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322nd Bomb Group

Group

  • Patch of the 322nd Bomb Group. Motto reads

    Patch of the 322nd Bomb Group. Motto reads "Recto Faciendo Neminem Timeo" or "I fear none in doing right."

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  • An airman of the 322nd Bomb Group with his B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31824) nicknamed

    An airman of the 322nd Bomb Group with his B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31824) nicknamed "Pete's Avenger". Handwritten on reverse: 'Andrews Field.'

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  • Personnel of the 322nd Bomb Group ride a bomb trolley past B-26 Maraduers. Image stamped on reverse: ''Keystone Press,' [stamp] and '282876.' [Censor no.] Printed caption attached to the reverse: AMERICA'S NEW SUPER MEDIUM BOMBER IN BRITAIN 18.8.43. The U.S. Super Medium bomber, the

    Personnel of the 322nd Bomb Group ride a bomb trolley past B-26 Maraduers. Image stamped on reverse: ''Keystone Press,' [stamp] and '282876.' [Censor no.] Printed caption attached to the reverse: AMERICA'S NEW SUPER MEDIUM BOMBER IN BRITAIN 18.8.43. The U.S. Super Medium bomber, the "MARAUDER" is now operating from Britain after doing fine work in N.Africa and Sicily. It has a range of 2000 miles, with a speed of 350 m.p.h., a wing span of 65 ft, and carries one ton of bombs. Driven by two 2000 h.p. Prat and Whitney "WASP" engines armed with 8 of the famous "Calibre 50" machine guns and carries a crew of 6 who all wear "Flak" armour and steel hats.' [ caption]. 'passed for publication 18 Aug 1943' [stamp].

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  • A bomber crew and their dog mascot

    A bomber crew and their dog mascot "Salvo" of the 322nd Bomb Group climb aboard a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-18054) nicknamed "Jezabelle". Image stamped on reverse: 'Saidman Illustrated.; [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 31 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '281477.' [Censor no.] Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Salvo Parapup". "Salvo" & the crew enter the Marauder medium Bomber for a flight.'

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  • General Henry H Arnold, chief of the United States Army Air Forces, meets Captain Roland Scott of the 322nd Bomb Group during a visit to the 2nd General Hospital (Churchill Hospital). Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.'[stamp], 'Passed as censored 10 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '283246.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '

    General Henry H Arnold, chief of the United States Army Air Forces, meets Captain Roland Scott of the 322nd Bomb Group during a visit to the 2nd General Hospital (Churchill Hospital). Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.'[stamp], 'Passed as censored 10 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '283246.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"General Arnold Visits Churchill Hospital." General Henry H Arnold, Cheif of US Army Air Forces visited the 2nd General Hospital (Churchill Hospital) to see wounded airmen of the 8th Air Force. Keystone Photo shows: Capt Roland Scott (of Macon, GA) with Gen Arnold. The captain was hit by a 20 MM. Shell.' A censor has crossed through each occurence of 'Churchill.'

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  • Personnel of the 322nd Bomb Group with a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-17934) nicknamed

    Personnel of the 322nd Bomb Group with a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-17934) nicknamed "Pappy's Pram". Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed [illegible] 1943.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 'PN-Q 322.' From left to right: Lt. James Hinkle (VA), Lt. Wilbur DeGroff (WI), Sgt. Frank Udovich (WI), Sgt. Charles A. Smith (TX), and Sgt. Robert Hammerberg (IL).

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  • Two B-26 Marauders: (PN-A, serial number 41-31788) nicknamed

    Two B-26 Marauders: (PN-A, serial number 41-31788) nicknamed "Truman Committee" and (PN-J, serial number 41-24763), of the 322nd Bomb Group fly above the clouds. Image via Jeremy C Scutts.

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  • Two B-26 Marauders, (PN-A, serial number 41-31788) nicknamed

    Two B-26 Marauders, (PN-A, serial number 41-31788) nicknamed "Truman Committee" and (PN-J, serial number 41-34763) nicknamed "Duchess of Barksdale" of the 322nd Bomb Group fly together on a mission. Image Via Rene J Fancillon Printed caption on reverse: '25108 USAF- Flak bursting around Martin B-26 over France- 1943. US Air Force Photo, Detachment-5, Hq AAVS (Mac).'

