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381st Bomb Group

Group

  • B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. The aircraft, left to right are: (VE-O, serial number 41-107112) nicknamed

    B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. The aircraft, left to right are: (VE-O, serial number 41-107112) nicknamed "Sleepy Time Gal", (VE-N, serial number 43-37675) nicknamed "Patches (Flak Magnet)", (VE-K, serial number 42-106994) nicknamed "Little Guy" and (VP-S, serial number 42-97059) nicknamed "Marsha Sue". Image via Ian MacTaggart.

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  • Personnel of the 381st Bomb Group talk about their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed

    Personnel of the 381st Bomb Group talk about their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Martha" to visiting British tank drivers of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps. A censor has obscured the gun inside the aircraft's nose cone. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed as censored 1 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '281608.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BRITISH TANK MEN VISIT "FLYING FORTS". Men of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American Aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see the Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo shows:- The R.A.C. men crowd around a Flying Fortress which has had many raids to its credit, while a menber of its air crew explains the machine to them. ABS/F.Keystone. 1,2,3,4, 4A.'

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  • Engineers work to complete the runway, in time for the first B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3123) nicknamed

    Engineers work to complete the runway, in time for the first B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3123) nicknamed "Ron Chee" of the 96th Bomb Group to touch down at RAF Andrews Field. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Reviewed and passed 21 May 1943.' [stamp] and '265190.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows:- American Engineers completing the last piece of the aerodrome - as the first "Flying Fortress" bomber arrives on the new field. Handwritten caption on reverse: '381BG Gt Saling.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortresses including (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortresses including (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge" of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '65997 Ac Boeing B-17 " Flying Fortresses" of the 381st Bomb Group, flying in close formation, wing their way toward the target somewhere in Europe. In the foreground is the B-17 "Rotherhithe's Revenge". U.S. Air Force Photo.'

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  • B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation. B-17s (GD-H, serial number 42-97084) and (GD-K, serial number 42-97076) nicknamed

    B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation. B-17s (GD-H, serial number 42-97084) and (GD-K, serial number 42-97076) nicknamed "Dee Marie" are visible in the foreground. Image via George J Letzer. Printed caption on reverse: 'Boeing B-17G-40-BO.'

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  • B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group leave vapour trails behind them duirng a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '65998 AC Boeing B-17

    B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group leave vapour trails behind them duirng a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '65998 AC Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" of the 381st Bomb Group leave streams of condensing vapour as they roar steadily on towards their objective - an enemy installation somewhere in Europe. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (MS-O, serial number 42-3177) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (MS-O, serial number 42-3177) nicknamed "The Hellion", of the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group flies over countryside. Printed caption on reverse: '65922 USAF - From the altitude this Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 381st Bomb Group is flying, the countryside resembles a patchwork quilt. U.S.AIR FORCE PHOTO.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'The Hellion.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed "This is IT!" of the 381st Bomb Group opens her bomb bay doors during a mission. Official Caption: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "This is It!", in foreground and other Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group, encounter flak opposition as they approach the target at Mainz, Germany, 30 December 1944.

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 381st Bomb Group in flight.

    A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 381st Bomb Group in flight.

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  • B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group are seen flying in formation from the bomb bay of another Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: '11/9/44, USAAF 49A.'

    B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group are seen flying in formation from the bomb bay of another Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: '11/9/44, USAAF 49A.'

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The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and the second was awarded to the 1st Bomb Division as a whole for flying without fighter protection to bomb aircraft factories at Oschersleben on 11 January 1944.

Commanding officers

  • Conway Hall

    Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 381st Bomb Group

  • Harry Leber

    Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 381st Bomb Group
    Commanding Officer 381st BG, 8th AF USAAF. Lt Col Harry P Leber, Jr, was transferred into the Group in December 1943, as Air Executive, and he took over command in January. Leber completed his duties in January, 1945.

  • Joseph Nazzaro

    Military | General | Commanding Officer | 381st Bomb Group
    Led the 381st BG as Commander in WW II and was Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Air Forces and also Strategic Air Command until his retirement in 1971. USAF biography: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/106057/general-joseph-j...

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
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Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 65

    22 June 1943
    The German rubber industry (Chemische Werke Hüls AG) at Marl (district Hüls-Nord), Germany, is the primary objective of this mission and is assigned to the Bomb Groups with the most expericence. Also the industrial area of Antwerp, Belgium is assigned...

