In late June 1943, a large detachment of the squadron moved to Soluch Airfield, Libya, ostensibly to assist in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, by attacking airfields and marshalling yards in Italy. However, prior to deploying to Africa, the squadron had engaged in extensive low level training in England, and the Norden bombsights in its planes had been replaced by a simpler sight. While deployed, this element participated in Operation Tidal Wave, the noted low level raid on the oil refineries near Ploesti, Romania on 1 August. The squadron attacked its assigned target through heavy smoke left behind when the 93d Bombardment Group attacked the target assigned to the 44th Group in error, which alerted enemy air defenses that strongly defended the target. The squadron earned its second DUC for this action. Before leaving North Africa, the squadron also bombed the Messerschmitt aircraft factory in Wiener Neustadt, Austria and provided close air support for ground forces in Sicily. The detachment returned to England at the beginning of September, but another detachment was deployed to support Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy with landings at Salerno, remaining until early October.