The 490th Bomb Group was known as the “Bridge Busters”! During their service in Europe, they became specialists in high-precision bombing, specifically targeting German supply lines.
One of their most legendary achievements occurred during the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944. Despite abysmal winter weather that grounded many other units, the 490th flew critical missions to destroy the bridges and rail lines that the German army was using to move Tiger tanks to the front. Without the 490th’s precision, the Allied defence would have been significantly more difficult!