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385th Bombardment Group Window

<< Back to Great Ashfield Church

Details:

Within the church.


Commemorative Object

A two-light panel window depicting the sky, mountain, and trees. The left panel has the 385th BG number while on the right is the group’s insignia.

 

The 385th Bomber Group, 550th Bomber Squadron of the Eighth Air Force was based at Station 155, Great Ashfield, England. It was known as ‘Van’s Valiants’ after their first Commanding Officer, Colonel Elliott Vandevanter. The 385th BG operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended, striking such targets as industrial areas, air bases, oil refineries, and communications centers in Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing an aircraft factory at Regensburg on 17 August 1943, after a long hazardous flight over enemy territory.

Source of information: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, http://www.suffolkvillage.info

Source of images:www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

Monument Text:

 

Commemorates:

Units:

385th Bomber Group

548th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy

549th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy

550th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy

551st Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy

8th Air Force

US Army Air Corps

Wars:

WWII