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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Ground Echelon
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Ground Echelon
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 272nd Medical Detachment
- Role/Job: Ground Echelon
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mairzey Doats aka Mister Completely
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Preferred Risk, Good Old Yank
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mississippi Mission, Bob Tail Battler
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Girl of My Dreams, Doc's Flying Circus
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
Mission
- Date: 28 March 1944
- Date: 27 March 1944
- Date: 26 March 1944
- Date: 23 March 1944
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ruth L", flown by Lieutenant NL Young, of the 96th Bomb Group flies through a cascade of bombs released by another Fortress over Oranienburg, Germany. Strike camera photo. Handwritten caption on reverse: '22/3/44. Looks like JW code - 92BG? [sic]Supposedly Bremen raid but bombs look like M47.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408680.jpg.webp?itok=47P7nfd_)
- Date: 22 March 1944
Revisions
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)
![A Cletrac tows a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30323) nicknamed "Miss Carry" of the 390th Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289787.’ [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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380391.jpg.webp?itok=RrpllmSG)
![Major Robert O Good of the 390th Bomb Group climbs out of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289775.’ [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 A.F. bomber command](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380393.jpg.webp?itok=iiTArAT1)
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group reports on their last mission during a crew interrogation Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289791.’ [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 A.F. bom](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380394.jpg.webp?itok=DpHNn1Ts)
![Airmen of the 390th Bomb Group who fly the B-17 Flying Fortresses nicknamed "Cabin in the Sky" and "Sequatchie", wear A-2 Flying Jackets decorated with their aircraft's nose art, whilst writing mission reports. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 21 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289356.’ [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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380395.jpg.webp?itok=Ad_plsDp)
![Major Harry Price of the 390th Bomb Group watches ground crew uncover bombs which will be loaded into B-17 Flying Fortresses for their next mission. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 21 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289359.’ [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 we](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380396.jpg.webp?itok=-qzAvLKF)