United States Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
381st Bomb Group (H) B-17 and 432nd Air Service Group
532nd • 533rd • 534th • 535th Flight Squadrons
| — | 8th Air Force | — |
Inscription.
Ridgewell, Essex, England
Activated 1 January 1943 • Deactivated 28 August 1945
Dedicated to the honor of those members who
valiantly served and gallantly died in defense
of the Free World, against tyranny and oppression,
so that we all may live in peace and freedom with dignity
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II.
Location. 39° 0.979′ N, 104° 51.31′ W. Memorial is in United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in El Paso County. It can be reached from Parade Loop. Marker is in the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery, on Parade Loop west of Stadium Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: USAF Academy CO 80840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the Front Range and in Pikes Peak Region. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 379th Bomb Group (H) (here, next to this marker); World War II Glider Pilots (here, next to this marker); 306th Bombardment Group (H) (here, next to this marker); 95th Bomb Group H (here, next to this marker); 492nd Bomb Group (H) & 801st Bomb Group (P) (here, next to this marker); 416th Bombardment Group (L) (here, next to this marker); 20th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); 344th Bomb Group (M) AAF (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in United States Air Force Academy.
More about this memorial. Must have a valid ID to enter the USAF Academy grounds.
Also see . . .
1. 381st Bomb Group. American Air Museum in Britain entry (Submitted on February 26, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. 381st Bomb Group at Ridgewell in WW2. Facebook site (Submitted on February 26, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. 381st Bomb Group. Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Association Website
(Submitted on February 26, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Additional keywords. 381st Bomb Group (H) B-17 and 432nd Air Service Group

via American Air Museum in Britain, unknown
3. B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group
In formation during a practice mission. The aircraft, left to right are: (VE-O, serial number 41-107112) nicknamed "Sleepy Time Gal", (VE-N, serial number 43-37675) nicknamed "Patches (Flak Magnet)", (VE-K, serial number 42-106994) nicknamed "Little Guy" and (VP-S, serial number 42-97059) nicknamed "Marsha Sue". Image via Ian MacTaggart and IWM.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 468 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 26, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on February 27, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.

