Tafaraoui
Airfield320th 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
- 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
- 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