398th Bomb Group
Group
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 5158 - The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.
The 398th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire on strategic bombing raids over Germany. The Group switched focus in the days before D-Day, when they targeted enemy positions on the Cherbourg peninsula. When the Allies had secured a foothold on the continent, missions became more tactical - supporting ground forces by weakening the enemy's ability to resupply their lines. After the war's end, the Group transported POWs from Germany to France.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-019083
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 1st Combat Bomb Wing 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-323131
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Bomb Wing Air Commander and Pilot
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Nuthampstead | 22 April 1944 - 22 June 1945 |
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Platoon
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Air base
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15140333
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0-679017
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34761844
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Waist gunner/Togglier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mickey Finn aka Special Delivery II
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 398th Bomb Group 352nd Bomb Squadron 32nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Agony Wagon III
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
Mission
- Date: 26 November 1944
- Date: 15 August 1944
- Date: 20 July 1944
- Date: 13 June 1944
- Date: 16 March 1944
Revisions
398BG data updated by Von_L
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)
