TIMELINE

1 Dec 1942 – Group and squadrons activated

-- The 387th Bombardment Group, with its four member squadrons, the 556th, 557th, 558th and 559th, was activated.

Jan 1943 – Squadrons report for training to MacDill Field, in Tampa, Florida

-- Eyewitness: The greater part of the personnel, who had been recruited from OTU and BTU organizations, began, for the first time, to feel that they were to become part of a real combat unit. During the first phase of training, group headquarters was located temporarily in a two-story barracks. The 556th, 557th and 559th squadrons were billeted in the casual camp area, rather aptly called "Boomtown." In the shacks the men could look through the roof and see the sky, and look down through the boards of the floor and see the sand. Some mornings in January were cold but, in true Army style, heat was furnished only on warm mornings. Chow for the field mess was lousy, but could be supplemented by meals at the PX and soda fountains. Officers ate at the swank officers' club, but rates were not exactly cheap for newly made second louies.
 
8 Feb 1943 – Beginning of Second Phase training


23 Apr 43 – Group moves to Drane Field

-- By the end of the second week of April the group was nearing the end of second phase training. Since the third phase called for group operations by itself in cooperation with a service group, personnel of the 387th began packing technical and personnel equipment for their first move to Drane Field, near Lakeland, Florida.

-- Eyewitness: Shortly after the group arrived at Drane Field, the second phase of training was completed and the third began. Under Colonel Storrie's able direction the combat crews and ground personnel were becoming expert in their jobs, and accustomed to operations at any time or place.

During second phase training several pilots had become quite "hot" and were flying their planes rather low over the Florida terrain. One day Lieutenant Charles B. White, now Major White, came back with leaves and twigs caught underneath the fuselage, scratches and green stain from leaves under the wings. He told the crew chief to hurry and get the plane cleaned up and the scratches painted over. This the crew chief promptly accomplished. Soon Colonel Storrie came around the line to look over the planes and stopped critically before Lieutenant White's particular ship.

"Sergeant, what happened to your ship here with these scratches on it?"

"My pilot hit a bird, sir," answered the crew chief, loyally lying.

"Well, what caused this green stain underneath the wings?"

"Why, he hit a parrot, sir."

The colonel closed his jaw tightly and walked away.

Before leaving Lakeland the group, because of its fine record of training during this period, received a personal commendation from Brigadier General Parker, commanding general of Third Bomber Command, stating that the training record of the 387th was the finest yet done by any medium bombardment group.


Fri, 25 Jun 43 –387th Bombardment Group arrives at Chipping Ongar, England, located 9 miles west of Chelmsford between the villages of Willingale, Fyfield, High Ongar and Chipping Ongar. London lies approximately 25 miles southwest of station 152.

-- Eyewitness: On landing at Chipping Ongar the crews had found that the field was barely ready to receive them. The air echelon had arrived in such excellent time that the runways were only partially complete. When he learned that the 387th planes were at Prestwick, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Brown, commander of the 831st Engineer Battalion, had kept his men working far into the night of the two days preceding the planes' arrival in order to get the field ready for the landings. The hardworking engineers, who had spent eight months of rain and fog to get the field ready, admitted a feeling of satisfaction at the sight of sixty-five new B-26s dropping wheels on the field.

Although neither the runways nor the squadron areas were complete, the spirits of the men were high. After the ocean voyage ground and air crews alike were glad to be together again. Colonel Storrie expressed the feeling of the group when he said, "Where are the bombs? Let's go to war!"


Sat, 17 Jul 43 – Formal Dedication of the Field

-- Formal dedication of the field took place on July 17 with all units of the field taking part. A review of the various units was held with music by the 342nd Engineer's band. An aerial demonstration by thirty-six B-26s flying close formation followed.


Dec 43 - Jan 44 – Grounding Due to Poor Weather Conditions

-- Eyewitness: Since comparatively few missions were being run, it became possible for the men to enjoy the recreational facilities of the base. Day rooms had been set up in the different squadrons and beer made available. A good officers' club had been established in a large Nissen hut, and the enlisted men had the Aero Club available for doughnuts and coffee and for dances. Usually there were two large huts available for movies. The parties and dances were a most welcome change from the dreariness of the weather. Both officers and enlisted men, in the presence of American nurses and English girls, became party conscious.


Feb 44

Early in February there was a notable increase in the number of neckties being worn about the base. The arrival of four flight nurses, for the purpose of learning procedure in handling injured crew members, was probably just a mere coincidence


Sun, 20 Feb 44 – Mission: Eindhoven Airfield

The Eighth Air Force begins "Big Week," attacks on German aircraft plants and airfields. For the first time, over 1,000 bombers are dispatched; 21 bombers and 4 fighters are lost hitting 3 areas in Germany...


Sat, 22 Jul 44 – Last Mission at Chipping Ongar

In France, weather prevents all combat operations except for 1 fighter group ... and the 556th, 557th, 558th and 559th Bombardment Squadrons, move from Chipping Ongar to Stony Cross with B-26s.