World War Photos

Bombs fall from B-26 42-95857 FW-K of 556th BS, 387th Bomb Group

387th Bomb Group (M) within 8th AF

Overview:

• Assigned to Eighth Air Force (8th AF): June 25, 1943 – October 16, 1943
• Primary Aircraft: B-26B and B-26C Marauders (from block 15)
• Component Squadrons: 556th, 557th, 558th, and 559th Bombardment Squadrons (M)

Wing & Command Assignments:

• VIII Air Support Command (ASC), 3rd Bombardment Wing (BW): June 25, 1943

Stations:

• Chipping Ongar: June 21, 1943 – July 18, 1944
  • Air Echelon: Arrived June 21-25, 1943
  • Ground Echelon: Arrived June 30, 1943

Group Commanding Officer:

• Col. Carl R. Storrie: Approximately January 19, 1943 – November 8, 1943

Combat Record:

• First Mission: August 15, 1943
• Last Mission: October 9, 1943
• Total Missions: 29
• Aircraft MIA (Missing in Action): 2
• Enemy Aircraft Claims: 2 destroyed

Major Awards:

• None during the period of service with the 8th Air Force.

Claims to Fame:

• No major claims to fame noted during this period, but the group was instrumental in medium bombing operations over Europe.

Early History:

• Activated: December 1, 1942, at MacDill Field, Florida.
  • Formed and trained with B-26 Marauders at MacDill Field.
  • Moved to Drane Field, Florida, on April 12, 1943, and then to Godman Field, Kentucky, in early May 1943.
  • Ground Echelon: Departed for the port of embarkation on June 10, 1943, and sailed on the Queen Mary on June 23, 1943, arriving at Clyde on June 29, 1943.
  • Air Echelon: Flew via the northern ferry route to the UK in early June 1943.

Subsequent History:

• Transferred to 9th Air Force (9AF), IX Bomber Command (BC): October 16, 1943.
• Later Deployments:
  • Moved to Stony Cross in July 1944.
  • Relocated to France in late August 1944.
  • Conducted tactical bombing missions in support of Allied land forces.
• Inactivated: USA, November 1945.

Aircraft Markings and Identification:

• B-26B/C Marauders (June-October 1943):
  • The aircraft were originally delivered with a Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray factory finish.
  • National Insignia: The fuselage roundels (cocardes) were painted out, and the new AN-I-9a national insignia was positioned approximately 40 inches further forward before the squadron code letters were applied.
  • Squadron Codes:
    • 556th Bomb Squadron: “FW”
    • 557th Bomb Squadron: “KS”
    • 558th Bomb Squadron: “KX”
    • 559th Bomb Squadron: “TQ”
  • Code Letters: The codes were painted in light blue-grey, 40 inches high, with the squadron code positioned forward of the national insignia on both sides of the fuselage and the individual call-letter aft. Selected letters throughout the alphabet, excluding “I,” were used on the original complements of all the Group’s squadrons.