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390th Bombardment Group (H) Heavy |
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In February of 1943 the 390th Bomb Group (H) had its inception at Blythe Army Air Base in California, with an original complement of 40 officers and 83 enlisted men; most of them had been attached to the 34th Bomb Group which operated B-17 aircraft at Blythe and at Geiger Field in Spokane, Washington. The cadre was promptly sent to the School of Applied Tactics in Orlando, Florida, for thirty days of special training. Thereafter air crews and ground personnel were assembled and trained at bases in Montana. In July of 1943 the air echelon of the Group was assigned to the 8th Air Force and dispatched to Station 153 located at Parham in Suffolk, England. The ground echelon with support equipment arrived later in July after an Atlantic crossing by ship. The Group's first mission to the continent was flown on August 12, 1943 and its last mission in May of 1945. In a ferocious air battle during mission #22 to Munster on October 10, 1943, eighteen 390th Bomb Group B-17s shot down 62 German fighter aircraft for a record in the 8th Air Force. The 390th participated in 301 operational missions, dropping over 19,000 tons of bombs. 179 of its aircraft were lost, with 147 missing in action and 32 due to other causes. The Group's accomplishments show a total of 378 enemy aircraft destroyed, 78 probably destroyed, and 97 damaged. The Group was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations, six Battle Streamers and many commendations. During its combat history the Group's bombing accuracy was reported as the best in the 8th Air Force and its aircraft losses were the lowest per mission flown/bombs dropped. |
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Crew 45, Mission 106
by
Lori Sorenson
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During World War II, the skies over England were filled with allied aircraft. In the past decade, I have come to know and admire the people from that country that still honor the servicemen who fought and died to protect our freedom.Julian Evan-Hart has spent 30 years researching the mid-air collision of two 390th B-17 Bombers that took the lives 14 men and injured 4 others. In 2005, Julian extended an invitation in our Guestbook to the survivors and descendants of these airmen. What happened next will fill your heart with joy and sadness.Read the Story |
B-17 Restoration Project
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The Liberty Foundation's Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress' 15 year restoration
depicting a famous 390th Bomb
Group warrior, the "Liberty Belle" is
complete.
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Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Reunion |
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Locate 390th aircraft
and personnel and read our latest research. RESEARCH |
Please take a moment to post your comments in our GUESTBOOK |
Read what the Men
of the 390th have to say. WAR STORIES |
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Purchase 390th Merchandise through our online store. MERCHANDISE |
Help preserve
the heritage of the 390th by becoming a Foundation Member. MEMBERSHIP |
Locate other B17 Bomb Groups & WWII websites. |
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The 390th Memorial Museum is a
non-profit organization and depends on YOUR donations to remain open. Annual membership in the 390th Memorial Museum Foundation is ONLY $25. So "JOIN TODAY" and receive a one year subscription to the Square "J" Bulletin. |
| DON'T DELAY! CLICK HERE TO BECOME A MEMBER | |
The 390th Memorial Museum is located on the grounds of the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, AZ.The Museum is open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas, 10 A.M.- 4:30 P.M.
The 390th Memorial Museum
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Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this website. Neither the webmaster or the Museum can accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Any reader who detects a possible error can assist us by contacting the 390th Memorial Museum.The copyright shown below covers this entire website. The copyright statement at the bottom of each page in this website reflects the year the page was last modified and is superseded by the one below.� 1996 - 2009, 390th Memorial Museum Foundation, Inc. |
Welcome to the online
home of the 390th Memorial Museum. Our mission is to preserve the proud
heritage of the original cadre, the ground support personnel, the
aircrews, the staff, and the commanders of the 390th Bombardment Group
(Heavy).
