397th Bomb Group

Group
A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96191) nicknamed "The Milk Run Special" of the 397th Bomb Group at Steeple Morden, 1945. Image by Alexander "Cal" Sloan. Written on slide casing: '296191, 397 BG.' media-396091.jpg FRE 7365 A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96191) nicknamed "The Milk Run Special" of the 397th Bomb Group at Steeple Morden, 1945. Image by Alexander "Cal" Sloan. Written on slide casing: '296191, 397 BG.'
Flown overseas by Lt. George Overbey and assigned to him in the 597th squadron. Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo description

Object Number - FRE 7365 - A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96191) nicknamed "The Milk Run Special" of the 397th Bomb Group at Steeple Morden, 1945. Image by Alexander "Cal"...

Connections

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

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Gosfield 5 April 1944 - 15 April 1944

Based

Rivenhall 15 April 1944 - 4 August 1944

Based

Hurn 4 August 1944 - 30 August 1944

Based

Gorges 30 August 1944 - 11 September 1944

Based

Dreux 11 September 1944 - 6 October 1944

Based

Péronne 6 October 1944 - 25 April 1945

Based

Venlo 25 April 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 597th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37 430 288
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 599th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16153686 / O-719528
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
B-26 Marauders of the 597th Bomb Squadron ('9F') and the 598th Bomb Squadron ('U2'), 397th Bomb Group, fly towards Europe on a raid. The lower flight are all 598th Bomb Squadron aircraft; the two upper B-26 Marauders (9F-Y, serial number 42-96137 in front; 9F-N, serial number 42-96191 behind) are 597th Bomb Squadron aircraft. Handwritten caption on reverse: '597 BS (9F) & 598 BS (U2) of 397BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '52421 USAF - A Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, England - Silver Streak Marauders Over
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 597th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombarier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 598th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11044116 / O-796950
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group
B-26 Marauders including (U2-F, serial number 42-95828) nicknamed "Kreihl's Cradle" and (9F-K, serial number 43-34401) nicknamed "Helen Highwater III" of the 397th Bomb Group fly in formation during mission,February 1945. Image via Stan Walsh. Written on slide casing: 'U2-F, 295828, 9F-K, 334401'
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Kreihl's Cradle/Pink Lady II
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 397th Bomb Group 573rd Bomb Squadron 598th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Mama Liz
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 597th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Holy Moses
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 599th Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Stations added with details from:
- "Battle Colors Volume III - Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War Two' by Robert A. Watkins;

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Associated with Gosfield.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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)

397th Bomb Group: Gallery (85 items)