Knettishall

Airfield

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.

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People

Arnold B Perry

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 31228661
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Allen Joe Priebe

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 36246275
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator / 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

Bernard Joseph Quenneville

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 11063068 / O-735209
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Arthur M Read

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5906) nicknamed "Sandra Kay". Printed caption on reverse: '61482 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Sandra Kay". England, 11 August 1943. Front row, left to right: T/Sgt Herman J Ball, Milwaukee, Wisc; S/Sgt George R Martin, New Albany, Ind; S/Sgt Joshua M Lewis, Cumberland, Md; S/Sgt Otto V Kloza, Milwaukee, Wisc; T/Sgt Paul D Gomis, Reading, Penn; S/Sgt Fran

Albert Rubin

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-738035
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-30180

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Black Hawk : Guzzlers
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron 388th Bomb Group