West Columbia in Lexington County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

345th Bombardment Group

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 31, 2023

1. 345th Bombardment Group Marker

Inscription.
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.

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 Citation.

Erected 2012 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History, sponsored by the 345th Bomb Group Association. (Marker Number 32 39.)

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 month for this entry is April 1943.

Location. 33° 56.85′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

81° 7.669′ W. Marker is in West Columbia, South Carolina, in Lexington County. It is on Airport Boulevard south of Air Commerce Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3250 Airport Blvd, 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 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 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bombardment Groups (a few steps from this marker); 319th Bombardment Group (within shouting distance of this marker); Columbia Army Air Base / The Doolittle Raiders (within shouting distance

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 31, 2023

2. 345th Bombardment Group Marker

of this marker); Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School (approx. one mile away); Springdale (approx. 1.3 miles away); Camp Moore (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Sycamore Tree (approx. 2.9 miles away); Congaree Fort (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Columbia.

Also see . . .
1. 345th Bombardment Wing. (Submitted on January 12, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
2. 345th Bomb Group. (Submitted on January 12, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 31, 2023

3. 345th Bombardment Group Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 31, 2023

4. 345th Bombardment Group Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 31, 2023

5. 345th Bombardment Group Marker

Marker is located on the left background.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 397 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 12, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.