550th Bomb Squadron

Squadron
The insignia of the 550th Bomb Squadron, 385th Bomb Group. media-395083.jpg FRE 5140 The insignia of the 550th Bomb Squadron, 385th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5140 - The insignia of the 550th Bomb Squadron, 385th 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

Great Ashfield

People

Charles Leroy Abney

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39551795
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
AJ Ardzinski, a tail gunner of the 385th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32059) nicknamed "Poltergeist". Image via Tim Bivens. Bivens has handwritten on reverse: ' AJ Ardzinski- Tail gunner. Fred Heiser crew 550th BS, 385th BG, B-17G-35-BO "Poltergeist" 42-32059.' Bivens enclosed a letter with the print: 7-14-03, Hello Roger, Got another “Mystery B-17” for you. Just recently obtained the enclosed prints from slides taken by the co-pilot Bob James in the photos. A

Anthony J Ardzinski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12150071
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Charles Joseph Armbruster

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-827757
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Charles W Avona

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Arthur F Brooks

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

42-102481

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kentucky Winner
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron

42-102606

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Curley's Kids
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron

42-102636

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron
Lieutenant Robert M. Turner of the 385th Bomb Group examines bomb damage in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (SG-N, serial number 42-107031) at Great Ashfield, 23 May 1944. Official caption on image: "(GM-26-12-385)(23-5-44)(G.A. Bomb Damage)." Official caption also on front of other print: "62618 A.C." Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lt. Robert M. Turner, 550th Squadron, Lost on 13 July 1944 over Munich - nickname? Know of this history behind this shot? [CredD?] E. Vandevanter.'

42-107031

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron

42-107045

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 550th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date18 Jan 2023 14:55:04
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources
Date21 Sep 2016 18:22:45
Contributorhermanns
ChangesChanges to insignia and aircraft types
Sources

Documented source

Date21 Sep 2016 00:02:51
Contributorhermanns
ChangesChanges to nicknames
Sources

Documented source

Date10 Apr 2015 02:50:36
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
ChangesChanges to media associations
Sources

my photo

Date10 Apr 2015 02:49:33
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
ChangesChanges to media associations
Sources

my photo

Date13 Mar 2015 16:28:10
Contributorrossingtonj
ChangesChanges to type
Sources

Type added.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:50
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
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 / 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)

550th Bomb Squadron: Gallery (41 items)