General Orders 66 — battle honors

Produced by optical character recognition, uncorrected. These are carbon copies and mimeographs from 1941–46, so the reading is rough — treat it as a finding aid for search, not as a transcript. The scan above is the record.

‘ 4 i Ss te
(G, Q. 66)
GENERAL ORDERS }
NO. 66 WAR DEPARTMENT
t washington 25, D.C., 15 Auust 1944
: BXTRAGT
BATTLE HONORS, ++
2. &s authorized by Executive Order No. 9396 (sec, I, Bull. 22 WD,
1943), supersedinyg Executive Order No. 9075 (sec. ITI, Bull. 11, WD, 1942),
citation of the following units in Gener] Orders, No, 51.0, Headquarters
Fifteenth Air Force, 18 May 1944, as approved by the Commanding General,
United States Army forces in North African Theater of Operations, are con=
firmed under the provisions of section IV, Circwlar No. 333, War Depart-
ment, 1943, in the name of the Presiden. of the United States as public
evidence of deserved honor and distine+ponx. The citations read as follows:
THE 301ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP (iH) ts cited for outstanding performance
| of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. On 25 Fubruary 1944, thirth~one
BeL7 type aircraft of this group took off to participate in the bombard—
ment of heavily defended onemy Aircraft factories and procuction centers
at Regensburg, Germany, in one of the first ccordinated attacks by air
forces operating out of different theaters against a tar;et decp in the in~
dustrial heart of Germany, Ton circrnft of this group were forced to turn
back shortly after take-off, seriously decreasin;, the fire power and form
ation strength, while en route to the tar,et. aftsr the rendezvous with
ether win, units and without the support of friendly fighter escort, the
formtion encountered its first opposition near Fiune, Italy, where it
was attacked by more then 100 onemy fighters, These were constantly re-
| placed by fresh enemy airvlanes until, when‘the group reached the target,
the total strength of the attackers was estimited at over 290 hostile
t fighters. Throughout-the intense 2nd vicious air-battle that took plece
en route to the target the 301ST POMBARDIEIT GROUP lost 11 aircraft. Howe
ever, with grim determin:tion and spirit, a highly successful bombing run
was made through heavy and intense barra,:s of enemy antiaircraft fire,
causin, ;rave damage to be inflicted on this vital enemy mnufacturing
center nd aidin, materially in its almost complete destruction, Leaving
the target areca the formetion was aysin subjected to the fury of vicious
enemy fighter attack, Gallantly fighting their way through against almost
incredible odds, the gunners of this group were creditui with the destruct-
don of 31 enemy airplanes, the probable destruction of 6, and the damage of
( at least 3 additional enemy fightérs, Of the crews that returned, 7 crew
} members were wounded, 3 killed, ond of the total participants, 110 failed
to return. By the professional skill and loyalty of the ground crews, to~
gether with the conspicuous ¢alluntry, a, ressive courage, combat effic—
dency, and devotion to duty of the <ir crews, the 301ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP
has distinguished itself, thercby reflecting great credit on themselves
] and the urned forces of the United States, sara
SAME)
re * * ar ED
3 Oh | Pe piper
i . By order of the Socretary of Wars Ls ae ii U Xa
\ Sei oni gq YAN & 245 a
ace . G. GC, MARSHALIGS =
| : Chief of StaEE. 5
OFFICIAL: q S
{ deh, ULIO, ken ey
t Major General, i 6 IRAE ag
. The Adjutant Generals ‘
Oe )| a
“Se vee mw aes LZ f. :
ee . eee SAEREN es2 | Cara er! ea A SE fe SS
ee Set rid. 2
ee ss habe ee Ee