398th Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group. media-395101.jpg FRE 5158 The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

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

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Nuthampstead 22 April 1944 - 22 June 1945

Encompassing

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

Wes Gallagher, a war correspondent for the Associated Press stationed in North Africa, was allowed aboard a 301st Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress on the Group's raid on Tunis in early January 1943. He photographed one of the 301st Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses (serial number 41-24418) through the waist gunner's window aboard the B-17 Flying Fortress he was riding in. Passed for publication 16 Jan 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '301BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Pictures Taken During Actual B
  • 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

Revisions

Date
ContributorVon_L
Changes
Sources

398BG data updated by Von_L

Date
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
Changes
Sources

my photo

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorPresident398th
Changes
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)

398th Bomb Group: Gallery (695 items)