  • VIII Bomber Command 66

    23 June 1943
    A combined force of 172 B-17s is despatched from 91BG (13); 92BG (14); 303BG (22); 305BG (21); 306BG (22); 351BG (20); 379BG (20); 381BG (22); and 384BG (18). Also 8 YB-40 gunships from 92BG are interspersed in the formation. The intention was for 140...

  • VIII Bomber Command 67

    25 June 1943
    This mission was intended to be the first major attack on the industrial area of Hamburg, Germany but weather and contrails made fromation flying too difficult and dangerous. As a result, the main formation 197 B-17s from: 91BG (18); 92BG (23); 303BG ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 68

    26 June 1943
    The targets for today are all Luftwaffe installations: the Villacoublay air depot SW of Paris, France is the primary; the airfield at Poissy, France is attacked as the secondary because of cloud cover; the airfield at Tricqueville, France; and the...

  • VIII Bomber Command 69

    28 June 1943
    The primary specific target for this mission are the lock gates at St. Nazaire, France to be attacked by two separate formations and also another force is despatched to bomb the German airfield at Beaumon Le Roger, France. A formation of 120 B-17s of...

  • VIII Bomber Command 70

    29 June 1943
    1st Bomb Wing despatches two formations: one has the air depot at Villacoublay, France as their primary; and one has the Luftwaffe airfield at Tricqueville, France as their primary. ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 72

    10 July 1943
    German airfields at Caen, Abbeville, and Le Bourget at Paris, France are the primary targets for this mission. 112 B-17s form a combined force from 91BG; 92BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG and 381BG to bomb the German airfield (Carpiquet) at Caen, France. Cloud...

  • VIII Bomber Command 73

    14 July 1943
    The German air depot at Villacoublay, France and the German airfields Amiens/Glisy and Le Bourget at Paris, France are the primary targets for this mission. These attacks are made by three separate elements: 116 B-17s are despatched from 92BG (15);...

  • VIII Bomber Command 74

    17 July 1943
    The railroad industry at Hannover, Germany and the aircraft industry at Hamburg, Germany were the intended targets for this mission but weather caused the mission to be cancelled. The element sent to Hannover was a combined force of 207 B-17s from:...

  • VIII Bomber Command 75

    24 July 1943
    Three targets in Norway are the primary targets for this first mission flown by 8th AIr Force to Norway. They are the nitrate works at Heroya and the port areas at Trondheim and Bergen. The first element is a combined force of 180 B-17s from: 91BG (22)...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Ridgewell 31 June 1943 – 24 June 1945

Connections

People

  • Harvey Abbott

    Military | 381st Bomb Group

  • Lawrence Abbott

    Military | Tail Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
    October 1944 - April 1945.

  • Martin Abbott

    Military | 381st Bomb Group

  • William Abbott

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer | 381st Bomb Group
    ETTG, Malleus, V. crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Credited with 1 German fighter destroyed on the 7 January 1944 Mission #58 to Ludwigshafen, Germany.

  • William Abbott

    Military | Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
    Wright, C. Crew

  • Walter Abernathy

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
    Shot down by fighters and forced to crash near Unna, GR on a mission to Oschersleben, GR on 22 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-97474 'Homing Pigeon'. Evaded, then Prisoner of War (POW). ...

  • Nassam Abraham

    Military | Radar Maintenance | 381st Bomb Group
    October 1943 - May 1945

  • Nicholas Abramo

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner, Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
    Shot down by fighters and crashed N of Arlon, Belgium returning from the target of Frankfurt am Main, GR on 2 Mar 1944 in B-17G #42-39891. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Jacob Abrams

    Military | 381st Bomb Group

  • Stanley Abrams

    Military | Corporal | Sheet Metal Specialist | 381st Bomb Group
    Entered service 2 Aug 1942. Discharged 5 Oct 1945.

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Aircraft

  • 41-24500 Annie Freeze

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Ogden 7/8/42; force landed Billings, MT 27/4/42 with Henry Blomquist; Scott 15/10/42; Presque Is 19/2/43; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-Y] Ridgewell, Ex. 27/5/43 ANNIE FREEZE; ...

  • 41-9019 Li'l Skunk Face

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 414BS/97BG 3/42 as LI'L SKUNKFACE; transferred 305BG Grafton Underwood 6/11/42; 381BG Ridgewell 11/6/43; 327BS/92BG Bovingdon [UX-V] 10/7/43 as target tug; 482BG Alconbury 27/8/43 for operations; with Gene Smith in landing accident at Deopham...

