96th Bomb Group Museum UK

17/06/2026

🇺🇸✈️ A Story of Courage, Quick Thinking, and Survival — April 11, 1944 ✈️🇺🇸
Meet the crew of 1st Lt. Sherman Gillespie, assigned to the 339th Bomb Squadron aboard B-17 #42-97212.
On April 11, 1944, they took off on a mission to Rostock, Germany — but the return home nearly cost them everything.
At 17,000 feet, enemy fighters tore through their aircraft on the way back from the target. Two of their brothers were hit — Tail Gunner Jack Fletcher and Waist Gunner Willard Berg — wounded and in need of help. Battling a brutal 60-knot headwind, Lt. Gillespie knew the hard truth: making it back to England wasn't likely. He turned to his navigator and asked for a heading — for Sweden.
Meanwhile, Radio Operator TSgt. Ernie Richardson — after tending to the wounded — made his way back to the radio room and began hammering out one desperate signal after another:
📡 SOS… SOS… American Aircraft in Distress…
He prayed the Swedes were listening. He prayed their flak batteries would hold their fire.
They were. They did.
Two Swedish fighter planes appeared and escorted Gillespie and his crew safely to Bulltofta Airfield. All ten men landed. All ten men survived. They would spend the remainder of the war interned in Sweden — but they were alive.
🎖️ Pictured here are the men of Gillespie's crew. Please note — not everyone in this photo flew on the April 11th mission. Crews were often reshuffled, and on this fateful day the following men filled key roles:
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Carl J. Goodhouse
Bombardier: F/O Herbert M. Williams
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Earl C. Ward
Back Row (L to R):
TSgt. Steve Condur Jr. – Engineer | SSgt. Willard Berg – Tail Gunner | SSgt. Richard C. Christiansen – Right Waist Gunner | TSgt. Ernie J. Richardson – Radio Operator | SSgt. Jack W. Fletcher – Left Waist Gunner
Front Row (L to R):
2nd Lt. Chester Schultz – Navigator (not on this mission) | 1st Lt. Glen Fister – PFF Operator (not on this mission) | 1st Lt. Sherman Gillespie – Pilot | 2nd Lt. Bob Ketchams – Co-Pilot (not on this mission)
These men are part of the 96th Bomb Group's enduring legacy. Their story deserves to be remembered. 💙
🔁 Share if you want to honor the brave crews who gave everything — even when everything wasn't enough to get them home.

15/06/2026

🐾 A Huge Thank You to !
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Nature's Menu for their generous donation of delicious dog treats for our tombola at the museum's Open Day on 16th August 2026.
Their support helps make our event even more special, and we're sure our four-legged visitors (and their owners!) will be delighted with the chance to win these fantastic treats.
Be sure to join us on the day for a fun-filled event, explore the museum, and enter our tombola for the opportunity to take home some wonderful prizes.
Thank you again, Nature's Menu, for supporting our community event and helping us create a memorable day for everyone. 🐶❤️

14/06/2026

📣 96th Bomb Group Museum – Open Day #3 of 2026! ✈️
Join us for our third Open Day of the year at the 96th Bomb Group Museum and discover the fascinating history of the airmen, aircraft, and operations of the Second World War.
📅 Sunday 21st June 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 4:00pm
🎟️ FREE ENTRY
Explore our unique collection of artefacts, memorabilia, photographs, and stories that preserve the legacy of the men and women connected to RAF Snetterton Heath and the 96th Bomb Group.
Whether you're a history enthusiast, aviation fan, or simply looking for an interesting day out, we'd love to welcome you.
📍 96th Bomb Group Museum, Quidenham, NR16 2NZ
Please like, share, and help spread the word. We look forward to seeing you there!

11/06/2026

Silent Auction Update.

We have received a fantastic opening bid in excess of $450.00

There is still time to Bid with it running till the 4th July.
Rules and how to enter are below.

96th Bomb Group Association members you chance to win a limited edition 1 of 1 Framed Picture!!!!

Please see rules below. You must be a member of the association to enter. Auction starts 1st June till July 4th

Dear Members,

We are excited to announce the opening of a special Silent Auction to help raise funds for the Museum here in England.

This auction is exclusively open to members of the association, meaning you’ll only be bidding against others who share an interest in the 96th.

Up for auction is a truly unique prize — a limited edition 1 of 1 print, generously created and donated by Epic Militaria
(Please see the attached photo.)

Auction Details
Auction Opens: Monday, 1st June

Auction Closes: Saturday, 4th July at:

12:00 GMT

09:00 EST

08:00 CST

05:00 PST

How to Bid
All bids must be sent via email to:
[email protected]

Please use the following subject line exactly:
SILENT AUCTION

Important Rules
All bids must be made in US Dollars.

Bidders may increase their bids throughout the auction period.

