388th Bomb Group -- Let us never forget their courage and their sacrifice
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The 388th was comprised of the Air Echelon and the Ground Echelon. While the Air Echelon maintained a gruelling schedule of bombing missions, the Ground Echelon kept the base running smoothly by providing many of the services. of a small town - food, banking, recreation, police, fire fighting, technical training.

The various services were each handled by a Ground Unit which generally was a detachment from a parent organization that were assigned to Knettishall

388th Bomb Group Headquarters was responsible for running a base (Ground Echelon) which was a self contained little town and for keeping roughly 80 B-17s combat ready and flying missions almost on a daily basis. (Air Echelon)

Air Echelon

560th Bomb Squadron was one of four bomb squadrons of the 388th. Like any of the four squadrons, the 560th had about 12 combat crews, maintenance crews, 20 B-17's, support personnel in administration, armament, munitions, medical, cooking, photo, and equipment repair.

561st Bomb Squadron was one of four bomb squadrons of the 388th. The 561st was led by Lt. Col. William Chamberlin. He was killed in combat in May 1944. Chamberlin was the highest ranking 388th officer killed in combat.

562nd Bomb Squadron was one of four bomb squadrons of the 388th. In the beginning each squadron had its own lead crews which were assigned to lead group formations on missions. The squadrons rotated this responsibility for the mission. Towards the latter part of the war, all lead crews were flying radar equipped PFF B-17s. At one point the 562nd became the lead squadron and all lead crews were transferred to it.

563rd Bomb Squadron was one of four bomb squadrons of the 388th. It originally had nine crews that trained to together and ferried to England in June 1943. Of those nine crews, one was lost in the ferry to England, seven were shot down (six of those on the same mission) and only one survived to make 25 missions.

Ground Echelon

29th Station Complement The 29th Station Complement were responsible for many activites on the base including the gun pits for self defense from enemy aircraft, the control tower, communications, transportation, post exchange, the mess, and station utilities which was responsible for general maintenance on the base.


214th Finance Department Getting everyone paid on time was maybe second to having everyone fed. In those days the men received cash. Most men did not have much to spend their money on. There was always booze either on or off base. Gambling of course took some money and for some the money was sent back home to help their families back there.


587th Postal Unit The most desired item was a letter from home. The 388th like every other base had their very own post office that would provide mail service with the States. Mail service within the United Kingdom was handled by the British Post Office.


877 Chemical Company xxxxx


1211th Quartermaster Company was responsible for acquiring basic necessities for the men like food and clothing.


1284th Military Police Company Some one had to maintain order on the base.


1751st Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company Hundreds of bombs were being sent on missions almost each day. Having those on hand was a huge logisitical feat - not to mention the dangerous side of the job.


2019th Engineering and Fire Fighting Platoon Fire fighting is a dangerous enough job. However every day there was the real possibility of B-17 on fire having tons of fuel, ammunition and bombs on board.


452nd Sub Depot Maintenance of the sophisticated instruments on the B-17 (Norden Bombsight for one) was performed by skilled technicians.


434th Air Service Group xxxxx


273rd Medical Dispensary The base hospital had to manage everything from the common cold to a mangled body returning from a mission.


Weather Squadron This squadron was responsible for all of the meterological services required by the base.