Memorial

388th Bomb Group - RAF Knettishall

Source: Copyright Peter Spencer

1/10

Current Location

In the junction between Fen Street and The Street, Fen Street, Coney Weston, St Edmundsbury, Suffolk, IP31 1DH, England

TL 96938 78285

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Type of Memorial: Stone of remembrance
WMR Reference Number: 5119
Description: Three vertical stones with associated tablet in ground in front. The centre stone has a flying B-17 fortress breaking a chain and three planes flying in ‘missing man’ formation. It also has the Eighth Air Force Emblem on the top left and the Air Force Material Command at the bottom right. The tablet has the plan of a runway layout.
Inscription: Standing stone (centre): UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES/ 388TH BOMB GROUP (H)/ RAF KNETTISHALL STATION 136/ 23 JUNE 1943 - 5 AUGUST 1945/ FORTRESS FOR FREEDOM/ 306 MISSIONS/ 191 AIRCRAFT LOST/ 222 ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED/ 8051 SORTIES/ 524 KILLED/ 2 MISSING/ 801 PRISONERS Standing stone (left): IN FREEDOM THEY LIVED.../ (Names) Standing stone (right): ...FOR FREEDOM THEY DIED/ (Names) Ground stone: IN FOND MEMORY OF THOSE MEN OF THE 388TH BOMB GROUP (H)/ WHO FLYING FROM THIS FIELD SERVED WITH HONOUR AND/ DIED BRAVELY IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM/ THIS MEMORIAL WAS DEDICATED ON MAY 17TH 1986 BY SURVIVORS/ OF THE 388TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)

Maker(s): Keith Rackham, Sculptor
Messrs Perfitt of Diss, Builder
John J. Ryan, Designer
Sponsor Type: private
Maintenance History: May 2011: the memorial was extended with the addition of two wing stones, with the names of the servicemen who died whilst in the service of the 388th.

Unveiled

17 May 1986

John J Ryan (President 388th Bomb Group Association)

Dedicated