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
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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 568th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Ground Echelon
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Ground Echelon
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Silver Meteor
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Powerful Katrinka
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Rum Boogie II, Dottie III, Green Banana
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Patches, Well Never Know
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
![The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group, salvaged for parts, in front of B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30017). Official caption on image: "A-71429 A.C." Handwritten caption on reverse: '[G7?]-L, Calamity Jane.' Printed caption on reverse: '71429 AC - Useable parts are salvaged from a disabled Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 390th Bomb Group at an 8th Air Force base in England. 28 July 1943. A - Same as Basic.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-414141.jpg.webp?itok=aSJViXCG)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: All Shot to Hell
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
Mission
- Date: 6 March 1944
- Date: 4 March 1944
- Date: 3 March 1944
- Date: 2 March 1944
- Date: 29 February 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)
![Ground crew of the 390th Bomb Group prepare a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Six Nights in Telergma" for a mission. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘Not to be published.' [stamp], ' 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289795.’ [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 picture](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380409.jpg.webp?itok=i-f_vw-8)
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group at a crew interrogation after a mission. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289799.’ [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 stati](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380410.jpg.webp?itok=yPetwY3w)
![Airmen of the 390th Bomb Group test their heated flight suits after returning from a mission. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289782.’ [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. bombe](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380411.jpg.webp?itok=Bkn3WBZw)
![An airman of the 390th Bomb Group waits for his crew interrogation. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289786.’ [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 station in Engla](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380412.jpg.webp?itok=JiayKyFq)
![Airmen of the 390th Bomb Group talk to the waist gunners who fly in a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Cabin in the Sky." Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289783.’ [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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380413.jpg.webp?itok=wqbpJhyP)
![Gunners of the 390th Bomb Group write mission reports after a raid. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289785.’ [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 station in Engla](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380414.jpg.webp?itok=aSegS4CU)
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group plan their next mission before taking off in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘Not to be published.' [stamp] and '25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289781.’ [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 we](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380415.jpg.webp?itok=9_4kei2b)
![A photographic officer of the 390th Bomb Group prints a roll of film. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281029.’ [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 Headquarters -](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380416.jpg.webp?itok=gi9Q_qRb)
![Mechanics of the 390th Bomb Group load cameras into a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281027.’ [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 Headquart](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380417.jpg.webp?itok=JgsCGMN5)
![Two photographic officers of the 390th Bomb Group develop a roll of film. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281028.’ [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 Headquarter](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380418.jpg.webp?itok=bEkIb2Ze)
![Photographic officers of the 390th Bomb Group develop combat rolls of film. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281033.’ [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 Headquart](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380419.jpg.webp?itok=8MdDVGy4)
![Photographic officers of the 390th Bomb Group print photographs. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281032.’ [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 Headquarters - all o](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380420.jpg.webp?itok=PjxI7aNW)