2nd Air Division Memorial Library

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389th The Scrapbook Archives - Hethel, Norfolk 389th Bomb Group The focus of this scrapbook is the 389th Bombardment Group, stationed at Hethel, Norfolk. "On and near the site of the former Station 114, Hethel, are various items which recall the presence of the USAAF in the locality in World War 2. For two years Hethel was the base of the 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy). In 1964 Lotus Cars Ltd., manufacturers of high-performance cars, acquired the airfield and made major changes." The 389th, with the 44th and 93rd bombardment groups, was detached to Libya to join the 98th and 376th B-24 groups of the Ninth Air Force on the renowned Ploesti raid of 1st August 1943 when extensive damage was wrought on the Rumanian oilfields. Second Lieutenant Lloyd H. Hughes, a pilot of the 389th, was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor for his valor on the Ploesti raid. The 389th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its efforts on the Polesti raid. Known as 'The Sky Scorpians,' the 389th flew a total of 321 missions, including 14 when on detachment to North Africa, and lost 116 Liberators, missing in action. The group joined the Eighth's prolonged programme of intensive bombing in Europe, with a variety of targets including Berlin and other missions in support of Allied troops in France, Holland and Germany. Among those who served at Hethel was film actor, James Stewart, who moved there in 1944 and was promoted colonel and chief of staff of the Second Combat Wing." All photographs supplied by the Second Air Division Memorial Library and private collectors. There are several good histories of the 389th Bomb Group available for use in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library, in addition to the standard histories of the 2nd Air Division and the 8th Air Force. Among those histories are: 389th BG 'Blue Book' Wilson, Paul and Mackay, Ron: The Sky Scorpions: The Story of the 389th Bomb Group in World War II Bodle, Peter and Wilson Paul: 389th Bomb Group in Norfolk Information about the individual bases from George H. Fox's 8th Air Force Remembered: an illustrated guide to the memorials, memorabilia and main airfields of the US 8th Air Force in England in WW2 (London:ISO Publications, 1991). Copyright © 2001-2007 2nd Air Division Memorial Library All rights reserved. Usage Policy. Created 16 August 2007 2nd Air Division Memorial Library Home Page