44-8553 | American Air Museum

44-8553

A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial number 44-8553) of the 398th Bomb Group with open bomb bay doors. Image via R Welty

media-395343.jpg FRE 6508 A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial number 44-8553) of the 398th Bomb Group with open bomb bay doors. Image via R Welty Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 6508 - A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial number 44-8553) of the 398th Bomb Group with open bomb bay doors. Image via R Welty

Delivered Cheyenne 16/10/44; Hunter 9/11/44; Dow Fd 3/12/44.

Assigned as SH aircraft 602BS/398BG [K8-Y] Nuthampstead 15/1/45.

601BS [3O-Y]; after modification back to HO aircraft at Honington transferred 306BG Thurleigh 25/5/45.

Salvaged 9AF Germany 14/3/47.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.

398th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

The insignia of the 602nd Bomb Squadron, 398th Bomb Group. Featuring the Disney character 'Goofy'.

602nd Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Aerial photograph of Nuthampstead Airfield looking north, the technical and recreation sites are on the left, the ammunition dump and firing butts are at the bottom, 9 June 1948. Photograph taken by No. 58 Squadron, sortie number RAF/58/53. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Nuthampstead

Site type: Airfield

A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'

Thurleigh

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Bedford

Revisions

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:02

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

44-8553: Gallery (4 items)

A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial number 44-8553) of the 398th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 6507 - A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial...

A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial number 44-8553) of the 398th Bomb Group with open bomb bay doors. Image via R Welty

Object number: FRE 6508 - A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial...

A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial number 44-8553) of the 398th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 7672 - A Pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (K8-Y, serial...

Object number: UPL 37464 - Miller's crew of the 8th AF's Bomb Group by their...