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

Chester Charles Cox

  • 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.'

William B David

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • 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

Knettishall 23 June 1943 - 5 August 1945

Other

Detachments sent to Fersfield to conduct Aphrodite missions.

Fersfield 12 July 1944

Encompassing

452nd Sub-Depot

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Maintenance

People

Abraham Falk

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

A Gallerani

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Gamache

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group

Arthur J Grieshober

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Abe C Harper

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

42-102559

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group
The insignia of the 561st Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group.

42-102589

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron

42-102626

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ol' Faithful
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron

42-102666

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wizard of Oz
  • Unit: 562nd Bomb Squadron 388th Bomb Group

42-102696

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Midge
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Mission

549

  • Date: 13 August 1944

547

  • Date: 12 August 1944

523

  • Date: 6 August 1944
A mission log for Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst of the 91st Bomb Group, 3 August 1944 -15 December 1944. Image via Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst, 91st Bomb Group.

519

  • Date: 5 August 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributor[email protected]
Changes
Sources
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

https://www.8thafhs.org/bomber/388bg.htm

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
ContributorRebecca Barton Lutz
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 (426 items)

Captain Dick and Ralph Jarrendt of the 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Capt Dick & Ralph Jarrendt.'

Object number: FRE 1480 - Captain Dick and Ralph Jarrendt of the 388th Bomb...

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'

Object number: FRE 1481 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B...

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group, and their mascot "Peggy", with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3295) nicknamed "Tech Supply". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'L to R: J I Flohr, H J Rodgers, P Lewis, S B Smith, W Sawyer, K Hill, E Pawlicki, J Ford, J Hallam, E Franklin, "Peggy".'

Object number: FRE 1482 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group, and their...

Second Lieutenant James E. Zengerle and Second Lieutenant Albert B. Millin of the 388th Bomb Group, talks about their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30793) nicknamed "Tom Paine" to Professor Frank Dobie. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Oct 1943. [stamp] and '289761.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN SERVICEMEN'S TRIBUTE TO TOM PAINE. Associated Press Photo Shows: Left to right: 2nd Lt James E Zengerle, Pilot of the Flying Fortress

Object number: FRE 1483 - Second Lieutenant James E. Zengerle and Second...

Personnel of the 388th Bomb Group enjoy the shade under their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30595) nicknamed "Gremlin Gus II" in Africa. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Gremlin Gus II, Africa.'

Object number: FRE 1484 - Personnel of the 388th Bomb Group enjoy the shade...

An airman of the 388th Bomb Group with the ball turret of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: '388?'

Object number: FRE 1485 - An airman of the 388th Bomb Group with the ball...

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30193) nicknamed "Hard Luck". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Eceleston crew.'

Object number: FRE 1486 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B...

Lieutenant Paul Bensel and his crew of the 388th Bomb Group stand with a bomb, personally addressed to Hitler, and their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5954) nicknamed "Mister Yank II" before the Regensburg Raid, August 1943. A B-17 nicknamed "Homesick Angel" is visible in the background.

Object number: FRE 1487 - Paul Bensel Crew 388th BG - 562nd BS Standing Left...

Second Lieutenant William B. Duane, a bombardier of the 388th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2nd Lt William Duane, Bombardier.'

Object number: FRE 1488 - Second Lieutenant William B. Duane, a bombardier...

Jim Jones, a tail gunner of the 388th Bomb Group in position inside his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30595, nicknamed "Gremlin Gus II". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Jim Jones, T/G of Gremlin Gus. Haven't heard of at Veterans Association, Maryland.'

Object number: FRE 1489 - Jim Jones, a tail gunner of the 388th Bomb Group...

Sergeant Cunningham of the 388th Bomb Group in the cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Labor Pains". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Sgt Cunningham & Plane No 1 Sioux City LABOR PAINS.'

Object number: FRE 1490 - Sergeant Cunningham of the 388th Bomb Group in the...

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress.

Object number: FRE 1491 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B...