United States Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

322nd Bomb Group (M)

449th • 450th • 451st • 452nd Bomb Squadrons

— 1942 - 1945 —

322nd Bomb Group (M) Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2020

1. 322nd Bomb Group (M) Marker

Inscription.

To those who flew the B-26
To those who kept them flying
To those we left behind

"I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand and touched the face of God."

England - France - Belgium - Germany

425 Combat Missions • 6 Aerial Campaigns

Distinguished Unit Citation
ETO Medal & Six Battle Stars

"Flak Bait"
First 200 mission bomber in ETO

[Dedicated] August 24, 1990

Erected 1990.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II.

Location. 39° 0.978′ N, 104° 51.321′ W. Marker is in United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in El Paso County. Marker is in the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery, on Parade Loop west of Stadium Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: USAF Academy CO 80840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pearl Harbor Survivors Association (here, next to this marker); 357th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); 474th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); P51 Mustang Pilots Association (here, next to this marker); 5th Bombardment Group (H)

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(here, next to this marker); 19th Troop Carrier Squadron (here, next to this marker); 64th Fighter Squadron (here, next to this marker); 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in United States Air Force Academy.

More about this marker. Must have a valid ID to enter the USAF Academy grounds.

Also see . . .
1. 322nd Bomb Group. American Air Museum in Britain website entry (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. 322nd Bombardment Group. History of War website entry (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

3. The B-26 Marauder: World War II Medium Bomber. HistoryNet website entry (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

4. Dick Bailey, 450th Bomb Squadron, Interview. Witness to War website entry (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

5. 322nd Bomb Group. 9th Air Force website entry (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

322nd Bomb Group (M) Marker on Memorial Wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2020

2. 322nd Bomb Group (M) Marker on Memorial Wall

B-26B-25-MA nicknamed "Flak-Bait" (AAF serial number 41-31773) image. Click for full size.

via USAAC, unknown

3. B-26B-25-MA nicknamed "Flak-Bait" (AAF serial number 41-31773)

Assigned to the 449th Bombardment Squadron, 322nd Bombardment Group (nicknamed the 'Annihilators'), This ship survived 206 operational missions over Europe, more than any other American aircraft during World War II.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 425 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on November 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.