384th Bomb Group
Group
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 5132 - The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by bombing aircraft assembly plants, ground strafing aircraft and hitting associated industrial sites. The Group were awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations. The first 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. The second was for bravery under fire when leading the 41st Wing on a mission to bomb an aircraft factory and airfield at Oberpfafenhafen, southern Germany, on 24 April 1944.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 1st Scouting Force Scouting Force (Experimental) (SFX)
- Service Numbers: O-17061
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group Headquarters (384th Bomb Group)
- Service Numbers: O-19465
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer; pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Combat Bomb Wing 303rd Bomb Group Headquarters (384th Bomb Group)
- Service Numbers: O-18006
- Highest Rank: Major General
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group Headquarters (384th Bomb Group)
- Service Numbers: O-23307
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Commander, Pilot
Connections
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Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Grafton Underwood | 25 May 1943 - 16 June 1945 |
Encompassing
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Other
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Air base
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sunrise Serenader
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Problem Child : Old Reliable
- Unit: Base Air Depot 1 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Alabama Exterminator II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 92nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Spam-O-Liner
- Unit: 545th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
Mission
Revisions
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)
![A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31235) nicknamed 'Goin' Dog' of the 384th Bomb Group takes off for a mission. A censor has obscured the triangle P and serial number on the aircraft's tail. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 24 April 1944.' [stamp] and '313357.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Back from Berlin. Crews of US Fortress Station returning from the Berlin raid which took place recently. 34320. A Fortress takes off- destination Berlin](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380089.jpg.webp?itok=4ixJ1-Ec)
![Captain Kelma K. LeMaster of the 384th Bomb Group examines a flak hole in his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '279565.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BATTERED BUT VICTORIOUS. This is a Flying Fortress that just returned from a mission. Bullets have torn holes in the fuselage and the wings, but the 'plane carried out its mission and the ground crew at the base waited to repair their aircraft. Keystone Photo Shows: Capt Kelma K Le](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380231.jpg.webp?itok=o0vv_tbd)
![A B-17 Flying Fortress (SU-J) of the 544th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group flown by Lieutenant Knapp lands at Grafton Underwood, 22 March 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '384th BG. Lt. Knapp, SU-J. 22-3-44.' Press caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 313401. On reverse: Sport & General Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413561.jpg.webp?itok=2jaeykXh)
