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

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Framlingham 14 July 1943 - 4 August 1945

Encompassing

People

Abe Schwartz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 458th Sub-Depot
  • Role/Job: Ground Echelon

Al Singer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 1091st Quartermaster Company
  • Role/Job: Ground Echelon

Alan D Smith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Albert Sonovick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 2034th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon
  • Role/Job: Ground Echelon

Albert A Spacil

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6959117
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-30334

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Virgin Sturgeon
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Flak Hack 8". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 21 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289357.’ [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 a

42-30337

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Eight Ball : 8 Ball : Flak Hack
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron 571st Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group take off their flight gear after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Cabin in the Sky". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289794.’ [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.

42-30338

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Cabin in the Sky Rough Group Dorothy Dee
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron

42-30348

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

42-30411

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rose Marie, Hot Rocks
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th 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)

Personnel of the 390th Bomb Group wait at a train station before going on leave after the Regensburg shuttle mission. Printed caption on reverse: 'Regensburg Raiders Return From North Africa - Bombing Bordeaux En Route. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Members of the United States Eighth Air Force who took part in the double raid on Regensburg and Bordeaux, photographed as they wait for the train which will carry them from their bomber station "somewhere in England" to London, where they will spend a well-d

Object number: FRE 4074 - Personnel of the 390th Bomb Group wait at a train...

Personnel of the 390th Bomb Group on leave at St. Paul's Cathedral, London after the Regensburg shuttle mission. Printed caption on reverse: 'Regensburg Raiders Return From North Africa - Bombing Bordeaux En Route. Associated Press Photo Shows:- United States airmen who took part in the raids on Regensburg and Bordeaux leaving St. Paul's Cathedral, London, which they visited when they came to the capital for a well-earned rest. TET 259974. 25-8-43-U.' Passed for publication 25 Aug 1943. On reverse: US Arm

Object number: FRE 4075 - Personnel of the 390th Bomb Group on leave at St...

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 5152 - The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

The insignia of the 568th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 5153 - The insignia of the 568th Bomb Squadron, 390th...

The insignia of the 569th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 5154 - The insignia of the 569th Bomb Squadron, 390th...

The insignia of the 570th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 5155 - The insignia of the 570th Bomb Squadron, 390th...

The insignia of the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 5156 - The insignia of the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th...

The Control Tower at Framlingham, home of the 95th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 6289 - The Control Tower at Framlingham, home of the...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group flies low over Dutch countryside during a food mission. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: '371 BS FC Food Drop, 5/45 Holland.'

Object number: FRE 6494 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group...

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Waltz and Major Russ F Brammen of the 390th Bomb Group. Image via Robert Waltz. Written on slide casing: 'Lt Col Robert Waltz, Major Russ F Brammen.'

Object number: FRE 6495 - Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Waltz and Major Russ F...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (CC-D, serial number 43-38837) of the 390th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'CC:D, 338837 569 BS.'

Object number: FRE 6496 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (CC-D, serial number 43...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group crashes near Dunkirk whilst flying with a mission with B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5914), 15 August 1943 Handwritten caption on reverse: '15/8/43.' Printed caption on reverse: '25620 AC - Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress going down over area south of Dunkirk, occupied France. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 7747 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group [42...