Tafaraoui

Airfield
media-36290.jpeg UPL 36290 B-26B-5-MA #41-17845
320th BG - 444th BS

Object Number - UPL 36290 - B-26B-5-MA #41-17845 320th BG - 444th BS

Connections

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Detailed History

During World War II, it was a primary mission objective of the United States Army 34th Infantry Division during the Allied Operation Torch landings on 8 November 1942, and became a major Twelfth Air Force base of operations during the North African Campaign against the German Afrika Korps.



Tafaraoui became a staging and transit point for many units:

11–20 November 1942 - 1st Fighter Group HQ and the 27th, 71st and 94th Fighter Squadrons, flying P-38 Lightnings, arrived then departed Tafaraoui.

14 November 1942 - HQ 14th Fighter Group, HQ 62d Troop Carrier Group, and the 4th and 7th Troop Carrier Squadrons arrive at Tafaraoui with C-47 Skytrains

16 November 1942 - 8th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, arrive at Tafaraoui from the UK with C-47s; the 111th and 154th Observation Squadrons, 68th Observation Group, moves from St Leu to Tafaraoui with A-20s

17 November 1942 - 437th and 438th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), move from Saint-Leu to Tafaraoui with B-26s.

November 42 - HQ 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 439th, and 440th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from St Leu to Tafaraoui with B-26 Marauders; "A" flight of the air echelon of the 15th Photographic Mapping Squadron, 3d Photographic Group, arrives at Tafaraoui with B-17 Flying Fortresses and F-4s (P-38 photo reconnaissance aircraft).



The new desert Spitfires of the 31st Fighter Group were also assigned to Tafaraoui. Other aircraft at the field included P-38s of the 14th, B-26s, B-25 Mitchells, A-20 Havocs, Gen. Doolittle's B-17-G, some French Amiot bombers around, and some old wrecks fixed up as dummies.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 32nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11033349
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
John B Bruce
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 32nd Bomb Squadron 301st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 19039031 / O-431847
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14042610
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner / Asst. Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13039158
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 32nd Bomb Squadron 301st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-725135
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 320th Bomb Group 444th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 320th Bomb Group 441st Bomb Squadron
The B-24D, 41-23774, named, Geronimo, and, Hitler's Nightmare. 1942.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Geronimo - Hitler's Nightmare
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron 67th Bomb Squadron 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Queen Bee 17
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 353rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron 414th Bomb Squadron 99th Bomb Group 346th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes

Tafaraoui: Gallery (2 items)