Constituted as 321st Bombardment Group (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942 and
activated on 26 Jun. Prepared for overseas duty with B-25's. Moved to the
Mediterranean theater, Jan-Mar 1943, and assigned to Twelfth AF. Engaged
primarily in support and interdictory operations, bombing marshalling
yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun
emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa,
France, Sicily, Italy, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Sometimes dropped
propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. Took part in the Allied operations
against Axis forces in North Africa during Mar-May 1943, the reduction of
Pantelleria and Lampedusa in Jun, the invasion of Sicily in Jul, the
landing at Salerno in Sep, the Allied advance toward Rome during Jan-Jun
1944, the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944, and the Allied
operations in northern Italy from Sep 1944 to Apr 1945. Received twc
DUC's: for completing a raid on an air drome near Athens, 8 Oct 1943, in
spite of intense flak and attacks by numerous enemy interceptors; and for
bombing a battleship, a cruiser, and a submarine in Toulon harbor on 18
Aug 1944 to assist the Allied invasion of Southern France. Inactivated in
Italy on 12 Sep 1945.
Redesignated 321st Bombardment Group (Light). Allotted to the reserve.
Activated in the US on 29 Jun 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.
Squadrons. 445th: 1942-1945; 1947-1949. 446th: 1942-1945; 1947-1949.
447th: 1942-1945; 1947-1949. 448th: 1942-1945; 1947-1949.
Stations. Barksdale Field, La, 26 Jun 1942; Columbia AAB, SC, c. 1 Aug
1942; Walterboro, SC, Sep 1942; DeRidder AAB, La, c. 1 Dec 1942-21 Jan
1943; Ain M'lila, Algeria, 12 Mar 1943; Souk-el-Arba, Tunisia, c. 1 Jun
1943; Soliman, Tunisia, 8 Aug 1943; Grottaglie, Italy, Oct 1943; Amendola,
Italy, c. 20 Nov 1943; Vincenzo Airfield, Italy, 14 Jan 1944; Gaudo
Airfield, Italy, Feb 1944; Corsica, 23 Apr 1944; Falconara, Italy, 1 Apr
1945; Pomigliano, Italy, c. Seo-12 Sep 1945. Mansfield, Ohio, 29 Jun
1947-27 Jun 1949.
Commanders. Unkn, Jun-Aug 1942 Col William C Mills, 3 Aug 1942; Col
Robert D Knapp, Sep 1942; Lt Col Charles T Olmsted, 5 Dec 1943; Lt Col
Peter H Remington, 18 Mar 1944; Col Richard H Smith, 26 Mar 1944; Lt Col
Charles F Cassidy Jr, 28 Jan 1945-unkn.
Campaigns. Air Combat, EAME Theater; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia;
Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Central Europe; Po
Valley.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Athens, Greece, 8 Oct 1943;
France, 18 Aug 1944.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, six drop bombs, three, two, and one or. Motto:
Perseverance, Vision, And Duty. (Approved 7 Nov 1942. This insigne was
replaced 30 Aug 1954.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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