Heroic 485th Bomb Group brings reunion to Columbia
Contributed by the Celebrate Freedom
Foundation

The 485th was often escorted and protected by the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. The 485th trusted the Tuskegee Airmen with their lives, but due to the constraints of the era, members of these two groups never met. This will change Oct. 21.

The Celebrate Freedom Foundation will sponsor the 2006 Heroes of Freedom Reunion to honor the 485th Bomb Group of the World War II European Theater Oct. 19-23. This will mark the first time in history Columbia has hosted a reunion for a WWII heavy bomb group.

During their sorties over Europe, the 485th was often escorted and protected by the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. The 485th trusted the Tuskegee Airmen with their very lives, but due to the constraints of the era, members of these two groups never met. That will change Oct. 21 at Owens Field. History will be made when representatives of these two groups come together for the first time.

The Celebrate Freedom Foundation will host the 485th at Owens Field with a limited display of historic vehicles, static aircraft, and a display of WWII military memorabilia 10 am-1 pm. Admission is free.

The 485th was part of the 15th Air Force based in Italy and flew B-24 Liberators.

"Having served with the 485th as a B-24 Pilot and Squadron Operations Officer, and being a native South Carolinian and longtime resident of Columbia, it is my distinct pleasure to serve as coordinator for this memorable event," said LTC Robert Brown (USAF Ret), reunion coordinator. "Not only were we and the Tuskegee Airmen brothers in a time of military peril, we share a patriotic bond in the protection of the freedoms we all enjoy today."

To commemorate this historic event, artwork by Eddie Sutton featuring the B-24s and the P51 Red Tail Mustangs will be available. Members of the 485th will hold an autograph session on Sunday, Oct. 22, 4 pm-6 pm at the Clarion Town House.

The 485th was part of the 15th Air Force based in Italy and flew B-24 Liberators. Between May 1944 and April 1945, the 485th flew 187 missions to targets in Nazi-occupied Europe. They were instrumental in destroying oil fields, air bases, ammo dumps, and cutting off important communications with enemy forces. The 15th Air Force directed much of its activity to the rescue and repatriation of American air crews shot down across Europe. No other Air Force recovered as many of its missing pilots and crews.

www.CelebrateFreedomFoundation.org