390th Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group. media-395095.jpg FRE 5152 The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

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

Addison Powell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron

Abraham Resnick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Ground Echelon

A R Riopelle

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Togglier

A J Rubenstein

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron

Adam Safian

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group remains airborne despite suffering a hit to its starboard wing. First handwritten caption on reverse: '230318, Lt Rennels, 20 MM Hit by FW 190- Ela claimed.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '17/8/43, 230318, 390 BG, 17/8/43.'

42-30318

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Devil's Daughter
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (serial number 42-3312) nicknamed "Sequatchiee" of the 390th Bomb Group, drop bombs during a mission. The aircraft (left to right): (serial number 42-30434) nicknamed "Betty Boop" (Photographer), (serial number 42-3312) nicknamed "Sequatchiee", (serial number 42-30320) nicknamed "Coy De Coy", (serial number 42-37723) nicknamed "Coy De Coy III", (serial numer 42-30476) nicknamed "Rovin' Ramona", (serial number 42-30713) nicknamed "Phyllis Marie", (serial number 42-30455) n

42-30320

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Coy de Coy
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
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

42-30323

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron

42-30330

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Blood, Guts & Rust II
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
Ground crew of the 390th Bomb Group unloads a camera from a Jeep before fitting it into a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30332). Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281016.’ [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, p

42-30332

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Short Stuff, Spirit of 76
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date
ContributornieceBarb
Changes
Sources

Niece Barb

Date
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
Changes
Sources

my photo

Date
ContributorTim Brett
Changes
Sources

Tim Brett
Chairman Parham Airfield Memorial Museum

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)

390th Bomb Group: Gallery (480 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group remains airborne despite suffering a hit to its starboard wing. First handwritten caption on reverse: '230318, Lt Rennels, 20 MM Hit by FW 190- Ela claimed.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '17/8/43, 230318, 390 BG, 17/8/43.'

Object number: FRE 1641 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30228) nickanamed "Cabin in the Sky" of the 390th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Cabin in the Sky.'

Object number: FRE 1642 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30228)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30715) nicknamed "Cincinnati Queen" of the 390th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 1643 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30715)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile II" of the 390th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '390 BG, B-17 Fortress.'

Object number: FRE 2206 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31027)...

A photographic officer of the 390th Bomb Group passes printed combat photos to a driver to deliver to Headquarters. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for publication 27 Aug 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘281026.’ [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 p

Object number: FRE 2222 - A photographic officer of the 390th Bomb Group...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (TS-C, serial number 42-9768) of the 333rd Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group, takes off in front of another B-17 Flying Fortress (CC-Z) of the 569th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 3849 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (TS-C, serial number 42...

Sergeant Donald Morrie of the 100th Bomb Group, points at a German butterfly bomb dropped on Thorpe Abbotts airbase by a German raider. Image stamped on reverse: '23 Aug 1943.'[stamp, crossed out by censor], 'Not to be published.' [stamp] and '280037.'[Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Bomber Station Raided Last Night. A U.S. Bomber Station "somewhere in England" was raided by an anti-personnel raider last night, August 22, who dropped a number of butterfly bombs. Associated Press Photo Shows:

Object number: FRE 4066 - Sergeant Donald J Morris of the 390th Bomb Group...

Corporal George J. Oelkdersof the 100th Bomb Group, examines a German butterfly bomb. dropped on Thorpe Abbotts. Originally passed for publication 23 Aug 1943, but then revoked from publication same day. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Bomber Station Raided Last Night. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Cpl. George J. Oelkers, of Maple Wood, N.J., holding up the outer casing of one of the butterfly bombs. WOR 259912. 23-8-43-Y.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO, US Army General Section

Object number: FRE 4067 - Corporal George J. Oelkers of the 390th Bomb Group...

A German butterfly bomb dropped on the 100th Bomb Group's base at Thorpe Abbotts. Originally passed for publication 23 Aug 1943, but then revoked from publication same day. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Bomber Station Raided Last Night. Associated Press Photo Shows:- One of the butterfly bombs dropped by the raider. WOR 259911. 23-8-43-Y.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO, US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau and Ministry of Information [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 4068 - A German butterfly bomb dropped on the 390th Bomb...

Staff Sergeant Elmer W. Leonard of the 390th Bomb Group in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress with his souvenirs from the Regensburg Shuttle Mission. Passed for publication 25 Aug 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Regensburg Raiders Return From North Africa - Bombing Bordeaux En Route. Associated Press Photo Shows:- S/Sgt. Elmer W. Leonard, 22, of Thorndike, Me., engineer aboard one of the Fortress bombers which attacked Regensburg on August 17, flew on to North Africa and returned to Britain on August 24,

Object number: FRE 4071 - Staff Sergeant Elmer W. Leonard of the 390th Bomb...

Lieutenant Albert C. Rood of the 390th Bomb Group, infront of a B-17 Flying Fortress with his new dog mascot nicknamed "Eager" after the Regensburg Shuttle Raid. Passed for publication 25 Aug 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Regensburg Raiders Return From North Africa - Bombing Bordeaux En Route. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Lt. Albert C. Rood, pilot of one of the B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the U.S. Eighth Air Force which raided Regensburg, landed at a base in North Africa, and returned a week la

Object number: FRE 4072 - Lieutenant Albert C. Rood of the 390th Bomb Group...

A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group and their new dog mascot "Eager" with their B-17 Flying Fortress after the Regensburg Shuttle Mission. Printed caption on reverse: 'Regensburg Raiders Return From North Africa - Bombing Bordeaux En Route. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The crew of one of the Flying Fortresses which took part in the two-way assault on Hitler's Europe, photographed at their base in Britain when they landed, after bombing Bordeaux on the return from from North Africa. Left to right: Lt.

Object number: FRE 4073 - A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group and their...