388th Bombardment Group edit
The 388th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was a B-17 Flying Fortress unit of the Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) stationed in England at RAF Knettishall (Station 136) during World War II. The group earned four Distinguished Unit Citations, flying over 300 combat missions (17 August 1943 – Regensburg; 26 June 1943 – Hanover; 12 May 1944 – Brux and 21 June 1944 on a shuttle mission to Russia). It also conducted Aphroditie radio-controlled B-17 Flying Fortresses as test guided bombs. [1]
| 388th Bombardment Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | February 1942 to August 1945 |
| Disbanded | 1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air Corps |
| Type | Heavy Bombardment Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Knettishall, England |
| Engagements | D-Day
Schweinfurt–Regensburg Poltava Chowhound Marquis |
| Decorations |  DUC |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | William David Chester Cox |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | B-17 Flying Fortress |
Notable Missions edit
- Amsterdam
- September 6, 1943
- D-Day
- Poltava
- Regensburg-Schweinfurt
- Brux
- Berlin
- Chowhound Mission
- Marquis
- Revival Mission - POW airlift
- Aphrodite
Assignments edit
- II Bomber Command, 24 December 1942
Knettishall, England
- Eighth Air Force, c. 6 July 1943
- VIII Bomber Command, 10 July 1943
- 4th Bombardment Wing
- Attached to: 403 Provisional Combat Wing Bombardment, 13 July 1943
- 3d Bombardment Division, 13 September 1943
- 45th Combat Bombardment Wing, 14 September 1943
- 20th Bombardment Wing, 18 June 1945
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Second Air Force, 13–28 August 1945
Components edit
Air Echelon
- 560th Bombardment Squadron: 24 December 1942 – 28 August 1945
- 561st Bombardment Squadron: 24 December 1942 – 28 August 1945
- 562d Bombardment Squadron: 24 December 1942 – 28 August 1945
- 563d Bombardment Squadron: 24 December 1942 – 28 August 1945
Ground Echelon
- 214th Finance Department
- 587th Postal Unit
- 877th Chemical Company
- 1284th Military Police Company
- 1211th Quartermaster Company
- Weather Squadron
- 273rd Medical Dispensary
- 2019th Engineering and Fire Fighting Platoon
- 1751st Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company
- 434th Air Service Group
- 452nd Sub Depot
Stations edit
- Gowen Field, Idaho, 24 December 1942
- Wendover Field, Utah, 1 February 1943
- Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa, 29 April – 10 June 1943
- RAF Knettishall (AAF-136), England, c. 6 July 1943 – 4 August 1945
- Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, 13–28 August 1945
References edit
- Huntzinger, Edward J. The 388th at War. San Angelo, Texas: Newsfoto Yearbooks, 1979.
- Phillips, Edward L. The History of the 388th Bomb Group. San Angelo, Texas: Newfoto Publishing Company, 1946.
External links edit
- Bomb Group Database provides details on virtually all of the men, aircraft, missions, crashes and units with over 2,000 photos
Category:Military units and formations established in 1942 Category:Military units and formations in Utah