387th Bomb Group

Group

Object Number - UPL 26739 - 387th Bomb Group Reunion, Dayton OH, 2002

The 387th Bomb Group flew just under thirty missions with the Eighth Air Force before being transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943. The Group remained at Chipping Ongar, Essex after being reassigned and continued to hit targets in France. Subsequent to the Allied invasion of the continent, the 387th moved to Stony Cross in July 1944 and on to a series of bases in France. The crews flew from Clastres, north-eastern France, for the mission that resulted in a Distinguished Unit Citation for the Group, awarded for hitting transportation and communication targets at Mayen and Prum, Germany during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 to January 1945.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Chipping Ongar 25 June 1943 - 18 July 1944

Based

Stony Cross 18 July 1944 - 22 August 1944

Based

Maupertus 22 August 1944 - 18 September 1944

Based

Chateaudun 18 September 1944 - 30 October 1944

Based

Clastres 30 October 1944 - 29 April 1945

Based

Maastricht 29 April 1945

Encompassing

People

Houston H Bartley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20836581 at enlistment, then O-xxxxxx
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Gerard Baumann

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Private First Class
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Charles P Becker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 558th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32279560
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer, Gunner

George D Bennett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator; Gunner
Technical Sergeant George Vasaumper, crew chief of the 387th Bomb Group stands with a colleague and a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31677) nicknamed "Jisther". Image via George Vasaumper.

James H Brantley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-663838
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-31629

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Janets Dream
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron

41-31648

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: La Diabla
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group

41-31653

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: King Bee
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 558th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31657) nicknamed "Mississippi Mudcat" of the 387th Bomb Group, at Chipping Ongar, 1944. Image via George Vasaumper.

41-31657

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Mississippi Mudcat
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
A B-26 Marauders, nicknamed "Loveable Rogue" and (serial number 41-31659) of the 387th Bomb Group taxying at Chipping Ongar.

41-31659

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Old Ironsides
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group

Mission

Revisions

Date13 Mar 2017 01:18:06
ContributorMike Smith
Sources

ms

Date22 Feb 2017 11:11:27
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Sources

Stations added with details from:
- "Battle Colors Volume III - Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War Two' by Robert A. Watkins;

Date13 Mar 2015 15:35:54
Contributorrossingtonj
Sources

Type added.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:45
ContributorAAM
Sources

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)

387th Bomb Group: Gallery (244 items)

Captain Bernard Thompson of the 387th Bomb Group and War Correspondent Gladwin Hill of the Associated Press, in the cockpit of a B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 8 May 1944.' [stamp] and '319310.' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AP War Correspondent Pays A Visit To A Marauder Base "Somewhere In England". Associated Press Photo Shows:- Left, Gladwyn Hill, A.P. War Correspondent sits in the cockpit of a Marauder, right pilot Capt. Bernar

Object number: FRE 10908 - Captain Bernard Thompson of the 387th Bomb Group...

A B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-34966) nicknamed "Lorelei" of the 387th Bomb Group. Image via Rene J Fancillon. Printed caption on reverse: '51252 AC- Martin B-26 Marauder. US Air Force Photo, Detachment-5, Hq AAVS (MAC).'

Object number: FRE 1296 - A B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-34966) nicknamed...

A B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31718) nicknamed "El Capitan" of the 387th Bomb Group. Image via US Air Force Museum Handwritten caption on reverse: '41-31718 KS-O "El Capitan".'

Object number: FRE 1297 - A B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31718) nicknamed...

B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bomb Group drop bombs over the target near Simmern, Germany. Printed caption on reverse: 'PMA FRA 102402. NINTH US AIR FORCE STRIKES ENEMY IN BLIND BOMBING. Formation of B-26 Marauder medium bombers of the Ninth US Air Force flying over clouds effected, January 22, 1945, a blind bombing attack against enemy communications near Simmern, Germany, 25 miles south of Koblenz. A vital supply line for German Troops was rendered unserviceable as the northwest approach to a railroad bri

Object number: FRE 1298 - B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bomb Group drop bombs...

Ground personnel of the 387th Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Damita".

Object number: FRE 1299 - Ground personnel of the 387th Bomb Group with...

A pilot of the 387th Bomb Group sits in the cockpit of his B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31676) nicknamed "Worry Wart".

Object number: FRE 1300 - A pilot of the 387th Bomb Group sits in the...

A B-26 Marauder of the 387th Bomb Group explodes in mid air over Dunkirk. A veteran has written in an enclosed letter to Freeman: 'The "A" picture enclosed was taken over Dunkirk and the aircraft is, I believe, piloted Col Jack Caldwell of Searey Ark. We were leading the second box and I remember Captain Kunde, our navigator with a real "nose" for flak, screaming at them to get away from Dunkirk. You will note that this is with 8-10 tenths cloud cover and other bursts are "on target", Thus our subsequent

Object number: FRE 1302 - A B-26 Marauder of the 387th Bomb Group explodes...

A bomber crew of the 387th Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-26 Marauder. A section of the image has been cut out from the Maruader's nose gun. A veteran has written in an enclosed letter to Freeman: 'From a mission return on D-day. We had dropped bombs on the Normandy strong points at 06:23 for beach landings at 06:29. You will recall the favourable weather such that at 5000' the Norden could not be used and we used the "Guide Wire" DFM, more often simply "Kentucky Windage". Our aircra

Object number: FRE 1303 - A bomber crew of the 387th Bomb Group return to...

A bomber crew of the 387th Bomb Group signs a document underneath the wing of a B-26 Marauder. The document has been cut out from the image. A veteran has written in an enclosed letter to Freeman: 'From a mission return on D-day. We had dropped bombs on the Normandy strong points at 06:23 for beach landings at 06:29. You will recall the favourable weather such that at 5000' the Norden could not be used and we used the "Guide Wire" DFM, more often simply "Kentucky Windage". Our aircraft was the "Heavenly B

Object number: FRE 1304 - A bomber crew of the 387th Bomb Group signs a...

Four airmen of the 387th Bomb Group stand on the wing of their B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31374) nicknamed "Booger Red II" before a mission. Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture taken in 1944 on Hardstand at 387th Bomb Group (M) Air Base Chipping Onger. About to load up for a mission. People in photo from left to right: CB Skipper, Pilot, Syverson, Co-pilot, Ashley, Flight-Engineer, Nehmer, top turret gunner.'

Object number: FRE 1305 - Four airmen of the 387th Bomb Group stand on the...

The control tower of the 387th Bomb Group at Willingale Airfield.

Object number: FRE 1306 - The control tower of the 387th Bomb Group at...

Colonel George Snyder of the 387th Bomb Group and his crew, with their B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Wuneach". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'George Snyder (Ext Left) & crew. From Col RW Keller.'

Object number: FRE 1307 - Colonel George Snyder of the 387th Bomb Group and...