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 548th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32214948 / O-677681
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Radar Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Homesick Angel
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
![B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly in formation. Passed for publication 15 Nov 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Flying Fortresses In Action. Here is a series of pictures taken of Flying Fortresses over enemy territoty[sic] during a recent raid. These four engined "giants" are doing a good job with their successful daylight operations, and every bomb dropped is helping to speed up the end of the war. Photo Shows:- Aerial scenes of Fortresses over enemy territory in formation and in f](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413703.jpg.webp?itok=_Z4xNpVu)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Liberty Belle
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Slo Jo
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
Mission
- Date: 15 August 1944
- Date: 5 August 1944
- Date: 14 July 1944
- Date: 6 July 1944
- Date: 14 June 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)
![B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly in formation during a raid. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 16 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '292898.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US FLYING FORTRESSES IN ACTION. Here is a series of pictures taken of Flying Fortresses over enemy territory during a recent raid. These four-engined "giants" are doing a good job with their successful daylight operations and every bomb dropped is helping to speed up the end](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380165.jpg.webp?itok=ff25KJTK)
![Two photographic officers of the 385th Bomb Group repair reconnaissance cameras. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 15 Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292892.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse is damged, what remains reads: 'FLYING FORTRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS. Without adequate photography, the fighting of this was by the Air Forces would be almost impossible. This is the story of how one Photo Unit on a Flying Fortress Station does its job of recording intel](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380168.jpg.webp?itok=wwcr54-C)
![Lieutenant-Colonel Preston Piper of the 385th Bomb Group reports to intelligence officer First Lieutenant John Murray after a mission. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication [illegible] Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292906.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO THE HEROIC FLYERS OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE. So many American flyers of the Eighth Air Force here achieved many high distinctions that the presentation of medals and awards ha](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380169.jpg.webp?itok=Rr_MGZxP)
![Sergeant Creegan and Sergeant Peek, ground crewmen of the 385th Bomb Group install a camera into a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 15 Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292888.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS. Without adequate photography, the fighting of this was by the Air Forces would be almost impossible. This is the story of how one Photo Unit on a Flying Fortress Station does its job of recor](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380170.jpg.webp?itok=Pa46CHOz)
![Lieutenant Raymond Fordyce and Technical Sergeant Homer L Jones of the 385th Bomb Group inspect intelligence photographs from a mission. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 15 Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292889.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS. Without adequate photography, the fighting of this was by the Air Forces would be almost impossible. This is the story of how one Photo Unit on a Flying Fortress Station does](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380171.jpg.webp?itok=UO17jeyc)
![Aerial photographers of the 385th Bomb Group beside a B-17 Flying Fortress before a mission. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 15 Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292889.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS. Without adequate photography, the fighting of this was by the Air Forces would be almost impossible. This is the story of how one Photo Unit on a Flying Fortress Station does its job of recording intelligence the bombin](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380172.jpg.webp?itok=ftRXXp5Z)
![Major Erwin F. Goldman, Lieutenant-Colonel Elliot Vandevanter and Major Ruffin Barrow of the 385th Bomb Group look over plans for expansion of their aerodrome. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication [illegible] Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292964.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO THE HEROIC FLYERS OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE. So many American flyers of the Eighth Air Force here achieved many high distinctions that the presentatio](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380174.jpg.webp?itok=qtS7QLHG)
![Staff Sergeant Francis Coughenour and Staff Sergeant Demetrio A Apadoca of the 385th Bomb Group develop intelligence photos from a mission. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 15 Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292890.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS. Without adequate photography, the fighting of this was by the Air Forces would be almost impossible. This is the story of how one Photo Unit on a Flying Fortress Station do](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380175.jpg.webp?itok=lfmk8EbD)
![Sergeant Kosierowski, Sergeant Creegan and Sergeant Peek of the 385th Bomb Group load a camera into a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 15 Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292891.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS. Without adequate photography, the fighting of this was by the Air Forces would be almost impossible. This is the story of how one Photo Unit on a Flying Fortress Station does its job of re](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380176.jpg.webp?itok=NN5V9XFm)
![A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly in formation over enemy territory. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 15 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '292900.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US FLYING FORTRESSES IN ACTION. Here is a series of pictures taken of Flying Fortresses over enemy territory during a recent raid. These four-engined "giants" are doing a good job with their successful daylight operations and every bomb dropped is helping t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380177.jpg.webp?itok=WqW8r9Lo)
![B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly in formation during a raid. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 15 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '292897.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US FLYING FORTRESSES IN ACTION. Here is a series of pictures taken of Flying Fortresses over enemy territory during a recent raid. These four-engined "giants" are doing a good job with their successful daylight operations and every bomb dropped is helping to speed up the end](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380178.jpg.webp?itok=E7F18347)