Boomerang: Story of the 320th Bombardment Group in WWII

Author: Victor Tannehill
Publisher: Victor Tannehill WI
Edition: Second
Cover: Hardcover
Published: 1980
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Synopsis: Victor Tannehill's comprehensive unit history chronicles the distinguished combat service of the 320th Bombardment Group, a B-26 Marauder medium bomber unit that compiled an exceptional record during campaigns across the Mediterranean theater in World War II. The group's nickname "Boomerang" reflected their reputation for always returning from missions despite facing intense enemy opposition, a testament to both the rugged construction of their aircraft and the skill of their aircrews. Tannehill begins with the group's formation and training in the United States, documenting the challenging process of mastering the temperamental B-26 Marauder, an aircraft initially plagued by high accident rates and mechanical problems that earned it the ominous nickname "Widowmaker" among early crews. The book chronicles how intensive training and technical improvements eventually transformed the B-26 into one of the war's most effective medium bombers, with the lowest combat loss rate of any American bomber type. The narrative covers the 320th's deployment to North Africa in 1942 as part of the Allied campaign to drive Axis forces from the continent, describing the challenging operating conditions where maintenance crews worked in primitive desert environments while aircrews flew missions against heavily defended German and Italian targets. Tannehill provides extensive coverage of the group's participation in major Mediterranean campaigns, including the final defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia, the invasion of Sicily, and the costly Italian campaign that followed. The book examines the evolution of medium bomber tactics specifically developed for Mediterranean theater conditions, including low-level attacks on enemy airfields, precision bombing of transportation targets, and close support missions for Allied ground forces. The author provides detailed mission accounts drawn from unit records, crew debriefings, and personal memoirs, recreating the experience of flying dangerous medium-altitude bombing missions over some of Europe's most heavily defended targets. Tannehill doesn't shy away from describing the dangers of tactical bombing operations, where B-26s faced intense anti-aircraft fire while flying precise attack patterns against small, heavily defended targets like bridges, rail yards, and supply depots. The narrative extensively covers the group's role in supporting major Allied operations, including the amphibious landings in Sicily and Italy where precise tactical bombing helped neutralize German defensive positions. The book addresses the international character of Mediterranean theater operations, describing how American, British, and other Allied units worked together despite different equipment, procedures, and tactical doctrines. Tannehill examines the technical challenges of maintaining complex aircraft under primitive field conditions, acknowledging the crucial contribution of ground crews who kept bombers operational despite limited facilities and supply difficulties. The narrative includes detailed coverage of specific aircraft and crews, creating personal portraits of the men who served in the 320th Bombardment Group while facing the constant dangers of tactical bombing operations. The author addresses the group's participation in strategic operations, including attacks on German oil production facilities and transportation networks that complemented the heavy bomber offensive conducted from England. The book concludes with analysis of the 320th Bombardment Group's contribution to Allied victory in the Mediterranean theater, examining how their tactical innovations and exceptional performance helped establish the effectiveness of medium bomber operations. This comprehensive unit history serves as both detailed military record and tribute to the airmen who flew some of the war's most challenging and dangerous tactical bombing missions.

Boomerang: Story of the 320th Bombardment Group in WWII, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.