West Columbia in Lexington County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
319th Bombardment Group
Photographed by Mike Stroud, August 2008
1. 319th Bombardment Group Marker
Activated in 1942 and stationed here at Columbia Army Air Base February through April of 1945, the 319th participated in many World War II campaigns in Europe and the Pacific. The group has received numerous honors, including two Presidential Unit Citations and France's Croix de Guerre from General Charles de Gaulle.
Erected 1986 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History, sponsored by The 319th Bomb Group Reunion Association. (Marker Number 32-17.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the South Carolina Historical Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.
Location. 33° 56.861′ N, 81° 7.682′ W. Marker is in West Columbia, South Carolina, in Lexington County. It is on Airport Boulevard south of Air Commerce Road, on the right when traveling south. Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Columbia SC 29170, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands and in the Greater Columbia Area. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bombardment Groups (a few steps from this marker); Columbia Army Air Base / The Doolittle Raiders (a few steps from this marker); 345th Bombardment Group (within shouting
this page online
Also see . . .
1. History of the 319th. Bomb Group. ...became the first Army Air Force unit to be redeployed into the Pacific theater, after a period of retraining in the Douglas A-26 Invader at Columbia Army Air Base. (Submitted on August 26, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
2. Wikipedia entry for the Presidential Unit Citation. ...for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941. (Submitted on August 26, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
3. Wikipedia entry for the Croix de Guerre. ... commonly bestowed to foreign military forces allied to France and Belgium ... for acts of heroism involving
Photographed by Mike Stroud, August 10, 2008
2. 319th Bomb Group Marker at Columbia Metropolitan Airport
4. 319th Operations Group (Constituted as the 319th Bombardment Group). The 319th Operations Group (319 OG) is the flying component of the 319th Air Refueling Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. (Submitted on August 16, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Photographed by Brian Scott, August 9, 2009
3. 319th Bombardment Group Marker - Center
Photographed by Wikipedia
4. France's Croix de Guerre, as mentioned on Marker
Photographed by Brian Scott
5. 319th Operations Group Emblem
Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,916 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3. submitted on August 16, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4. submitted on August 26, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on August 23, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
