US Army Air Force

Climb from Amendola

U.S Air Force

2d Bombardment Group B-17s form up and begin their climb to altitude from Amendola Airfield, Puglia, Southern Italy, 1944. Transferred from USA to Algeria in sping 1943, the 2d Bombardment Group moved to Italy in December of same year and continued operations as part of Fifteenth Air Force. Operated primarily from Amendola Air Base near Foggia, was engaged primarily in long-range bombardment of strategic targets in Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Rumania, and Greece. Participated in the drive toward Rome, January–June 1944; the invasion of Southern France, August 1944, and the campaigns against German forces in northern Italy, June 1944 – May 1945. En route to bomb an aircraft factory at Steyr, Austria on 24 February 1944, the group was greatly outnumbered by enemy interceptors, but it maintained its formation and bombed the target, receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the performance. On the following day, while on a mission to attack aircraft factories at Regensburg, it met similar opposition equally well and was awarded a second DUC. Served as part of the occupation force in Italy after V-E Day. Inactivated in Italy on 28 February 1946. Group gunners claimed 279 victories of German and Italian aircraft; combat missions 406; aircraft lost 146. After return in USA, the Group, on 1 July 1947, was redesignated the 2d Bomb Group (Very Heavy), activated at Davis Monthan Field, Arizona.. Equipped with B-29 Superfortress , the 2d BG became part of the Strategic Air Command. Victor Sierra