Bidders will remain confidential and will not be announced publicly but bid amounts will.

Please include your full name and address with your bid so we can arrange shipping if you are the winning bidder.

The print will not be shipped until payment has been confirmed.

Payment Information
The winning bid may be paid either:

Directly to the association (who will then transfer the funds to the museum), or

Directly to the museum (please note the bidder is responsible for any applicable fees).

Thank you for your continued support of the Museum and helping us preserve the legacy of the 96th.

Kind regards,
Lewis
96th Bomb Group Museum (Social Media)

10/06/2026

CREW OF THE WEEK
1st Lt. Jacob Kurtzberg's Crew
338th Bomb Squadron
Sometimes the greatest dangers came not over the target, but on the journey home.
This week, we remember the crew of 1st Lt. Jacob Kurtzberg, assigned to the 338th Bomb Squadron in December 1943 and flying aboard B-17F 42-38105.
On 6 February 1944, the crew joined a mission to attack the rail yards at Romilly-sur-Seine, France.
For the second consecutive day, heavy cloud cover protected the target. Rather than bomb an alternate target, the 96th Bomb Group returned to England with their bombs still aboard.
The most dangerous part of the mission, however, was yet to come.
As the formation headed home, enemy fighters launched a surprise attack against the last element of the Low Squadron.
Four FW 190s swept in.
One German fighter attempted to barrel through the formation but instead collided with Kurtzberg's B-17.
The impact tore into the port wing, knocked out the No. 2 engine, and ignited the wing fuel tanks.
The crippled Fortress rolled violently to the left, brushing against another 96th Bomb Group aircraft flown by Lt. Lee Bevers before erupting in a massive explosion.
Navigator Lt. John Tellefsen, aboard Bevers' aircraft, later recorded the terrifying moment in his diary:
"Our group and another group interlocked. Biggest scare of the day. That is until Kurtzberg hit us before he went down."
The wreckage fell around the town of Villers-Cotterêts, France.
A report filed by M/Sgt. Janborek, a German military policeman stationed in Château-Thierry, noted that despite bombs exploding within the wreckage and destroying four buildings, no civilians were injured.
For the crew, the cost was devastating.
Nine members of the crew were killed.
Only one man survived.
S/Sgt. Jose Pino, the Right Waist Gunner, escaped the destruction of the aircraft and became a Prisoner of War.
In an extraordinary act of humanity amid war, Feldwebel Weiber of the German Army ensured that the nine fallen airmen were buried with full military honours at the cemetery in Pisseleux.
Crew of B-17F 42-38105
1st Lt. Jacob Kurtzberg – Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Robert L. Miner – Co-Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. William M. Frank – Navigator (KIA)
2nd Lt. William C. Weiner – Bombardier (KIA)
T/Sgt. John L. Roever – Engineer (KIA)
T/Sgt. Robert J. Huhtala – Radio Operator (KIA)
S/Sgt. Edward F. Majeska – Left Waist Gunner (KIA)
S/Sgt. Jose Pino – Right Waist Gunner (POW)
S/Sgt. Walter B. Swietoniowski – Tail Gunner (KIA)
S/Sgt. O. S. McIver – Ball Turret Gunner (KIA)
Their mission never reached its target.
Their journey home never reached England.
Yet their story endures.
Today, we remember the nine men who lost their lives, the lone survivor who endured captivity, and the dignity shown by those who laid these airmen to rest.
We remember them with honour.

08/06/2026

We would like to say a massive thank to for the kind donation and the continued support you have given us over the last few years

-you

05/06/2026

🎶 Dust off your dancing shoes and step back in time! 🎶
​Get ready for an unforgettable night of vintage fun at The Falcons Swing Dance, hosted by the 96th Bomb Group Museum! ✈️💃🕺
​Whether you're a seasoned jitterbugger or just looking for a fantastic night out, come down and soak up the incredible 1940s atmosphere. We'll have couples spinning, great music, and a lively crowd!
​Here is everything you need to know:
📅 Date: Saturday 25th July 2026
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Location: The Red Feather Club, Denham, Eye, IP21 5DG
🎵 Music: Beats provided by the fantastic DJ Three Bits of Rhythm
🎟️ Tickets: Just £10! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-falcons-swing-dance-tickets-1980974575281?aff=oddtdtcreator
​✨ Perks on the night:
🥂 Cash/Card Bar to keep you refreshed
🎟️ Raffle with exciting prizes
​Gather your friends, dress in your finest vintage attire (optional but highly encouraged!), and let's make it a night to remember.
​Tag your dance partner in the comments below! 👇
​

