441st Bomb Squadron
Following recent government announcements the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
Group
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.
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based | Tafaraoui | November 1942 – April 1943 |
Based | Montesquieu | April 1943 – June 1943 |
Based | Massicault | June 1943 – July 1943 |
Based | Decimomannu | November 1943 – September 1944 |
Based | Alto | September 1944 – November 1944 |
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 320th Bomb Group
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...
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator Gunner | 320th Bomb Group
Military | Major | Pilot | 320th Bomb Group
Douglas Newton Taylor was born in New Haven, CT on 19 February 1915. His mother passed away when Doug and his brother Howard were young. Their father, Albert, was an engineer working in the Central Americas, so Doug and Howard lived with their aunt in...
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...
B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
On 8 July, 1943 'Nan' 41-17792 of the 444th Bomb Squadron was part of an attack on the Gerbini Airdrome No. 11 in Sicily. The aircraft crashed on takeoff from the airfield at Massicault, Tunisia. The pilot was Robert C. Burns, the copilot was Douglas...
C-47 Skytrain
1LT Jasinowski, nickname Jazz, first name unknown. He was Doug's copilot on the 320th courier aircraft C-47 Li'L Woman
B-26 Marauder
41-17724 444th BS, “Red Hot Rabbit” crash on return from bombing of the Trapani Milo Airdrome, Sicily - Jun 15, 1943. Unidentified crew
...
Distinguished Unit Citation - 12 May 1944
Date | Contributor | Update |
---|---|---|
31 October 2018 21:46:53 | 466thHistorian | Changes to media associations |
Sources | ||
Chris Brassfield |
||
Date | Contributor | Update |
31 October 2018 21:27:59 | 466thHistorian | Changes to stations |
Sources | ||
Date | Contributor | Update |
31 October 2018 21:20:55 | 466thHistorian | Changes to stations |
Sources | ||
Date | Contributor | Update |
31 October 2018 21:00:51 | 466thHistorian | Created entry with type, category, name, motto, citations, description and stations |
Sources | ||