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  • An airman of the 322nd Bomb Group with a bicycle in front of Nissen Huts. Image by Eugene Allen, via Peter Dale. Printed caption on reverse, written by veteran: 'A winter's day at Andrews Field, 1944. Typical Nissen hutted domestic site with adaptation of the same basic structure. The hut with side windows on extreme left is the site administration office. Beyond is a windowless store and behind that similar sized 16 ft by 36ft barrack hut with end windows. There is a line of these barracks on the right, fronted by the occupant's bicycles. Each hut 'slept' 8 Officers. Credit Eugene Allen.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '322.'

    An airman of the 322nd Bomb Group with a bicycle in front of Nissen Huts. Image by Eugene Allen, via Peter Dale. Printed caption on reverse, written by veteran: 'A winter's day at Andrews Field, 1944. Typical Nissen hutted domestic site with adaptation of the same basic structure. The hut with side windows on extreme left is the site administration office. Beyond is a windowless store and behind that similar sized 16 ft by 36ft barrack hut with end windows. There is a line of these barracks on the right, fronted by the occupant's bicycles. Each hut 'slept' 8 Officers. Credit Eugene Allen.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '322.'

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  • Airmen of the 322nd Bomb Group shake hands beneath their B-26 Marauder after completing 50 missions. Official caption written on image: '(GPR-73-2-4)(21-Feb-44)(Congradulations- 50 Missions)' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Sgt Mossey & Lt Ed Davis after 50 Mission 21/2/44.'

    Airmen of the 322nd Bomb Group shake hands beneath their B-26 Marauder after completing 50 missions. Official caption written on image: '(GPR-73-2-4)(21-Feb-44)(Congradulations- 50 Missions)' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Sgt Mossey & Lt Ed Davis after 50 Mission 21/2/44.'

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The 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) was activated on 19-Jun-1942 at MacDill Field, Florida with B-26B Marauder aircraft. In late September 1942 the unit moved to Drane Field, Florida. The Ground echelon sailed for the UK aboard the Queen Elizabeth on 24-November-1942 arriving in Greenock, UK on 30-Nov-42. The ground unit was originally to be stationed at Bury St. Edmunds, but the field was undergoing improvement modifications so they went to Rattlesden until 22-May-1943. The 450th Bomb Squadron moved to Morrison Field on 6-February-1943 and left for Bury St. Edmunds by the southern ferry route arriving 7-9 March-1943. The 452nd Bomb Squadron followed in late March 1943; the 451st and 449th Bomb Squadrons followed in April and May 1943. The last aircraft arrived at Bury St. Edmunds on 29-May-1943.

Between 14-May-1943 and 8-October-1943 the Group flew 34 missions and lost 13 aircraft MIA. A low-level strike mission was flown by the 322nd Bomb Group on 14 May 1943, the first to fly B-26 Marauders from the UK. Only three days later another low-level mission over Holland resulted in the loss of ten out of eleven aircraft and sixty crew, when bombers were brought down by flak and interceptors. In the aftermath of this shocking loss, the Group trained for medium-altitude operations for several weeks, resuming combat missions on 17 July 1943.

On 16-October-1943 the Group was reassigned to the Ninth Air Force but continued to be based in England, at Andrews Field (Great Saling), Essex until September 1944 when they moved to a succession of bases in France and Belgium.

Commanding officers

  • Robert Stillman

    Military | Major General | Pilot; Commanding Officer | 322nd Bomb Group
    Robert Stillman from High School at Pueblo, Colorado in 1929 and attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs for 2 years. Graduating from the US Military Academy on 12 June 1935, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He soon...

  • Glenn Nye

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Commanding Officer | 322nd Bomb Group
    Commanding Officer 322nd Bombardment Squadron 19-May-1943 to 20-April-1944.

