Knettishall

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Knettishall airfield looking south, the bomb dump is bottom left, 13 March 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC226. English Heritage (USAAF Photography). eh-341.jpg US_7PH_GP_LOC226_RS_4014 Aerial photograph of Knettishall airfield looking south, the bomb dump is bottom left, 13 March 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC226. English Heritage (USAAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - US_7PH_GP_LOC226_RS_4014 - Aerial photograph of Knettishall airfield looking south, the bomb dump is bottom left, 13 March 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic...

Knettishall was built to Class A standard for an American Bomb Group that would be bringing up to forty heavy bombers with them in three or four Squadrons. The 388th Bomb Group, which stayed at Knettishall for their entire service in the ETO, flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on missions over occupied Europe. The Group also sent the 560th Bomb Squadron to Fersfield to fly Aphrodite missions. This involved crews flying full-loaded but worn-out B-17s to the edge of the British mainland before baling out and allowing a crew in another aircraft to radio-control the B-17 into the intended target. On one occasion the crew were unable to control the B-17 and it crashed at Sudbourne Park, Suffolk, leaving a crater 100 feet across.

Connections

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

People

Bernard Brooks

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12159739
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse: '61552 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Charlene". England. 30 August 1943. Standing left to right are: 2nd Lt John N Harlan, Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California; 2nd Lt Vernon D Dunkin, Columbus, Ohio; 2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass. Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt Ro

Albert N Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39388075
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer - Top Turret Gunner

Benhart Otto Brynildsen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Arthur Miles Codding

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16077448 / O-803776
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Bernard L Cohen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-102488

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron

42-102493

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Inside Man

42-102559

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group
The insignia of the 561st Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group.

42-102589

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron

42-102626

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ol' Faithful
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected aircraft records that have Knettishall in their biography fields.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)

Knettishall: Gallery (166 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-10706) nicknamed "Miss Bea Havin'" of the 388th Bomb Group flies over countryside. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Miss Bea Havin 2107062 M, 562 BS.'

Object number: FRE 6468 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-10706)...

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed ""Li'l" One" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '388.' Printed caption on reverse: 'B-61555 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Li'L One" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 7846 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "...

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Virgin on the Verge" of the 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '388th BG, 45th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Div.'

Object number: FRE 7847 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed...

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Second Chance" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-61554 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Second Chance" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 7848 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed...

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Little Lass" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-61554 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Little Lass" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 7850 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed...

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Princess Pat" of the 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '388th BG.'

Object number: FRE 7852 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed...

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Cock O' The Walk" of the 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '388th BG.'

Object number: FRE 7854 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed...

An airman of the 388th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Gremlins Hideout". Handwritten on front of print: '388th BG.'

Object number: FRE 7856 - An airman of the 388th Bomb Group with a B-17...

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Gremlin Gus II" of the 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Gremlin Gus II.'

Object number: FRE 7857 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed...

B-17F Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group line up for take off. Official caption on image: "(GM-4-2-388)(20-10-43)(B-17F)."

Object number: FRE 7859 - B-17F Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group...

An equipment checklist and rules and regulations painted on a wall at Knettishall, home of the 388th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 7874 - An equipment checklist and rules and regulations...