385th Bomb Group
Group
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 5137 - The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9 October 1943, during which only two out of one hundred B-17s were lost and all of the buildings on the site were damaged or destroyed. They won two Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, awarded to all 4th Bomb Wing Groups, was for accurately dropping their pay load on an aircraft factory at Regensburg, on 17 August 1943 and the Group's second was awarded after leading a difficult long-range mission to destroy an aircraft repair works at Zwickau, south-west Germany, on 12 May 1944.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-21989
- Highest Rank: Brigadier General
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Great Ashfield | 28 June 1943 - 4 August 1945 |
Encompassing
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11034163
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
![Lieutenant Robert M. Turner of the 385th Bomb Group examines bomb damage in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (SG-N, serial number 42-107031) at Great Ashfield, 23 May 1944. Official caption on image: "(GM-26-12-385)(23-5-44)(G.A. Bomb Damage)." Official caption also on front of other print: "62618 A.C." Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lt. Robert M. Turner, 550th Squadron, Lost on 13 July 1944 over Munich - nickname? Know of this history behind this shot? [CredD?] E. Vandevanter.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413693.jpg.webp?itok=pBFaNSFe)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Reluctant Lady
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Vat 69
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 398th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron 600th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stork Club
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
Mission
- Date: 5 January 1945
- Date: 30 December 1944
- Date: 24 December 1944
- Date: 15 December 1944
- Date: 12 December 1944
Revisions
Contributed courtesy of the 385th BG Association. https://www.385thbga.com/wp-content/uploads/Fire.pdf
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)
![An airman of the 385th Bomb Group with two ladies. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 6 Sept 1943.' [stamp] and '282461.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '#6 Airman with natives.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380151.jpg.webp?itok=SpVpjmsQ)
![Personnel of the 385th Bomb Group inspect a search light on a captured field in North Africa. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 6 Sept 1943.' [stamp] and '282472.' [Censor No.] Printed caption on reverse: '#87 Aircrew examining German searchlight on captured field in us in N Africa.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380152.jpg.webp?itok=ieC_6ULQ)
![Personnel of the 385th Bomb Group examine a captured enemy searchlight in North Africa. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 6 Sept 1943.' [stamp] and '282474.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '#90 Airmen examining German searchlight.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380153.jpg.webp?itok=Vz4wYDBy)
![Airmen of the 385th Bomb Group service a B-17 Flying Fortress in their underwear in North Africa. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '282427.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '#55 Aircrew servicing own plane.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380155.jpg.webp?itok=wzPdN_VU)
![Airmen of the 385th Bomb Group with a captured flag bearing the Nazi swastika. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 6 Sept 1943.' [stamp], '282478.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '#77 Airmen with insignia off Nazi flag.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380156.jpg.webp?itok=JyiL5AF2)
![A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Shack Bunny" in North Africa. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943.' [stamp], and '282494.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '#67 Closeup of Fortress crew in N Africa.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380157.jpg.webp?itok=v5S_ywkp)
![Two B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly over the Alps during a mission. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 6 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '282477.' [Censor no.] Handwritten caption on reverse: '42-3397 'Fightin' Cock; over Alps. Liferaft door open, battle damage.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380160.jpg.webp?itok=cMZ3epKp)
