387th Bomb Group

Group
media-26739.jpeg UPL 26739 387th Bomb Group Reunion, Dayton OH, 2002

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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

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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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-794055
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31124301
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
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.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 558th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

B-26 Marauders, including (KX-R, serial number 42-96140) of the 387th Bomb Group fly in formation.
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 397th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron 598th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group
Ground personnel of the 387th Bomb Group work on the engines of a shark mouth B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96165) nicknamed "The Big Hairy Bird". Image via Alvaro Sousa.
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: The Big Hairy Bird
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 397th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron 599th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group
A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96199) of the 387th Bomb Group, flown by First Lieutenant Robert Nathan Smith and his crew, they were shot down over Chartres, 26 May 1944.
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorMike Smith
Changes
Sources

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Date
Changes
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;

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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)