384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in World War II

Welcome to the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) Photo Gallery. This gallery makes available the photographic and documentary portion of the 384th BG record. All content on this gallery is visible to all visitors. Those wishing to enter a comment or contribute images will need to register and log in (links at left of Home page). Please register for an account when you need access beyond viewing gallery content. For additional information about the 384th BG, visit the 384th Bomb Group website⇗.

Guidance on contributing images can be obtained by downloading this PDF document:  Upload Instructions⇓

FROM 22 NOVEMBER 2022 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: Due to a recent revision to the MySQL Database standard, a #1064 error may be encountered when trying to navigate to a photo album. Please report the name of the album you are trying to access using the "Contact webmaster" at the page bottom, right. Thanks for your help.

FRE_014394.jpg Flak Hopper XThumbnailsFlak Hopper XThumbnailsFlak Hopper XThumbnailsFlak Hopper XThumbnails

This image was received in August 2022 from Mervyn Wilson, who says:

"I found the attached photograph of “Flak Hopper” (42-97139,BK-M) in the Roger Freeman Collection on the American Air Museum website ( reference FRE 14394). What intrigued me was the lack of turrets, the replacement of the left cheek gun blister with an observational window and what appears to be a large table visible in the Perspex nose cone. Although #7139 was officially salvaged on 18 June 1944 after a take-off accident two days previously, the aircraft’s configuration in the photo seems to indicate “Flak Hopper” continued in service “somewhere”. Have you seen any information that might confirm “Flak Hopper” was recovered from salvage please ?"

Additional speculation included that usable parts of this salvaged aircraft and others were used to reconstruct a special purpose aircraft.

0 comments