The Post-War Veterans' Group

Following a very successful initial reunion of 384th Bomb Group veterans in New York City in 1967 (arranged by an ad hoc committee), the 384th Bomb Group, Inc. was founded in 1968 as a non-profit veterans organization. 

Membership of WWII veterans who served with the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in England grew over the years as word of the existence of the group spread. Members work to preserve the memory of sacrifices they, and their comrades-in-arms, made in the name of freedom.

Since the group was founded, reunions have been held at numerous places around the country, and occasionally we returned to England for "Memorial Junkets." The reunions afforded an opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow veterans who shared the rigors of war.

A leather-bound book about the 384th Bombardment Group (H), titled "As Briefed...", subtitled "A Family History of the 384th Bombardment Group", was first published in 1946. It contains stories and photographs, a list of medals and awards, and briefs about station units during WWII. A soft cover Addendum containing additional stories was published by the group in 1974. The Group published a second edition of "As Briefed..." in 1980, which included the Addendum and the Post-War Activities of the Group. A third edition, published in 1990, includes the Addendum and the Post-War Activities of the Group.

A one-hour television documentary about the 384th Bombardment Group (H) was produced by Central Independent Television of England. It has been shown on British television twice, and it has been shown at many of our reunions and other occasions. The documentary is titled "The Village That Met Them Again." It was filmed on location in England during Memorial Junket IV in 1983.

Perhaps the group's proudest and most notable accomplishments have been in the humanitarian field. Long before the end of World War II, the men of the 384th Bomb Group had adopted several war orphans. The military police played "Father Christmas" to the kids in the nearby villages. 

The group flew a very special "mission" to newly liberated Nantes, France. The bomb bays of six B-17s were filled with toys and clothes for the town's children. Delivery was in time for the French traditional gift exchange on New Years Day, 1945. 

The men of the 384th had contributed money, their candy rations, clothing and toys purchased in town or sent over by request from relatives and friends in the U.S.A. The money was used for clothing, soap, and other practical necessities of hospitals and orphanages, items unattainable in France. The 384th and the French Red Cross ladies had packaged all the items (sent by request to Grafton Underwood) before stowing them into the six B-17s.

That spirit is still alive today, both in numerous projects of the group as a whole, and in the individual commitments of its members. While we can never replace the firsthand experiences of those who served, we carry their vision forward by transforming their lived history into an eternal heritage. 

The 384th Bombardment Group formed one of the many pillars of the Eighth Air Force. Theirs was a foundation of courage built by young men who stepped up to support a cause far greater than themselves. While they were one of the many bombardment groups who served in World War II, the 384th carved out a reputation and legacy that set them apart.

This legacy began 1 December 1942 when the Group was activated at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho. After their activation, the crews spent their early months training in the rugged terrain of Wendover, Utah, and later, Sioux City, Iowa. 

The first twelve crews were assigned to the Group via Special Orders #32 on 1 February 1943. Later, on 11 March 1943, twenty more crews would be assigned to the Group via Special Orders #70. In May of 1943, the original crews made their trek across the Atlantic Ocean to their wartime home: RAF Grafton Underwood, Station 106 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. 

Flying the B-17 Flying Fortress, the men of the 384th, consisting of the 544th, 545th, 546th, and 547th Bomb Squadrons, flew their first official combat mission on 22 June 1943. Over the next two years, they flew 316 combat missions, consisting of 9, 404 sorties that took them across Europe.

The Group’s service was marked by extreme bravery and heavy sacrifice. 

The true cost of their missions and the price of freedom are reflected in these solemn statistics:

• 443 were killed in action

• 62 remain missing in action and unaccounted for today

• 32 died outside of combat

• 878 were captured and taken prisoners of war 

• 115 were shot down and evaded capture

• 51 were interned in neutral countries

Additional statistics are reflected below, and further statistics can be found on the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association research website here.