  • John Egan

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot, 322nd Bomb Group, Commander, 450th Bomb Squadron | 322nd Bomb Group
    John Lloyd retired from the Air Force, having served in World War II as Commanding Officer of the 450th Bomb Group and as a Commander of the 95th Bomb Squadron during the Korean War. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross Awards.

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 56

    14 May 1943
    Today's operations will be the most extensive yet mounted by VIII Bomber Command. The operations call for a "maximum effort". Whereas in the past a single target or those close together have been chosen, today's effort is against widley separated...

  • VIII Bomber Command 58

    17 May 1943
    VIII Bomber Command launches another operation against German U-Boat facilities with three elements. The first element is a formation of 100 B-17s despatched from: 91BG (24); 92BG (10); 303BG (21); 305BG (21) and 306BG (24) to attack the German U-Boat...

  • VIII Air Support Command 6

    28 July 1943
    18 B-26s from 323BG are despatched to bomb the cocke ovens as Zeebrugge, Holland. 17 are effective on the target. 3 are damaged. No losses of claims.

  • VIII Air Support Command 11D

    31 July 1943
    The is element D of VIII ASC Mission 11. It is a force of 21-B-26s from 322BG despatched to attack the German airfield at Tricqueville, France at 16:23 hours. 18 of these aircraft are effective in the attack. There are no losses but 5 aircraft are...

  • VIII Air Support Command 13A

    2 August 1943
    An unknown number of B-26s (probably 21-24) from 322BG were depatched to bomb the German airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland, but the mission is cancelled (reason not known). It is rather a safe assumption to think that all aircraft returned to base (RTB)...

  • VIII Air Support Command 14

    4 August 1943
    The shipyards at Le Trait, France (on the Seine River) is the target for 36 B-26s from 322BG for this mission. 33 are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims.

  • VIII Air Support Command 16B

    9 August 1943
    This is the 11B element of VIII Air Support Command mission #11. This element is a formation of 36 B-26s despatched by 322BG to bomb the German airfield of Ft. Rouge at St. Omer, France. Could cover over the target prevents bombing but 1 aircraft...

  • VIII Air Support Command 17

    12 August 1943
    36 B-26s from 322BG are despatched to bomb the German airfield of Poix/Nord, France. 34 are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims, but 13 are damaged.

  • VIII Air Support Command 21

    16 August 1943
    The German airfield of Bernay St. Martin, France is the primary target for 36 B-26s despatched from 387BG. 31 aircraft are effective on the target. There are no claims or losses, although 2 aircraft sustain damage from anti-aircraft fire.

  • VIII Air Support Command 22A

    16 August 1943
    The German airfield of Beaumont Le Roger, France is the primary target for 36 B-26s from 322BG. 29 are effective on this target. Another 3 attack the German airfield at Conches, France as a target of opportunity. There are no losses or claims, although...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Established 19 June 1942
Based Rattlesden 1 December 1942 – April 1943
Based Bury St Edmunds 7 March 1943 – 12 June 1943
Based Andrews Field 12 June 1943 – 19 September 1944
Based Beauvais/Tille September 1944 – March 1945
Based Le Culot March 1945 – June 1945
Based Fritzlar June 1945 – September 1945

Connections

People

  • Charles Abady

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail gunner | 322nd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Nantes in B-26 41-31974. Hit by flak in target area, smoke seen trailing from starboard engine, control lost, A/C turned on its back, crashed Trois Moulins, 12km Sth of Nantes,...

  • Leroy Adams

    Military | Second Lieutenant | 322nd Bomb Group

  • Anthony Alaimo

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) repeat raid to power station at Ijmuiden, Holland in B26 41-18086 'Draggin Lady'. Hit by flak on return ditched in North sea, co-pilot ejected from cockpit and sole survivor. Rescued by a...

  • Milfred Allen

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 322BS, 451BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from night mission as a Pathfinder in B-26 42-107680 'Pickled Dilly' 8-Jul-44. Bombing raid on V bomb storage facility at Chateau de Ribeaucourt, France. Killed in action (KIA) MACR 6623 ...

