390th Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group. media-395095.jpg FRE 5152 The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5152 - The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This tactical role was more attuned to the needs of ground forces. For instance, the Group bombed the coast near Caen fifteen minutes before the landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944. The Group also carried out humanitarian missions, dropping food supplies for the Dutch in the final weeks of the war. The only man to fly 100 missions, Hewitt "Buck" Dunn, did so with the 390th Bomb Group.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Framlingham 14 July 1943 - 4 August 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 458th Sub-Depot
  • Role/Job: Ground Echelon
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 458th Sub-Depot
  • Role/Job: Ground Echelon
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18187769
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Egg
  • Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 390th Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942.  This crew and plane were initially assigned to the 414th BS (97th BG).
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Bitch/ Hangar Queen
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 401st Hack, Agony Wagon, Gravy Train
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Slipper
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Odd Ball : Double In Brass
  • Unit: 571st Bomb Squadron 390th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group

Mission

  • Date: 12 August 1944
  • Date: 7 August 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributornieceBarb
Changes
Sources

Niece Barb

Date
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
Changes
Sources

my photo

Date
ContributorTim Brett
Changes
Sources

Tim Brett
Chairman Parham Airfield Memorial Museum

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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)

390th Bomb Group: Gallery (480 items)