  • 41-9043 Peggy D/ Little Rock-ette

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 342BS/97BG Polebrook 3/42 PEGGY D on co-pilot’s side; with Capt Bill Musselwhite on 1st 8AF mission 17/8/42; 92BG Bovingdon /9/42; transferred 534BS/381BG [GD-A1] Ridgewell 7/43 as hack & tow target; to 2SAD 21/8/43 and ret 24/8/43 used to...

  • 42-102423 My Devotion

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 2/3/44; Kearney 14/4/44; Grenier 29/4/44; Assigned 533BS/381BG [VP-Q] Ridgewell 21/5/44; detailed Allach, Ger. 28/6/44 with Leon O’Dell,Tail gunner: Bill Bursaw (Killed in Action); Missing in Action 24+m Munich 31/7/44 with Jack...

  • 42-102512

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 10/3/44; Gr Island 31/3/44; Dow Fd 21/4/44; Assigned 368BS/306BG [BO-A] Thurleigh 5/5/44; landing accident with Ned Erne 1/1/45; transferred 534BS/381BG Ridgewell 5/45; 100+m, Returned to the USA Bradley 10/6/44; 4168 Base Unit,...

  • 42-102578

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/44; Hunter 8/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 30/4/44; transferred 367BS/306BG [GY-D] Thurleigh 18/5/44; 532BS/381BG Ridgewell 5/45; 100+m, Returned to the USA Bradley 10/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains,...

  • 42-102585 'The Betty L'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/44; Kearney 1/4/44; Dow Fd 8/4/44; Assigned 534BS/381BG [GD-A] Ridgewell 24/4/44; Missing in Action 12m Tours 24/6/44 with Vic Romasco, Navigator: Jim Chandler, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Elbert Giddens,Tail gunner:...

  • 42-102590 In Like Errol

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 17/3/44; Gr Island 10/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-M] Ridgewell 22/5/44; Missing in Action 91m Bremen 30/3/45 with Bob Bennett, Navigator: Paul Cawley, tog-Elbert Holt, Radio Operator: Bob Mumper, Ball turret gunner...

  • 42-102656

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 23/3/44; Hunter 17/4/44; Grenier 30/4/44; Assigned 534BS/381BG [GD-L] Ridgewell 21/5/44; after {70+m} transferred 327BS/92BG [UX- ] Podington 10/5/45; then,Sal 9AF Germany 10/12/45. CAROL LEIGH.

  • 42-102663 Yardbird

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 24/3/44; Kearney 15/4/44; Grenier 29/4/44; Assigned 533BS/381BG [VP-U] Ridgewell 21/5/44; Missing in Action 23m Peenemunde with Frank O'Black, Co-pilot: Bob Karch, Navigator: Francis Treanor, Bombardier: Herb Higginbotham, Flight...

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Service or support
Type category
Air base
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Triumphant We Fly
Insignia
Tail Flash: Red "L" inside a solid white triangle
Aircraft used
  • B-17 Flying Fortress

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
13 July 2017 17:21:19 FrankM Changes to aircraft associations
Sources

http://381st.org/Unit-History/Aircraft-Inventory
Date Contributor Update
14 March 2016 20:36:42 fairly docent Changes to nicknames and mission associations
Sources

no nicknames
Date Contributor Update
14 March 2016 20:35:47 fairly docent Changes to type, nicknames and mission associations
Sources

Headquarters (381st Bomb Group)
Date Contributor Update
14 March 2016 20:32:16 fairly docent Changes to motto and mission associations
Sources

Triumphant We Fly is the motto for the 381st BG
Date Contributor Update
15 August 2015 05:40:39 Shoebob Changes to insignia and mission associations
Sources

From the history of the 381st Bomb Group website: http://www.381st.org/
Date Contributor Update
18 May 2015 17:46:02 Bagarre Changes to nicknames, aircraft types and mission associations
Sources

My grandfather's plane
Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 19:13:36 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to mission associations and media associations
Sources

my photo
Date Contributor Update
27 February 2015 15:10:12 rossingtonj Changes to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added
Date Contributor Update
05 October 2014 13:52:34 ChrisTennet Changes to commanding officers associations and mission associations
Sources

www.381st.org
Date Contributor Update
02 October 2014 13:36:37 ChrisTennet Changes to unit part of associations and mission associations
Sources

http://www.381st.org/UnitHistory.aspx
Date Contributor Update
30 September 2014 22:33:26 ChrisTennet Changes to unit part of associations and mission associations
Sources

www.381st.org
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

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