388th Bomber Group
Squadrons of the 388th BG
560th Bombardment Squadron - Heavy561st Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
562nd Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
563rd Bombardment Squadron - Heavy
Assigned 8th AAF: June 1943
Wing/Command Assignment
VIII BC, 4 BW, 403 PCBW Jun 1943
VIII ASC, 3 BD, 45 CBW 15 Sep 1943
3 BD, 45 CBW: 8 Jan 1944
3 AD, 45 CBW: 1 Jan 1945
VIII ASC, 3 BD, 45 CBW 15 Sep 1943
3 BD, 45 CBW: 8 Jan 1944
3 AD, 45 CBW: 1 Jan 1945
Combat Aircraft:
B-17F
B-17G
B-24 (Aphrodite)
B-17G
B-24 (Aphrodite)
Stations
KNETTISHALL 23 Jun 1943 to 5 Aug 1945
Group COs
Col. William B. David 1 Feb 1943 to 6 Oct 1944
Col. Chester C. Cox 7 Oct 1944 to Aug 1945
First Mission: 17 Jul 1943
Last Mission: April 1945
Missions: 306 - Plus 19 Aphrodite and 6 Batty
Aircraft MIA: 142
Col. Chester C. Cox 7 Oct 1944 to Aug 1945
First Mission: 17 Jul 1943
Last Mission: April 1945
Missions: 306 - Plus 19 Aphrodite and 6 Batty
Aircraft MIA: 142
Major Awards:
Two Distinguished Unit Citations:
17 Aug 1943 : Regensburg
26 June 1943 Hanover, 12 May 1944 Brux, 21 Jun 1944 Russia
17 Aug 1943 : Regensburg
26 June 1943 Hanover, 12 May 1944 Brux, 21 Jun 1944 Russia
Claims to Fame:
Conducted APHRODITE radio-controlled bomber project "guided bombs"
Early History:
Activated 24 December 1942 at Gowen Field in Idaho. Nucleus from Gowen moved
to Wendover Field, Utah, early in February 1943. The finial training was conducted
at Sioux City AAFd SD from early May 1943 to 1 June 1943. The aircraft began
their overseas movement taking the northern route via Newfoundland or Greenland,
and finally from Iceland to Prestwick. The ground unit left Sioux City on the
12th of June 1943 for Camp Kilmer, NJ, and sailed on the Queen Elizabeth on
the 1st July 1943, and arrived in Clyde on the 7th of July 1943.
Subsequent History:
Redeployed to the US from June to August 1945 . The aircraft left Knettishall
between 9 June 1945 and July 1945. The ground unit sailed on the Queen Elizabeth
from Greenock on the 5th of August 1945, and arrived in New York on the 11th
of August 1945. The group was established at Sioux Falls AAFd, SD, and inactivated
there on the 28th August 1945.
The unit was reactivated as a fighter-bomber group in 1953 and equipped with F-86s. Later the unit was stationed in France as a F-100 wing, and later as a F-106 wing in the US. During the Vietnam war the unit served as a F-105 wing stationed in Thailand.
The unit was reactivated as a fighter-bomber group in 1953 and equipped with F-86s. Later the unit was stationed in France as a F-100 wing, and later as a F-106 wing in the US. During the Vietnam war the unit served as a F-105 wing stationed in Thailand.