Framlingham

Airfield
A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the media-380433.jpg FRE 1628 A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe".

Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.]

Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the crew of the Flying Fortress "Honey Chile" piloted by 2nd. Lieut. Robert W. Biesecker, (of Lexington, North Carolina) at an 8th A.F. Bomber Command Station, in England.

'Scrappy" was presented to the crew while training in U.S. and accompanied the boys on their transatlantic flight to England. "Joe", a pint-sized number, gets around the base on Scrappy's back, was picked up by crew at another station here. Both these mascots have a good number of flying hours to their credit. Photograph shows - The Dog and Monkey mascots of the Fortress "Honey Chile".
FOX OCTOBER 43. 35. ' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1628 - A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey...

Built for the Eighth Air Force from 1942 to 43, Framlingham was home first to the 95th Bomb Group, before that unit moved to RAF Alconbury. From 1943 to 1945, it was operated by the 390th Bomb Group. The airfield was handed back to the RAF in 1945, and was for two years used as a transit camp to help with the relocation of displaced Polish people . The airfield’s land was returned to agriculture from 1948. In 1981 a museum was opened in the restored control tower, which today tells the story of the 390th Bomb Group: https://www.parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk/



Footage of the airbase in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qISgcZsO8cs

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12037589
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Memorial to the crew of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-107010.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32208859 / O-691685
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942.  This crew and plane were initially assigned to the 414th BS (97th BG).
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Bitch/ Hangar Queen
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 401st Hack, Agony Wagon, Gravy Train
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Slipper
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
An airman of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102447) nicknamed "El's Belles". First handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/L on last of 365's bases in Belgium other side "Angels Sister" [name struck-out and annotated 'No'] 365 FG C Johnson/icm/75' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'BG-A 95 BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: El's Belles
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Odd Ball : Double In Brass
  • Unit: 571st Bomb Squadron 390th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added a link to the Parham Airfield Museum website: https://www.parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk/

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

Missing Air Crew Report #11721

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected aircraft records that have the word 'Framlingham' in their biography fields.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Eighth Then And Now (London, 1978)

Framlingham: Gallery (98 items)