322nd Bomb Group

Group
media-16755.jpeg UPL 16755 Patch of the 322nd Bomb Group. Motto reads "Recto Faciendo Neminem Timeo" or "I fear none in doing right."

Object Number - UPL 16755 - Patch of the 322nd Bomb Group. Motto reads "Recto Faciendo Neminem Timeo" or "I fear none in doing right."

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

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-019769
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 0-22380
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot, 322nd , Commander, 450th Bomb Squadron

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Established

19 June 1942

Based

Rattlesden 1 December 1942

Based

Bury St Edmunds 7 March 1943 - 12 June 1943

Based

Andrews Field 12 June 1943 - 19 September 1944

Based

Beauvais/Tille

Based

Le Culot

Based

Fritzlar

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32874879
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16029314 / O-664487
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 449th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 449th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14059046
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Mr Five by Five
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group
A B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-18276) nicknamed "Pickled Dilly" lines up for take off with fellow aircraft of the 322nd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '322BG Andrews Field, 'Pickled-Dilly'.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Pickled Dilly
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
A crew of a B-26 Marauder of the 322nd Bomb Group in the cockpit of the aircraft. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication [illegible] Nov 1943.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew of PN:N 131441. MIA 13/8/44.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Winnie Dee II
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 449th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

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ContributorEmily
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ContributorGarwoodallen
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Spell check

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Contributorjrugman
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Photo of insignia displayed on the page.

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Contributordeejaykev67
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internet

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ContributorLee8thbuff
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Lee Cunningham 25-Nov-2014. Added Commanding Officer connections per http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/322bg.HTM

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ContributorLee8thbuff
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Lee Cunningham 25-Nov-2014. Added CO Stillman per http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/322bg.HTM.

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ContributorLee8thbuff
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Lee Cunningham 25-Nov-2014. Early history added, base locations per http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/322bg.HTM

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ContributorAAM
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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)

322nd Bomb Group: Gallery (317 items)