345th Bombardment Group
N 33° 56.856 W 081° 07.673
17S E 488183 N 3756353
Historical marker located in West Columbia, SC.
Waymark Code: WM181E4
Location: South Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 05/09/2023
Views: 2
The 345th Bombardment Group of the 5th Air Force, “the Air Apaches,” served in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. Four squadrons (the 498th, 499th, 500th, and 501st) trained here at Columbia Army Air Base November 1942-April 1943, with bombing runs over Lake Murray, aerial gunnery practice at Myrtle Beach, and maneuvers at Aiken before
transferring to Walterboro.
(Reverse) The 345th left Walterboro in April 1943 for California, Australia, and the front, flying its first combat missions over New Guinea in June. The group flew B-25 Mitchell bombers in 8 campaigns from New Guinea to Japan June 1943-August 1945, sinking 260 vessels and shooting down 107 planes. It won 4 Distinguished Unit Citations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citations.
Marker Name: 345th Bombardment Group
Marker Location: Roadside
Type of Marker: Other
Marker number: 32-39
County: Lexington
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