a tribute to Crew 74, of which my father, Samuel D. Scorza, was the navigator. My father was assigned to the 458th Bombardment Group (H) in October 1943. He had just completed navigation training at San Marcos, Texas, and the group was nearing its final stages in assigning crews to the newly formed squadrons in Tonopah, Nevada. After training, the crews flew the 'Southern Route' to England in January 1944, arriving at Horsham St. Faith near Norwich in February. The group flew its first combat mission on March 2, 1944. Crew 74 completed their tour of 30 missions in June 1944.
When I first started researching my dad's crew, I was very disappointed at how little there was to be found on the 458th Bomb Group. Other than four volumes of a very good History of the 458th Bomb Group published many years ago by George Reynolds, the group's historian, there was not much on the 458th. Compared to some of the other bomb groups in the 8th Air Force, the 458th, it seemed, was a ghost group. That is one of the reasons for this website.
Over the course of the last several years I have found mission records, photos, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR), and many other items of interest about the group. I became fascinated with all of those associated with the 458th. I have had the privilege to speak with numerous veterans and their family members over the phone, and have corresponded with many more via mail and email. Every single one of these men has been very forthcoming and generous in my numerous requests for information. It is because of their very kind contributions that this web page is possible.
It was the result of this continued correspondence with veterans and their families that allowed me to collaborate with two amazing individuals, Ron Mackay and Mike Bailey, in 2009. Together, we were able to put together a comprehensive history of the 458th Bombardment Group from training in Tonopah, Nevada in the winter of 1943, through the German surrender in 1945. It was published by Schiffer Books in October 2010.
LIBERATORS OVER NORWICH
The 458th Bomb Group (H), 8th USAAF at Horsham St. Faith - 1944-1945
It can be found on Amazon or Schiffer Books.
Donations
For these reasons I have created a Donations page. Any amount is very much appreciated and will be used solely for the acquisition of 458th materials and the maintenance of this website.
If you wish to honor an individual or group, I will gladly post that information on the Donations page.
Thank you very much for anything you can give!!
Darin Scorza
Please sign our GUEST BOOK or SEND ME A MESSAGE using the form below.
This website is a work in progress. If you are in possession of photos, documents, stories, or other memorabilia from the group, please consider sharing it with the site and help preserve the history of this group.
I welcome any and all comments. Please use the form below to send me a message.
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