The air echelon of the squadron was delayed in Tunisia and was not entirely lodged at the squadron's combat station of San Giovanni Airfield, Italy until 1 February 1944, and the squadron flew its first mission that month.
 The squadron was engaged primarily in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, attacking targets like airfields, factories, oil refineries, harbors, marshalling yards in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia.

On 2 April 1944, the squadron attacked a ball bearing plant at Steyr, Austria for which it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).
 The primary target, the Daimler-Pusch aircraft engine factory was obscured by clouds, so the unit attacked the nearby ball bearing plant although attacks by an estimated 75 twin engine fighters continued through the bomb run and heavy, accurate flak was encountered.
 The squadron was the only one in the 455th Group not to suffer any losses in this operation.

On 26 June 1944, the squadron encountered fighter opposition that was described as the strongest Fifteenth Air Force had encountered to date, and which destroyed several Liberators of the 455th Group, which was leading the 304th Bombardment Wing on the raid.
 The enemy fighters intensified their attacks on the squadron after they were able to separate the 741st from its fighter escort.
 One squadron bomber was lost when a Luftwaffe fighter dove head on into it.
 The Liberator continued on the bomb run and dropped its bombs on the target before crashing into the ground.
Other fighters continued their attacks to within 100 feet of the squadron's planes.
 The squadron pressed its attack on an oil refinery at Moosbierbaum, Austria, for which it received a second DUC.

The squadron provided air support to ground forces in Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio and the Battle of Monte Cassino in the spring of 1944.
 It knocked out coastal defenses to clear the way for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in September.
 As Axis forces were withdrawing from the Balkan peninsula in the fall of 1944, the squadron bombed marshalling yards, troop concentrations and airfields to slow their retreat.
 It flew air interdiction missions to support Operation Grapeshot, the Spring 1945 offensive in Northern Italy.

The squadron flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945 against rail yards at Linz, Austria.
Following the surrender of German forces in Italy, it flew some supply missions and transported personnel to ports and airfields for shipment back to the United States.
 Most of the air echelon returned to the United States, ferrying their aircraft in June.
  Many of the squadron's remaining personnel were transferred to other units in the 304th Bombardment Wing for shipment back to the United States, while the squadron remained in Italy, serving as a replacement depot.
 The last of the air echelon departed Italy in July and the squadron was inactivated on 9 September 1945.
The air echelon of the squadron was delayed in Tunisia and was not entirely lodged at the squadron's combat station of San Giovanni Airfield, Italy until 1 February 1944, and the squadron flew its first mission that month.  The squadron was engaged primarily in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, attacking targets like airfields, factories, oil refineries, harbors, marshalling yards in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia.
On 2 April 1944, the squadron attacked a ball bearing plant at Steyr, Austria for which it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).  The primary target, the Daimler-Pusch aircraft engine factory was obscured by clouds, so the unit attacked the nearby ball bearing plant although attacks by an estimated 75 twin engine fighters continued through the bomb run and heavy, accurate flak was encountered.  The squadron was the only one in the 455th Group not to suffer any losses in this operation.
On 26 June 1944, the squadron encountered fighter opposition that was described as the strongest Fifteenth Air Force had encountered to date, and which destroyed several Liberators of the 455th Group, which was leading the 304th Bombardment Wing on the raid.  The enemy fighters intensified their attacks on the squadron after they were able to separate the 741st from its fighter escort.  One squadron bomber was lost when a Luftwaffe fighter dove head on into it.  The Liberator continued on the bomb run and dropped its bombs on the target before crashing into the ground. Other fighters continued their attacks to within 100 feet of the squadron's planes.  The squadron pressed its attack on an oil refinery at Moosbierbaum, Austria, for which it received a second DUC.
The squadron provided air support to ground forces in Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio and the Battle of Monte Cassino in the spring of 1944.  It knocked out coastal defenses to clear the way for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in September.  As Axis forces were withdrawing from the Balkan peninsula in the fall of 1944, the squadron bombed marshalling yards, troop concentrations and airfields to slow their retreat.  It flew air interdiction missions to support Operation Grapeshot, the Spring 1945 offensive in Northern Italy.
The squadron flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945 against rail yards at Linz, Austria. Following the surrender of German forces in Italy, it flew some supply missions and transported personnel to ports and airfields for shipment back to the United States.  Most of the air echelon returned to the United States, ferrying their aircraft in June.   Many of the squadron's remaining personnel were transferred to other units in the 304th Bombardment Wing for shipment back to the United States, while the squadron remained in Italy, serving as a replacement depot.  The last of the air echelon departed Italy in July and the squadron was inactivated on 9 September 1945.
741st Missile Squadron