This site is a tribute to those who served with the 458th Bomb Group during World War II.  It is also a tribute to Crew 74, of which my father, Samuel D. Scorza, was a part.  My father was assigned to the 458^th Bombardment Group (H) in October 1943.  He had just completed navigation training at San Marcos, Texas, and the group was nearing its final stages in assigning crews to the newly formed squadrons in Tonopah, Nevada.  He became the navigator on Crew 74 or the Vogel crew.  After training, they flew the 'Southern Route' to England in January 1944, arriving at Horsham St. Faiths near Norwich in February.  The group flew its first mission on March 2, 1944.  Crew 74 completed their tour of 30 missions in June 1944.

 When I first started researching my dad's crew, I was very disappointed at how little there was to be found on the 458^th Bomb Group.  Other than four volumes of a very good History of the 458th Bomb Group published many years ago by George Reynolds, there is not much on the 458th.  Compared to some of the other bomb groups in the 8^th Air Force, the 458^th, it seemed, was a ghost group.  That is one of the reasons for this website.  Over the course of the last two years I have found mission records, photos, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR), and many other items of interest about the group.  I became fascinated with all of those associated with the 458^th.  I have had the privilege to speak with numerous veterans over the phone, and many more via mail and email.  Every single one of these men has been very forthcoming and generous in my numerous requests for information.  It is because of their very kind contributions that this web page is possible.