Constituted as 320th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 19 June 1942.
Activated on 23 June 1942. Trained with B-26 aircraft. Most of the group moved to North Africa via England, August-December 1942. Crews flew their planes over the South Atlantic route and arrived in North Africa, December 1942-January 1943. Began combat with Twelfth AF in April 1943 and operated from bases in Algeria, Tunisia, Sardinia, and Corsica until November 1944. During the period from April to July 1943, flew missions against enemy shipping in the approaches to Tunisia, attacked installations in Sardinia, participated in the reduction of Pantelleria, and supported the invasion of Sicily. Then bombed marshalling yards, bridges, airdromes, road junctions, viaducts, harbors, fuel dumps, defense positions, and other targets in Italy. The 320th bomb group supported forces at Salerno and knocked out targets to aid the seizure of Naples and the crossing of the Volturno River. Flew missions to Anzio and Cassino and engaged in interdictory operations in central Italy in preparation for the advance toward Rome. Received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for action in preparation for and in support of Allied offensive operations in central Italy, April through June 1944. Received a DUC for a mission on 12 May 1944 when, in the face of an intense anti-aircraft barrage, the group bombed enemy troop concentrations near Fondi in support of Fifth Army's advance toward Rome. From June to November 1944 operations included interdictory missions in the Po Valley, support for the invasion of Southern France, and attacks on enemy communications in northern Italy. Moved to France in November 1944 and bombed bridges, rail lines, gun positions, barracks, supply points, ammunition dumps, and other targets in France and Germany until V-E Day. Received a DUC for operations on 15 March 1945 when the group bombed pillboxes, trenches, weapon pits, and roads within the Siegfried Line to enable a breakthrough by Seventh Army. Moved to Germany in June 1945 and participated in the disarmament program. Returned to the US, November and December.
Inactivated on 4 Dec 1945.

Structure

Part of

Not yet known

Encompassing

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  441st Bomb Squadron

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  442nd Bomb Squadron

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  443rd Bomb Squadron

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  444th Bomb Squadron

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	Tafaraoui Airfield	November 1942 – April 1943
Based	Montesquieu Airfield	April 1943 – June 1943
Based	Massicault Airfield	June 1943 – July 1943
Based	Decimomannu Airbase	November 1943 – September 1944
Based	Alto	September 1944 – November 1944

Connections

People

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  Jerome Banicki

  Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 320th Bomb Group

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  Edward Kelley

  Military | Sergeant | Engineer/Gunner | 320th Bomb Group
  Edward Arthur Kelley was the son of Charles and Susan Kelley, and the brother of Thomas Kelley. He was born 16 Jul 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 2 Nov 1942. He was assigned to the 320th Bombardment Group and was...

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  Myron Patzke

  Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator Gunner | 320th Bomb Group

Aircraft

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  42-95753 'Taboo' 'My Gal'

  B-26 Marauder
  Assigned to 441st BS, 320th BG, 12th AF. It was lost on 23-Dec-44 on diversion mission to gun emplacements near Breisach, Germany. Flak hit over the target cut A/C in two just aft of top turret, rolled over into shallow spin, exploded on hitting ground...

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  41-18305

  B-26 Marauder

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  42-96322

  B-26 Marauder

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  42-107783 Thumper II

  B-26 Marauder

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  42-95742 Eight Ball

  B-26 Marauder

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  41-17845

  B-26 Marauder

Citations

Distinguished Unit Citation - 12 May 1944