301st Bombardment Group

The 12h Air Force was created using the 97th and 301st Bombardment Groups from the 8th Air Force Stationed in England. Following the conclusion of Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa these groups went to N.Africa and were joined and reinforced by new crews and squadrons arriving from the States.

B-17 42-25233 joined the 301st Bombardment Group in Biskra, Algeria on 31 December 1942. The men arrived in the late morning. They were quickly treated to a visit by the Germans prompting everybody to hit the slit trenches. The first mission for Rigor Mortis and crew would be January 2 beginning a long history that would encompass over 120 mission takeoffs.

Rigor Mortis and his crews would fly 95 missions with the 301st BG while assigned to the 32nd Bomb Squadron during 1943.