388th Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group. media-395085.jpg FRE 5142 The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5142 - The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran B-24 bombers were filled with explosives and radio-controlled from another aircraft to crash-land on a specific target.

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group Headquarters (388th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-396383
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Group Commanding Officer
Colonel WB David of the 388th Bomb Group stands beneath a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col WB David, Co 388BG.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Knettishall 23 June 1943 - 5 August 1945

Other

Detachments sent to Fersfield to conduct Aphrodite missions.

Fersfield 12 July 1944

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Intelligence
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-002092
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2074569
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: - Hitler's Headache
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Heaven's Above/Panhandle Kid
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Double Wallop
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bare Essentials
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron

Mission

  • Date: 14 September 1944
  • Date: 11 September 1944
  • Date: 10 September 1944
  • Date: 3 September 1944

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

388th BG History

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Associated Fersfield.

Date
ContributorMustang69
Changes
Sources

I am the curator of the 388th Collection

Date
Contributorrlhengg
Changes
Sources

388th Bomb Group Historian

Date
Changes
Sources

Daughter

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)

388th Bomb Group: Gallery (424 items)