Inside the church.

A framed and glazed colored illustration of a pilot, an aircraft, the 8^th Air Force insignia, and four support unit badges with the dedication message written in English printed on the top. This serves as a memorial to the men of the 387^th Bomber Group which was stationed at RAF Chipping Ongar (also known as Willingale) during World War II.

Parts of the airfield were still under construction when the 387th Bombardment Group (Medium) arrived from Goodman AAF, Kentucky on 25 June 1943. The group was assigned to the 3d Bomb Wing and flew B-26B/C Marauders. Operational squadrons of the 387th were:

• 556th Bombardment Squadron (FW)
• 557th Bombardment Squadron (KS)
• 558th Bombardment Squadron (KX)
• 559th Bombardment Squadron (TQ)

The 387th Bomb Group began combat on 15 August 1943 by joining with three other B-26 groups attacking coastal defenses on the French coast near Boulogne and was mounted in thick fog. In common with other Marauder units of the 3d Bomb Wing, the 387th was transferred to Ninth Air Force on 16 October 1943.

The 387th Bomb Group moved to RAF Stoney Cross in Hampshire on 21 July 1944 when Ninth Air Force moved the 98th Bomb Wing's four Marauder groups into the New Forest area at the earliest opportunity to place them closer to the French Normandy Invasion beaches.

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, en.wikipedia.org

Source of photo: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY

OF THE MEN OF THE 387^TH

U.S.A.A.F. BOMB GROUP.