Parham Airfield Museum
Welcome to Our Website
Welcome to Our Website
Welcome to Our Website
First Mission: 12 Aug 1943
Last Mission: 20 Apr 1945
Missions: 300
Total Sorties: 8,725
Total Bomb Tonnage: 19,059 Tons
Aircraft Losses by the Group:
Missing in Action 146 Operational Salvage* 30
Non-operational Salvage 10
Total B-17s lost 186
* this figures includes 18 written off in the UK & 12 abandoned on the Continent in friendly territory
Distinguished Unit Citations
17 August 1943: Regensburg (all 4BW groups)
14 October 1943: Schweinfurt
Claims to Fame Highest claims of enemy aircraft destroyed by bomb group on one mission on the date of 10 October 1943. Sgt. Hewitt Dunn, a gunner with the 390th BG, was the only man to fly 100 missions.
Credited with destruction of 377 enemy aircraft
62 destroyed Munster mission 10th October 1943- this was the highest ever recorded from any bomb group
390th Bomb Group J
History and Achievements
275 B17’s were assigned to Station 153, Framlingham
Flew: 301 daylight bombing missions
Total tonnage of bombs dropped: 19,059
Aircraft losses: 145 missing in action
17 crashed in England
Average life of an aircraft in missions: 33
On VE day, only 75 were left in flying condition
Total number of aircrew KIA and missing in action: 742
Total number of aircrew Prisoners of War: 731
Our staff are often asked of crashes that took place. A major incident occurred in Great Glemham, the village next door to Parham when a pathfinder aircraft that was to lead the groups flying the day's mission was attacked as it was about to land back home.
It was attacked by a JU-88 that had sneaked up on it's tail. With its controls shot away it made a right turn past Great Glemham church and crashed into a brick wall surrounding Glemham House and immediately burst into flames.
British soldiers billeted in Glemham House got to the wreck as fast as they could and without regard to the fact that the aircraft had a full bomb load aboard began to carry out the wounded and roll the bombs away.
After the survivors were pulled to safety the situation became very dangerous and the rescuers were warned to draw back just as the remaining bombs started to explode.
Out of the thirteen crew men aboard sadly three were killed, but the ten crew men that escaped were saved by the quick actions of the British soldiers who risked their lives to save them.
