San Giovanni Airfield, Puglia, Southern Italy: crew members of the 454th Bomber Group, 304th Bomb Wing, 15th Air Force USAAF, disembarking at sunrise from the trucks for reach her planes, the heavy bombers B-24 Liberator tasked for a mission against enemies targets. The 304th was one of the four 15th AF’s Bomb Wing equipped with Liberators (the 5th Wing was equipped with B-17s) all based in Puglia for strategic missions over Northern Italy, Southern Germany and Central-Eastern Europe. The 304th BW was structured with four Bomb Groups: 454th, 455th, 456th and 459th based on San Giovanni Airfield from January 1944 to July 1945. Victor Sierra 

Sunrise in Puglia

T/Sgt. Raymond Heilman & Bride, Helen Heilman 1944

T/Sgt. Raymond Heilman & Bride 1944

With cockpit and glazed nose covered by canvas against the Summer’s son, a B-24 Liberator of 454th Bombardment Group, 304th Bomb Wing, 15th Air Force, parked at San Giovanni Airfield, near Cerignola, Puglia, Southern Italy. The 454th BG was headquartered at San Giovanni, Foggia Airfield Complex, from January 1944 to July 1945. Victor Sierra