03/06/2026

CREW OF THE WEEK
1st Lt. Harold L. Niswonger's Crew
337th Bomb Squadron
Some photographs capture more than faces.
They capture friendships, hopes, and moments frozen in time before history changed everything.
This week's crew photograph shows the men of 1st Lt. Harold L. Niswonger's crew, gathered together with an unlikely member of their wartime family — their beloved dog, "Miss Lace."
To those who flew from Snetterton Heath, mascots like Miss Lace were often more than pets. They were a reminder of home, a source of comfort, and a welcome distraction from the dangers that awaited beyond the English coast.
Looking at this photograph today, it is difficult to imagine that within months many of these young men would face one of the most costly missions in the history of the 96th Bomb Group.
Berlin – 8 May 1944
The mission to Berlin on 8 May 1944 would become one of the darkest days experienced by the Group.
Ten crews were lost or failed to return to Snetterton Heath.
Among them was the crew of B-17G 42-97782.
As they approached the target, enemy fighters attacked repeatedly. Cannon fire struck the wings and cockpit, while No. 3 engine burst into flames.
Despite the damage, the crew pressed on.
Their bombs were released, but the battered Fortress could not survive much longer.
As crew members began abandoning the aircraft, an attacking FW 190 flown by Staffelführer Lt. Leopold Münster rammed the B-17.
Moments later, the aircraft exploded in a massive fireball over Germany.
The wreckage fell near Daverden, northwest of Verden an der Aller.
Three members of the crew lost their lives that day:
2nd Lt. Harold L. Niswonger
T/Sgt. John R. Caum
T/Sgt. Robert J. Morrison
Seven others survived to become Prisoners of War.
For the men who escaped, the war would continue behind barbed wire.
For those who did not return, only memories remained.
The Legacy of Tom Thomas
One of the survivors was the crew's navigator, 2nd Lt. Thomas L. Thomas.
After enduring captivity and returning home, Tom dedicated much of his life to ensuring that the stories of the men of the 96th Bomb Group would never be forgotten.
He became the driving force behind the 96th Bomb Group Association, helping reunite veterans, preserve records, collect photographs, and share the history of the Group with future generations.
Many of the stories we remember today survive because Tom and the other founding fathers of the 96th Bomb Group Association believed they should.
His work ensured that crews like Niswonger's would remain more than names on a roster.
They would remain people.
Friends.
Airmen.
Brothers.
Crew of B-17G 42-97782
2nd Lt. Harold L. Niswonger – Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Roderick B. Steele – Co-Pilot (POW)
2nd Lt. Thomas L. Thomas – Navigator (POW)
F/O Thomas E. Fitzgerald – Bombardier (POW)
T/Sgt. John R. Caum – Engineer (KIA)
T/Sgt. Robert J. Morrison – Radio Operator (KIA)
S/Sgt. Dale J. Johnson – Left Waist Gunner (POW)
S/Sgt. Albert Grick – Right Waist Gunner (POW)
S/Sgt. Robert R. Robinson – Tail Gunner (POW)
S/Sgt. Edwin H. Marsh – Ball Turret Gunner (POW)
Today, as we look at this photograph, we remember not only the airmen, but also the faithful dog sitting among them.
Miss Lace could never have known where these young men would go, what they would endure, or how many would never return.
But she reminds us that behind every combat mission were ordinary people with friendships, laughter, and lives beyond the war.
Their sacrifice is remembered.
Their stories endure.
We remember them with honour.

01/06/2026

Over this weekend we hit 3000 followers on Facebook this weekend. From the social media team thank you to every single 1 of you for helping us grow this page and continue to spread the history of the 96th Bomb Group

31/05/2026

96th Bomb Group Association members you chance to win a limited edition 1 of 1 Framed Picture!!!!

Please see rules below. You must be a member of the association to enter. Auction starts 1st June till July 4th

Dear Members,

We are excited to announce the opening of a special Silent Auction to help raise funds for the Museum here in England.

This auction is exclusively open to members of the association, meaning you’ll only be bidding against others who share an interest in the 96th.

Up for auction is a truly unique prize — a limited edition 1 of 1 print, generously created and donated by Epic Militaria
(Please see the attached photo.)

Auction Details
Auction Opens: Monday, 1st June

Auction Closes: Saturday, 4th July at:

12:00 GMT

09:00 EST

08:00 CST

05:00 PST

How to Bid
All bids must be sent via email to:
[email protected]

Please use the following subject line exactly:
SILENT AUCTION

Important Rules
All bids must be made in US Dollars.

Bidders may increase their bids throughout the auction period.

Bidders will remain confidential and will not be announced publicly but bid amounts will.

Please include your full name and address with your bid so we can arrange shipping if you are the winning bidder.

The print will not be shipped until payment has been confirmed.

Payment Information
The winning bid may be paid either:

Directly to the association (who will then transfer the funds to the museum), or

Directly to the museum (please note the bidder is responsible for any applicable fees).

Thank you for your continued support of the Museum and helping us preserve the legacy of the 96th.

Kind regards,
Lewis
96th Bomb Group Museum (Social Media)