310th Bombardment Group

Constituted as 310th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Mar 1942. Used B-25's in preparing for duty overseas. Moved to the Mediterranean theater, Oct-Dec 1942, and assigned to Twelfth AF. Engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, and southern France; also flew some missions to Austria and Yugoslavia. Attacked harbors and shipping to help defeat Axis forces in North Africa, Dec 1942 May 1943. Bombed airdromes, landing grounds, and gun emplacements on Pantelleria, Lampedusa, and Sicily, May-Jul 1943. Supported the Allied landing at Salerno, Sep 1943. Assisted the drive toward Rome, Jan-Jun 1944. Supported the invasion of Southern France, Aug 1944. Struck German communications - bridges, rail lines, marshalling yards, viaducts, tunnels, and road junctions - in Italy, Aug 1943-Apr 1945. Also dropped propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. Received a DUC for a mission to Italy on 27 Aug 1943 when, in spite of persistent attacks by enemy interceptors and antiaircraft artillery, the group effectively bombed marshalling yards at Benevento and also destroyed a number of enemy planes. Received second DUC for another mission in Italy on 10 Mar 1945 when the group, maintaining a compact formation in the face of severe antiaircraft fire, bombed the railroad bridge at Ora, a vital link in the German supply line. Inactivated in Italy on 12 Sep 1945.

Redesignated 310th Bombardment Group (Light). Allotted to the reserve. Activated in the US on 27 Dec 1946. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.

Squadrons. 379th: 1942-1945; 1947-1949. 380th: 1942-1945; 1947-1949. 381st: 1942-1945; 1947-1949. 428th: 1942-1945.

Stations. Davis-Monthan Field, Ariz, 15 Mar 1942; Jackson AAB, Miss, 15 Mar 1942; Key Field, Miss, Apr 1942; Columbia AAB, SC, 16 May 1942; Walterboro, SC, 14 Aug 1942; Greenville AAB, SC, 18 Sea 17 Oct 1942; Mediouna, French Morocco, c. 18 Nov 1942; Telergma, Algeria, 21 Dec 1942; Berteaux, Algeria, 1 Jan 1943; Dar el Koudia, Tunisia, c. 6 Jun 1943; Menzel Temime, Tunisia, c. 5 Aug 1943; Philippeville, Algeria, 10 Nov 1943; Corsica, c. 10 Dec 1943; Fano, Italy, 7 Apr 1945; Pomigliano, Italy, c. Aug-12 Sep 1945. Bedford AAFld, Mass, 27 Dec 1946-27 Jun 1949.

Commanders. Lt Col William E Lee, 15 Mar 1942; Lt Col Flint Garrison Jr, 21 Apr 1942; Capt James A Plant, 19 May 1942; Col Anthony G Hunter, c. 17 Jun 1942; Col Peter H Remington, c. 7 Oct 1944; Col William M Bower, Jul-c. Sep 1945.

Campaigns. Air Combat, EAME Theater; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Central Europe; Po Valley.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 27 Aug 1943; Ora, Italy, 10 Mar 1945.

Insigne. Shield: On a blue shield between two yellow 45-degree triangles with the long sides facing each other and placed diagonally from upper right to lower left, three white stars; in the upper triangle a white mailed right hand grasping a red lightning flash and in the lower triangle a white dove in flight to base carrying a green and black olive branch in its beak, hand and dove outlined in black; in a row across the bottom of shield ten small white stars; the shield and triangles bordered with black, edged with white against the blue. (Approved 7 Jan 1954.)

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986