397th Bomb Group

Group
A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96191) nicknamed "The Milk Run Special" of the 397th Bomb Group at Steeple Morden, 1945. Image by Alexander "Cal" Sloan. Written on slide casing: '296191, 397 BG.'

Object Number - FRE 7365 - A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96191) nicknamed "The Milk Run Special" of the 397th Bomb Group at Steeple Morden, 1945. Image by Alexander "Cal"...

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Gosfield 5 April 1944 - 15 April 1944

Based

Rivenhall 15 April 1944 - 4 August 1944

Based

Hurn 4 August 1944 - 30 August 1944

Based

Gorges 30 August 1944 - 11 September 1944

Based

Dreux 11 September 1944 - 6 October 1944

Based

Péronne 6 October 1944 - 25 April 1945

Based

Venlo 25 April 1945

Encompassing

People

Clarence L Abrahamson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 597th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37 430 288
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Robert G Altman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 599th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16153686 / O-719528
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
B-26 Marauders of the 597th Bomb Squadron ('9F') and the 598th Bomb Squadron ('U2'), 397th Bomb Group, fly towards Europe on a raid. The lower flight are all 598th Bomb Squadron aircraft; the two upper B-26 Marauders (9F-Y, serial number 42-96137 in front; 9F-N, serial number 42-96191 behind) are 597th Bomb Squadron aircraft. Handwritten caption on reverse: '597 BS (9F) & 598 BS (U2) of 397BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '52421 USAF - A Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, England - Silver Streak Marauders Over

Winfred Walter Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 597th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Donald Russell Berry

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombarier

Stephen E Briggs

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 598th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11044116 / O-796950
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

42-27177

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group
B-26 Marauders including (U2-F, serial number 42-95828) nicknamed "Kreihl's Cradle" and (9F-K, serial number 43-34401) nicknamed "Helen Highwater III" of the 397th Bomb Group fly in formation during mission,February 1945. Image via Stan Walsh. Written on slide casing: 'U2-F, 295828, 9F-K, 334401'

42-95828

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Kreihl's Cradle/Pink Lady II
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 397th Bomb Group 573rd Bomb Squadron 598th Bomb Squadron

42-96120

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Mama Liz
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 597th Bomb Squadron

42-96121

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group

42-96124

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Holy Moses
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 599th Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date22 Feb 2017 11:28:31
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
ChangesChanges to stations
Sources

Stations added with details from:
- "Battle Colors Volume III - Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War Two' by Robert A. Watkins;

Date25 Feb 2015 17:12:37
Contributorrossingtonj
ChangesChanges to type, mission associations and stations
Sources

Associated with Gosfield.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:45
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / 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)

397th Bomb Group: Gallery (85 items)

B-26 Marauders of the 597th Bomb Squadron ('9F') and the 598th Bomb Squadron ('U2'), 397th Bomb Group, fly towards Europe on a raid. The lower flight are all 598th Bomb Squadron aircraft; the two upper B-26 Marauders (9F-Y, serial number 42-96137 in front; 9F-N, serial number 42-96191 behind) are 597th Bomb Squadron aircraft. Handwritten caption on reverse: '597 BS (9F) & 598 BS (U2) of 397BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '52421 USAF - A Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, England - Silver Streak Marauders Over

Object number: FRE 10491 - B-26 Marauders of the 597th Bomb Squadron ('9F')...

Airmen of the 397th Bomb Group inspect a crashed B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96175). Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Martin B-26-55-MA, 397th, 42-96175. R. Bowers.'

Object number: FRE 10494 - Airmen of the 397th Bomb Group inspect a crashed B...

The tail and rear half of a belly-landed 599th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (6B-V, serial number 42-96175). Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Martin B-26-55-MA, R. Bowers. 397BG, 599BS.'

Object number: FRE 10495 - The tail and rear half of a belly-landed 599th...

Bombs stand on racks, soon to be loaded aboard a B-26 Marauder (X2-S, serial number 42-96205) of the 596th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 596BS.'

Object number: FRE 10496 - Bombs stand on racks, soon to be loaded aboard a B...

Four B-26 Marauders of the 598th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group fly in formation. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 598BS.'

Object number: FRE 10900 - Four B-26 Marauders of the 598th Bomb Squadron...

12 B-26 Marauders of the 397th Bomb Group flying in formation in August 1944. Passed for publication 21 Aug 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 599BS?' Printed caption on reverse: '6015-5 - Martin Marauders, called by the Americans the B26, flying in formation across the sky.' Censor no: 351829/139395. On reverse: Charles E. Brown Copyright and SHAEF Field Press Censor [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 10902 - 12 B-26 Marauders of the 397th Bomb Group flying...

A rear view of a B-26 Marauder of the 397th Bomb Group flying over open country in August 1944. Passed for publication 21 Aug 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 596BS?' Printed caption on reverse: '6015-7 - Martin Marauder, called by the Americans the B26, back view, flying over open country.' Censor no: 351790/139394. On reverse: Charles E. Brown Copyright and SHAEF Field Press Censor [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 10903 - A rear view of a B-26 Marauder of the 397th Bomb...

Burning remains of a B-26 Marauder of the 397th Bomb Group at Rivenhall, 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, B-26.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Rivenhall 1944 via K. Fisher.'

Object number: FRE 10904 - Burning remains of a B-26 Marauder of the 397th...

"Helen Hi-Water III" (front, 9F-K, serial number 43-34401) of the 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group drops its load of bombs through a cloud layer. "Baby Butch II", another 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (9F-T, serial number 42-96280) is behind "Helen Hi-Water III" at the very top of frame. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-26, 397BG, 597BS.'

Object number: FRE 10905 - "Helen Hi-Water III" (front, 9F-K, serial number...

The burning wreck of a B-26 Marauder of the 397th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, B-26.'

Object number: FRE 10906 - The burning wreck of a B-26 Marauder of the 397th...

Crew huts at Gosfield, home of the 397th Bomb Group. Post war.

Object number: FRE 6286 - Crew huts at Gosfield, home of the 397th Bomb...

A formation of B-26 Marauders of the 397th Bomb Group release bombs over the target during a mission. Image via Stan Walsh.

Object number: FRE 7355 - A formation of B-26 Marauders of the 397th Bomb...