  • John Anderson

    Military | Sergeant | 322nd Bomb Group

  • Richard Bailey

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bomber pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. 65 combat missions including three on D-Day and the 23-Dec-44 relief of the Bulge. When wounded in head and both hands, requested medical officer didn't put him forward for Purple Heart as he considered he didn't...

  • Douglas Barker

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
    Born in England during 1921; family emigrated to the United States a few years later, settling in New Jersey. When Britain declared war on German in 1939 he wrote to the Air Ministry / Royal Air Force, seeking to join as a fighter pilot. RAF...

  • Lawrence Barry

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
    Later served as Operation Officer, 450th Bomb Squadron

  • Jose Basaldu

    Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 322nd Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA). May 17, 1943, in B26 41-17998 on mission to a power station in Holland. Plane was shot down by FW190s 30 miles west of Zandvoort, Holland crashing in the North Sea. AM, PH

  • Ray Baum

    Military | Technical Sergeant | 322nd Bomb Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) DFC/ AM w/ 8 Oak Leaf Cluster/ PH/ POW

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Aircraft

  • 41-17998

    B-26 Marauder

  • 41-18075 "MR FIVE BY FIVE"

    B-26 Marauder
    Missions flown 24

  • 41-18090

    B-26 Marauder

  • 41-18276 Pickled Dilly

    B-26 Marauder

  • 41-31741 'Winnie Dee II'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 322BG, 449BS, 9AF USAAF. Missions flown 96, 17 Jul 43 to 4 Jun 44; recoded PN-N, Missions flown 16; 17 Jun 44 to 12 Aug 44. ...

  • 41-31765 "Fightin' Cock"

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. This aircraft was written-off after crash-landing on 12th August 1944. It had received flak damage while over Flers, France and had its electrical system, generators and hydraulic systems shot out. The crew nursed...

  • 41-31767 'Ginger'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 449BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Siracourt,France. Damaged badly enough by AAA [hit in port engine, which was feathered and undercarriage dropped, possibly hydraulic damage] on the 21-Apr-44 mission to cause the crew to bail...

  • 41-31798

    B-26 Marauder

  • 41-31814 'Bag of Bolts'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Amiens. Hit by flak, pilot wounded in stomach and unconscious, crew baled out, shortly later A/C exploded on impact, pilot having been ejected, strapped in his armored flight seat. 2 x EVD, 3...

  • 41-31817

    B-26 Marauder

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Citations

Distinguished Unit Citation for Operations from 14-May-1943 to 24-Jul-1944.

Air Force
8th
9th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames

Nye's Annihilators

Motto
Recto Faciendo Neminem Timeo - "I fear none in doing right."
Insignia
Zigzag on a yellow and blue sheild shaped background
Aircraft used
  • B-26 Marauder

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
01 October 2019 11:15:04 Emily Changes to stations
Sources

USAAF Continental Airfields: ETO, D-Day to VE Day
Date Contributor Update
03 February 2017 17:58:42 Garwoodallen Changes to nicknames
Sources

Spell check
Date Contributor Update
24 December 2015 18:12:49 Concudan Changes to commanding officers associations and mission associations
Sources

Curtis M. Egan
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/322nd_Bombardment_Group.html
Date Contributor Update
16 July 2015 10:11:12 jrugman Changes to insignia and mission associations
Sources

Photo of insignia displayed on the page.
Date Contributor Update
16 July 2015 10:10:22 jrugman Changes to mission associations
Sources

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nortonheritage/WayneDu...
Date Contributor Update
09 June 2015 07:28:13 deejaykev67 Changes to nicknames and mission associations
Sources

internet
Date Contributor Update
25 November 2014 22:00:30 Lee8thbuff Changes to commanding officers associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Nov-2014. Added Commanding Officer connections per http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/322bg.HTM
Date Contributor Update
25 November 2014 21:30:46 Lee8thbuff Changes to person associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Nov-2014. Added CO Stillman per http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/322bg.HTM.
Date Contributor Update
25 November 2014 20:57:42 Lee8thbuff Changes to type, motto, citations, description, air forces, aircraft types, mission associations and stations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Nov-2014. Early history added, base locations per http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/322bg.HTM
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

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