Size: 8 x 10 inches

This original 1944 dated WWII “bomb sight’ marked ‘MISSION #36” aerial photograph was taken from the aerial reconnaissance camera from a U.S. bomber of the 320th Bomb Group - 444th Squadron during their Italian Theater campaign bombing mission of “Vado Railroad Viaductand brizzano North viaduct” on May 19, 1944 lead by Charles T McGugan. This aerial photo is rare in that it contains the personal writing of Charles T McGugan on the backside documenting the mission and its details. This aerial photograph offers a dramatic view of the target and destruction wrought by the aerial attack during the Allied Italian Theater campaign during WWII.

444th Bombardment Squadron:

Established in mid-1942 as a B-26 Marauder medium bomber group they trained under Third Air Force in Florida, deployed to England under the VIII Air Support Command, 3d Bombardment Wing. Operated against targets on the continent during early fall of 1942; deployed to North Africa as part of Twelfth Air Force after Operation Torch landings in Algeria in November. Flew tactical bombing missions against Axis forces in North Africa until the end of the Tunisian Campaign in May 1943. Participated in the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns; liberation of Corsica and Sardinia and the Invasion of Southern France. Supported Allied ground forces in the Western Allied Invasion of Germany, spring 1945 and becoming part of the United States Air Forces in Europe Army of Occupation in Germany, fall 1945. Personnel demobilized in Germany and the squadron inactivated as a paper unit in December 1945.