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Maps| Although the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was less
important than the B-24 Liberator in the Mediterranean theatre,
six Bombardment Groups did serve in North Africa or Italy, two
of them serving from 1942 until the end of the war. That
involvement began in November 1942 when two Bombardment Groups,
the 97th and 301st, were moved from the Eighth Air Force in
England to the Twelfth Air Force in North Africa. These were two
of the most experienced B-17 units, and their departure from
England slowed down the development of the Eighth Air Force’s
offensive. In North Africa the B-17s were used against German
and Italian military targets in North Africa, and to attack
German shipping in the Mediterranean. Two more groups joined
them in early 1943 (2nd and 99th). The four groups took part in
the bombardment of the Italian stronghold of Pantelleria, the
invasion of Sicily and the invasion of Italy. Once the Allies
were firmly established on the Italia