The Home of the 384th Bomb Group, Grafton Underwood England, USAAF 8th Airforce B-17 Airbase. During WWII, the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated in December 1942 and continued as an active military unit until being deactivated in February 1946. Upon completion of initial training in the United States, the Group was transferred to the European Theater of Operations in May 1943. It began combat operations on 22 June and by its final combat mission on 25 April 1945, the Group had flown 9,404 sorties on 316 combat missions. Approximately 7927 personnel served with the 384th during WWII and its aftermath, with about 4,327 being combat aircrew personnel. Of these, 1,448, or about one-third, were lost in combat or accidents: A total of 345 B-17 aircraft were assigned to the 384th BG, which flew about 9,402 credited combat sorties. Boeing produced 196 of these, Douglas produced 82, and Vega built 67. Of these, 188 were lost in combat or accidents: The number of combat missions required to complete a tour was initially 25, which was raised to 30 in early 1944, then soon after to 35. Some combat aircrew personnel exceeded these requirements.
Lost Aircraft in more detail:
153 Failed to Return
25 Crashed
4 Ditched
4 Mid-Air Collision
1 Landed in Neutral Country
1 Air Accident (non-combat)
