398th Web Pages

Welcome to the official 398th Bomb Group Memorial Association Web Pages, or informally the 398th Web Pages.

Clearing and Colder - click for info

The 398th was part of the 8th Air Force 1st Air Division during WWII and was one of many B-17 Bomb Groups stationed in England. The 398th was formed in the United States in 1943 and was stationed in Nuthampstead, England from April 1944 until June 1945.

B-17 Aluminum Overcast
B-17 Aluminum Overcast

398th Site

  1. What's New! - click here to see the latest updates to the site
  2. What's New, Recent Archive
  3. How to Search for Veterans and Other Information on the 398th Site
  4. 398th Web Site Statistics
  5. Volunteers Needed
  6. The Web Page Volunteers
  7. 398th Webmaster

News....




TO ALL THOSE PLANNING A TRIP TO THE NUTHAMPSTEAD AIRFIELD MUSEUM...

Opening times for the Nuthampstead Airfield Museum are as follows:
April through October, every second and last Sunday of the month. 10 am to 4 pm

THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED FOR THE 2024/2025 WINTER SEASON.
Please check back next spring for our opening day.

OR

By appointment. Please call 07535 990538 at least 48 hours prior to your visit and the volunteers of the museum will endeavor to open it for you.


FALL TALKS 2024
Talks benefiting the Nuthampstead Airfield Museum
are held at
The Woodman Inn, Nuthampstead, near Royston, Herts SG8 8NB

Link to The Woodman Inn's website

13 November 2024
 Arrive 7:30pm for 8:00pm prompt start.
£10 per person - booking recommended - purchase refreshments from the bar.
Everyone is welcome!!

"Americans in Britain - especially Nuthampstead"
by Ivor Warne, Nuthampstead Airfield Museum Trustee

It is 1942, the war is still raging, however the 200 plus souls in Nuthampstead are quietly going about their business. And then the Americans came and built a bomber airfield filled with 3,500 GIs. This event was repeated throughout East Anglia, a 'Friendly Invasion'. How did they fight their war? How did the locals cope with the GIs? How did the GIs cope with the locals?



LOCAL HISTORY WALKS

Discover the fascinating history of the American bomber base, Station 131, that once stood on the Scales Park estate. Construction began in 1942, with 55th FG Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters occupying the site by the end of 1943, followed by 398th BG B-17s in April 1944. In 1959, the base closed and returned to its agricultural roots, but remnants of the "American Invasion" still linger, waiting to be explored by those in the know.

​ Join our knowledgeable guide, Ivor Warne from the Nuthampstead Airfield Museum, on one of our regular walk and talk events.
Delve into the secrets of this historic airfield, uncovering stories of the brave GIs who served here and their invaluable contributions to the war effort.

The walk is limited to 20 people and will take about 2 hours. We strongly suggest wearing sensible shoes!

Next Walk: TO BE ANNOUNCED

Please pre-register for this event through the Woodman Inn's website under "Events".
Cost is £7.50 per person. Arrive from 9:00am for a 10am prompt start.



Please take a moment to browse our 398th BGMA PX! In addition to our wide selection of merchandise, you might also consider a 2024 398th BGMA membership gift for your family and friends. Membership is still only $20.00 per year per person. Lifetime membership is $100.00 per person. All memberships include receiving our quarterly newsletter, the FLAK NEWS.

Reunions and Tours

  1. Annual Reunions and Tours

    Our 41st Annual 398th BGMA Stateside reunion will be held alongside the 51st Annual 8th AFHS reunion in
    COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO - October 1 - 5, 2025.

    The reunion hotel will be the DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO
    1775 East Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906.
    Colorado Springs is home to the US Air Force Academy

    Hotel Reservation Information, Registration Instructions and Registration Form, Program Schedule and Tour Descriptions will be available on the 8th AFHS website early in 2025.

    If you have questions regarding the 398th BGMA 2025 reunion in Colorado Springs, CO, please contact Ken Howard our 398th Reunion Coordinator.



    2. The 2026 UK Biennial Tour to Station 131 is tentatively scheduled for May 2026. Please check back periodically for updates.

Information for Members

  1. 398th Bomb Group Memorial Association
  2. Official Board
  3. Dues and Contributions
  4. Prospective Member Information
  5. Nuthampstead Airfield Museum News
  6. The Nuthampstead Airfield Museum Website

398th PX

  1. 398th PX - Revised September 2023 - NEW ITEMS!!
  2. New order form

Articles

  1. Flak News - Complete Issues 1986-2018. Searchable PDF's
  2. Flak News Articles
  3. Remembrances Articles
  4. Friends of the 398th

Personal Remembrances

  1. 398th Veteran's WWII Personal Histories
  2. 398th Timeless Voices Interviews
  3. Other 398th Personal History on the Web

Mission Information

  1. 398th Missions and Descriptions
  2. 398th Mission Info Index
  3. 398th Combat Diaries

Photos

  1. 398th AAF Portrait Photos
  2. 398th Identified Crew Photos
  3. 398th Unidentified Crew Photos (input requested)
  4. 398th Reunion and Tour Photo Collection
  5. 398th Photo Collections

History

  1. Brief History of the 398th
  2. Chapters in the 398th Experience
  3. 398th Group and Squadron Information
  4. 398th History Index - Full listing

Key Lists

  1. 398th Original Crews from Rapid City
  2. 398th Missing Air Crew Reports
  3. 398th Killed in Action
  4. 398th POWs
  5. 398th Monuments
  6. 398th Individual Awards
  7. 398th Aircraft Histories Lists
  8. Additional 398th Key Lists

Research

  1. Links to Other Web Sites
  2. Identifying 398th B-17s
  3. 398th Combat Formations
  4. 398th Focused Books, CD's & Videos - A new book,The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior: A WWII Final Honor by David Huntley added February 2024
  5. Additional 398th Research Information
  6. FAQ's about Army Air Force Terms in WWII
  7. Identification Help Is Needed!