458th Bombardment Group (H)

2Lt Merrill Holtz and crew were assigned to the 754th Squadron 2-1/2 months before the war would come to an end.  They took off on what was supposed to be their first combat flight on March 8th, but were forced to abort due to mechanical difficulties.  They were able to complete the next day's mission to Osnabruck and were credited for their first mission. 

In all the crew flew 13 combat missions as well as two missions listed on formation plans as "weather ship".  A designated crew would fly out over the Continent prior to the group's take off and report back on the weather.  Crews were not given mission credit for these flights.  Nine of the thirteen missions were aboard a veteran 458th Liberator named Sky Tramp / Spitten Kitten.  The crew would also ferry this Liberator back to the United States in June.

After the war had ended, the 458th, along with all of the other heavy bombardment groups in the Eighth Air Force, took their ground men on a flying tour of Germany.  These flights were called "Trolley Missions" and their purpose was to show the men whose job it was to put the planes in the air, how their efforts had helped to win the war.  Holtz and crew obtained a number of photographs of several cities they visited on these trips.