The 453rd Bombardment Squadron
was organized at MacDill Field,
Florida, in June, 1942 as part
of the 323rd BG. The other
squadrons in the Group were the
454th, 455th, and 456th.
The Squadron left the United States
On April 9th, 1943, flying the
southern Route from Brazil to
Morrocco, then flying to England.
They flew their first mission on
July 16th, 1943, to the Abbeville
Railroad Yards. After that they
participated in all the 323rd Group's
missions until the end of the war.
This is the story of nine men in
the squadron, Gaston G. “Frenchie”
Poulin, Willis Lee “Willie” Brainard,
Samuel F.”Tex” Findley, Casimier V.
Sochocki, Nelzo F. “Nels” Cassano,
Fredrick “Fred” J. Mingus, David
Goss, and Manfred "Manny"
Blumenthal, men who had
contributed their own experiences.
Read their story at left,
Chapter by Chapter.
