{"product_id":"av8-ace-454th-bombardment-group-tee","title":"AV8 Ace 454th Bombardment Group Tee","description":"The 454th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was constituted on 14 May 1943 and activated on 1 June 1943 at Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona, as the U.S. Army Air Forces rapidly expanded its heavy-bomber force. The group consisted of the 736th, 737th, 738th, and 739th Bombardment Squadrons and trained exclusively for heavy-bomber operations in the four-engine Consolidated B-24 Liberator. Training took the 454th through bases in Arizona, Florida, Nebraska, and South Carolina before deployment overseas late in 1943. Its air echelon flew the southern ferry route through South America and Africa, while much of the ground echelon crossed the Atlantic by ship. After additional preparation in Tunisia, the group assembled at San Giovanni Airfield near Cerignola, Italy, becoming part of the Fifteenth Air Forceand beginning combat operations in early 1944.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFrom southern Italy, the 454th conducted a demanding strategic bombing campaign deep into Axis-controlled Europe. Its Liberators attacked oil refineries, aircraft factories, steel works, marshalling yards, railroads, bridges, airfields, harbors, and other industrial targets across Italy, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Greece, France, and Poland. The group also supported the Allied advance on Rome, the invasion of southern France—Operation Dragoon—and operations against German forces in northern Italy. Among its most celebrated missions was the 12 April 1944 attack on the Messerschmitt aircraft works at Bad Vöslau, Austria, for which the 454th received a Distinguished Unit Citation. A second DUC followed for the exceptionally difficult 25 July 1944 strike against the Hermann Göring steel works at Linz, Austria, demonstrating the hazards faced by B-24 crews penetrating heavily defended industrial areas.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBy the end of its European combat operations, the 454th Bombardment Group had flown 243 missions and 7,091 sorties against more than 150 primary targets, dropping approximately 13,389 tons of bombs during its campaign. Its B-24 crews endured enemy fighters, intense antiaircraft fire, mechanical failures, severe weather, and missions extending hundreds of miles across hostile territory—conditions characteristic of Fifteenth Air Force operations from Italy. Following Germany's surrender in May 1945, the group returned to the United States and was redesignated the 454th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), beginning conversion to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress for anticipated operations against Japan. Japan's surrender in August ended that requirement, and the 454th was inactivated on 17 October 1945. Its two Distinguished Unit Citations and extensive combat record with the B-24 established the 454th as one of the significant American heavy-bombardment organizations of the Mediterranean and European air war.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe tri-blend fabric creates a vintage, fitted look. And extreme durability makes this t-shirt withstand repeated washings and still remain super comfortable.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n• 50% polyester, 25% combed ring-spun cotton, 25% rayon\u003cbr\u003e\n• Fabric weight: 3.4 oz\/yd² (115.3 g\/m²)\u003cbr\u003e\n• Pre-shrunk for extra durability\u003cbr\u003e\n• 40 singles\u003cbr\u003e\n• Regular fit\u003cbr\u003e\n• Side-seamed construction\u003cbr\u003e\n• Blank product sourced from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, or the US\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nDisclaimer: The fabric is slightly sheer and may appear see-through, especially in lighter colors or under certain lighting conditions.","brand":"AV8 ACE","offers":[{"title":"Charcoal-Black Triblend \/ XS","offer_id":64590272823667,"sku":"1812961_6504","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Charcoal-Black Triblend \/ S","offer_id":64590272856435,"sku":"1812961_6505","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Charcoal-Black Triblend \/ 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