390th Bomb Group
Group
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 5152 - The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This tactical role was more attuned to the needs of ground forces. For instance, the Group bombed the coast near Caen fifteen minutes before the landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944. The Group also carried out humanitarian missions, dropping food supplies for the Dutch in the final weeks of the war. The only man to fly 100 missions, Hewitt "Buck" Dunn, did so with the 390th Bomb Group.
Connections
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Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Framlingham | 14 July 1943 - 4 August 1945 |
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Company
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Supply
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 458th Sub-Depot
- Role/Job: Ground Echelon
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 458th Sub-Depot
- Role/Job: Ground Echelon
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18187769
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bad Egg
- Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 390th Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Bitch/ Hangar Queen
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 414th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The 401st Hack, Agony Wagon, Gravy Train
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Silver Slipper
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Odd Ball aka Double In Brass
- Unit: 571st Bomb Squadron 390th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group
Mission
- Date: 18 September 1944
- Official Description:
- Date: 15 August 1944
- Date: 12 August 1944
- Date: 8 August 1944
- Date: 7 August 1944
Revisions
Tim Brett
Chairman Parham Airfield Memorial Museum
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)
![Airmen of the 390th Bomb Group enjoy a cigarette after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Cabin in the Sky". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 21 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289361.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘THE FORTRESSES GO OUT AGAIN. US bombers day raid on German works. A Brilliant series of pictures secured by our cameraman when the USAAF kept up the offensive from an English base against a factory in western Germany, they had](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380360.jpg.webp?itok=BO2hM2F8)
![Airmen of the 390th Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress who flew home with one engine shot away. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 21 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289362.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘THE FORTRESSES GO OUT AGAIN. US bombers day raid on German works. A Brilliant series of pictures secured by our cameraman when the USAAF kept up the offensive from an English base against a factory in western Germany, t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380361.jpg.webp?itok=2nLmrNa6)
![A ball turret gunner of the 390th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Cabin in the Sky". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289789.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘THE FORTRESSES KEEP UP THE ATTACK. EH/MoH. In spite of all weathers, the Flying Fortress of the 8th A.F. Bomber Command keep up their attacks on important targets over Germany and other enemy occupied countries. These pictures were taken at an 8th](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380363.jpg.webp?itok=T1jcMQjd)
![A pilot of the 390th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet news.' [stamp], '278790.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '10-10-43.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380364.jpg.webp?itok=E896UFIG)
!["Roscoe Ann" the bear Mascot of the 390th Bomb Group sits atop crates of ammunition. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], '278516.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '13-8-43.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380365.jpg.webp?itok=duiGdC9R)
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group disembark from their B-17 Flying Fortress after a mission. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289798.’ [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Press caption associated with image series: ‘THE FORTRESSES KEEP UP THE ATTACK. EH/MoH. In spite of all weathers, the Flying Fortress of the 8th A.F. Bomber Command keep up their attacks on impor](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380366.jpg.webp?itok=SrI3ZwDP)
![A mechanic of the 390th Bomb Group fixes a camera to a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281023.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ' PHOTO MEN SERVE WITH FLYING FORTRESSES. When it comes to bombing, pictures tell the story. Skilled photographers serving with the U.S. 8th Air Force Flying Fortress Group are trained to get the pictures, process them and send prints and negatives to higher Headquar](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380367.jpg.webp?itok=aGT1eesc)
!["Scrappy" and "Joe" the dog and monkey mascots of a bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group who fly the B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the cr](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380368.jpg.webp?itok=T9Q-hhhy)
