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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technician Fifth Grade
- Role/Job: Medic
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15048128
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Boomerang
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Nora 2nd
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Maryland, My Maryland : Billie
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yankee Gal
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 366th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group
Mission
- Date: 26 November 1943
- Date: 16 November 1943
- Date: 11 November 1943
- Date: 5 November 1943
![An Illustration of the Wilhelmshaven raid, 3 November 1943. Image stamped on reverse: '10 Nov 1943.' [stamp], '292478.'[Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'THE BIGGEST EVER DAY RAID: By US Fortresses and Liberators on Wilhelmshaven- escorted all the way by fighters. Special Sphere drawings. THE SCENE OVER WILHELMSHAVEN JUST AS OUT BOMBERS WERE LEAVING THE TARGET ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMVER 3RD. AFTER THE BIGGEST DAYLIGHT RAID EVER CARRIED OUT OVER GERMANY. IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND OF THIS DRAWING, LIGHTNING](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-418517.jpg.webp?itok=KjJP-yi2)
- Date: 3 November 1943
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)
