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

People

A P Judd

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group
Bob Pfieffer and his crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30213) nicknamed "Lil' One". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bob Pfieffer crew, 562BS.'

Adolph Jusewicz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Kneemeyer

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

Abraham Kravitz

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

Adrian Lesley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant

Aircraft

42-107061

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Peg O My Heart
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-10706) nicknamed "Miss Bea Havin'" of the 388th Bomb Group flies over countryside. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Miss Bea Havin 2107062 M, 562 BS.'

42-107062

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Worry Bird/Miss Bea Haven
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

42-107076

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron

42-107085

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Chum
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 452nd Bomb Group attend to the wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107134) nicknamed "Round Trip" of the 388th Bomb Group, destroyed by German dive bombers. Image via William C Gaither. Letter from Gaither enclosed with print: ‘These photographers were taken at Poltava, Russia on June 22 1944. On June 21st my group, the 452d and others flew from England to Poltava en route hitting oil refinery at Rhurland, Germany. That night after landing German dive bombers bombed

42-107134

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Round Trip
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group

Mission

428

  • Date: 21 June 1944
  • Official Description:

Revisions

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Contributor[email protected]
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Contributor466thHistorian
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https://www.8thafhs.org/bomber/388bg.htm

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Contributor466thHistorian
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388th BG History

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Contributorrossingtonj
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Associated Fersfield.

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ContributorMustang69
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I am the curator of the 388th Collection

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Contributorrlhengg
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388th Bomb Group Historian

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ContributorRebecca Barton Lutz
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Daughter

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ContributorAAM
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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 (427 items)

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3289) nicknamed "Wolf Pack". A veteran's son has enclosed a letter with the print: '[Left to right standing:] Clayton Junkin, Bruno Miazgowicz, Rolland Allard, William Shawley, William Bemmie, Chris Ivanoff, [left to right kneeling:] Frank Boyer, Edward A Wick, Allan B Lemley, (?) Mack. This picture is of the original crew of "Wolf Pack" of the 562nd Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group, the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Edward

Object number: FRE 1504 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-37773) nicknamed "Full House" of the 388th Bomb Group. Image via Harry Miller. Handwritten caption on reverse: '20/12/43 Bremen (A/C lost 22/12/43).'

Object number: FRE 1505 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-37773)...

B-17 Flying Fortresses, including B-17 (serial number 44-6622) nicknamed "Our Love", of the 388th Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission. Image stamped on reverse: 'The R.L. Cavanagh Photo Collection' [stamp]. First handwritten caption on reverse: '"Our Love".' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '14/2/45.'

Object number: FRE 1506 - B-17 Flying Fortresses, including B-17 (serial...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 388th Bomb Group flies over the Suffolk coast en route to Stuttgart. Printed caption on reverse: 'Outward bound: 08:30 Hours; 5th September 1944. A 388th BG Fortress heads over the Suffolk coast. Destination Stuttgart.'

Object number: FRE 1507 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 388th Bomb Group...

A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group fly in formation.

Object number: FRE 1508 - A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 388th...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5905) nicknamed "Just AG" of the 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '561 BS, "Just AG".'

Object number: FRE 1509 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5905)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8850) of the 388th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 1510 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8850) of...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-6587) of the 388th Bomb Group flies in formation with other Fortresses during a mission.

Object number: FRE 1511 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-6587) of...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97210) nicknamed "Jamaica Ginger" of the 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Jamaica Ginger, 563 BS, 388'.

Object number: FRE 1512 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97210)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97105) of the 388th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 1513 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97105) of...

Ground personnel of the 452nd Bomb Group attend to the wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107134) nicknamed "Round Trip" of the 388th Bomb Group, destroyed by German dive bombers. Image via William C Gaither. Letter from Gaither enclosed with print: ‘These photographers were taken at Poltava, Russia on June 22 1944. On June 21st my group, the 452d and others flew from England to Poltava en route hitting oil refinery at Rhurland, Germany. That night after landing German dive bombers bombed

Object number: FRE 1830 - Ground personnel of the 452nd Bomb Group attend to...

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 96th Bomb Group fly in formation with a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 388th Bomb Group during a mission.

Object number: FRE 4024 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 96th Bomb Group fly...