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Aircraft: | B-17 |
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Wing: | 1st Combat Bombardment Wing | ||||
Division: | 1st Bombardment Division | ||||
Airfield(s) | |||||
Squadrons: | 32nd Bombardment Squadron 352nd Bombardment Squadron 353rd Bombardment Squadron 419th Bombardment Squadron |
| Details: | Trained with B-17's. Moved to England, Jul-Aug 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF.
Began combat in Sep 1942 and attacked submarine pens, airfields, railroads, bridges, and other targets on the Continent, primarily in France. Operated with Twelfth AF after moving to North Africa in Nov 1942. Bombed docks, shipping facilities, airdromes, and railroad yards in Tunisia, Sicily, and Sardinia. Attacked enemy shipping between Tunisia and Sicily. Received a DUC for action on 6 Apr 1943 when the group withstood intense antiaircraft fire from shore defenses and nearby vessels to attack a convoy of merchant ships off Bizerte and thus destroy supplies essential to the Axis defense of Tunisia. Assaulted gun positions on Pantelleria during May-Jun 1943. Flew numerous missions to Italy, Jul-Oct 1943. Assigned to Fifteenth AF in Nov 1943, moved to Italy in Dec, and afterward directed most of its attacks against such strategic targets as oil centers, communications, and industrial areas in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Received another DUC for a mission to Germany on 25 Feb 1944 when, in spite of vicious encounters with enemy fighters, the group bombed aircraft production centers at Regensburg. Other operations for the group during 1944-1945 included flying missions in support of ground forces in the Anzio and Cassino areas, supporting the invasion of Southern France, knocking out targets to assist the Russian advance in the Balkans, and aiding the Allied drive through the Po Valley. Returned to the US in July 1945. Redesignated 301st Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Aug. Inactivated on 15 Oct 1945.
Air Force Combat Units of World War II, Maurer, Maurer: USAF, 1986 | |
Accident Reports: | Number of Non-Combat-Related Accident reports for this group: 1 |
Click on the date to see mission details
# | DATE | NAME | TARGETS | A/C LOST |
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1 | September 05, 1942 | VIII BC 9 | Port and Rail targets in France | |
2 | September 06, 1942 | VIII BC 10 | Airfields in France | |
3 | October 02, 1942 | VIII BC 13 | Airfields and aircraft industry in France; | |
4 | October 09, 1942 | VIII BC 14 | Industry in France; Diversion | 1 |
5 | October 21, 1942 | VIII BC 15 | Lorient U-boat bases; Cherbourg airfield | |
6 | November 07, 1942 | VII BC 16 | U-boat pens | |
7 | November 08, 1942 | VIII BC 17 | German airfields and industry in France | |
8 | February 02, 1943 | VIII BC 32 | Hamm marshaling yards | |
9 | March 12, 1944 | 8AF 256 | St. Pol / Siracourt V-weapons sites | |
10 | August 07, 1944 | 8AF 527, 528 | Fuel dumps, bridges in France; GH test | |
11 | December 02, 1944 | 8AF 734 | Rail marshaling yards in Germany | |
12 | March 19, 1945 | 8AF 896 | Industry, rail and airfield targets in Germany | |
TOTAL AIRCRAFT LOST: | 1 |
# | DATE | REPORT |
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1 | 1942-08-09 | Aircraft: B-17F (#41-24347). Organization: 352BS / 301BG of Bovingdon, Dorset. Pilot: Hair, James M. Notes: forced landing out of gas. Location: RAF Church Lawford, Warwickshire, England England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ |