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97th Bombardment Group |
The 97th Bombardment Group was part of the 8th Air Force in England from June until November of 1942. They transferred to the newly created 12th AF in North Africa in November of 1942. They then became the 15th AF based in Italy. |
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Constituted as 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated
on 3 Feb 1942. Trained with B-17's; also flew some antisubmarine patrols.
Moved to England, May-Jul 1942, for duty with Eighth AF. Entered combat on
17 Aug 1942 by bombing a marshalling yard at Rouen, the first mission
flown by AAF's heavy bombers based in England. After that, attacked
airfields, marshalling yards, industries, naval installations, and other
targets in France and the Low Countries. Moved to the Mediterranean
theater in Nov 1942, being assigned first to Twelfth and later (Nov 1943)
to Fifteenth AF. Struck shipping in the Mediterranean and airfields,
clocks, harbors, and marshalling yards in North Africa, southern France,
Sardinia, Sicily, and southern Italy, Nov 1942-May 1943, in the campaign
to cut supply lines to German forces in North Africa. Helped to force the
capitulation of Pantelleria in Jun 1943. Bombed in preparation for and in
support of the invasions of Sicily and southern Italy in the summer and
fall of 1943. From Nov 1943 to Apr 1945, engaged chiefly in long-range
missions to targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria,
Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece, attacking oil
refineries, aircraft factories, marshalling yards, and other strategic
objectives. Received a DUC for leading a strike against an aircraft
factory at Steyr on 24 Feb 1944 during Big Week, the intensive air
campaign against the German aircraft industry. 2nd Lt David R Kingsley,
bombardier, was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the life of a
wounded gunner on 23 Jun 1944: during a mission to Ploesti, Kingsley's
B-17 was seriously crippled and the tail gunner was injured; when the crew
was ordered to bail out, Kingsley gave his parachute to the gunner, whose
own had been damaged, and assisted him in bailing out; Kingsley died a few
moments later when his bomber crashed and burned. The group received its
second DUC for a devastating raid against one of the Ploesti refineries on
18 Aug 1944. Other operations of the 97th included pounding enemy
communications, transportation, and airfields in support of Allied forces
at Anzio and Cassino; bombing coastal defenses in preparation for the
invasion of Southern France; and assisting US Fifth and British Eighth
Army in their advance through the Po Valley. Inactivated in Italy on 29
Oct 1945.
Redesignated 97th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Activated in the US
on 4 Aug 1946. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Equipped with B-29's.
Redesignated 97th Bombardment Group (Medium) in May 1948. Converted to
B-50's in 1950. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952.
Squadrons. 340th: 1942-1945; 1946-1952. 341st: 1942-1945; 1946-1952.
342d: 1942-1945; 1946-1952. 414th: 1942-1945.
Stations. MacDill Field, Fla, 3 Feb 1942; Sarasota, Fla, 29 Mar-c. 16
May 1942; Polebrook, England, c. 13 June-9 Nov 1942; Maison Blanche,
Algeria, c. 13 Nov 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, c. 22 Nov 1942; Biskra,
Algeria, c. 25 Dec 1942; Chateaudun-du-Rhumel, Algeria, c. 8 Feb 1943;
Pont-du-Fahs, Tunisia, c. 1 Aug 1943; Depienne, Tunisia, c. 15 Aug 1943;
Cerignola, Italy, c. 20 Dec 1943; Amendola, Italy, 16 Jan 1944;
Marcianise, Italy, c. 1-29 Oct 1945. Smoky Hill AAFld, Kan, Aug 1946;
Biggs AFB, Tex, 17 May 1948-16 Jun 1952.
Commanders. Col Cornelius W Cousland, Feb 1942; Col James H Walsh, c.
Jul 1942; Col Frank A Armstrong Jr, c. 2 Aug 1942; Brig Gen Joseph H
Atkinson, c. 27 Sep 1942; Col Stanley Donovan, 5 Jan 1943; Col Leroy A
Rainey, 29 Jun 1943; Col Frank Allen, Nov 1943; Col Jacob E Smart, 7 Apr
1944; Col Frank Allen, 11 May 1944; Col Elmer Rogers Jr, Jun 1944; Col
Nils O Ohman, 22 Aug 1944; Col William K Kincaid, May 1945-unkn. Col
Walter S Lee, c. 4 Aug 1946; Lt Col William D Bacon, c. 27 Aug 1946; Col
William E McDonald, 9 Oct 1946; Col George L Robinson, 10 Sep 1946-unkn;
Col George L Robinson, 30 Sep 1948; Col Dalene E Bailey, 20 Apr 1949; Col
Harvey C Dorney, Feb 1951; Col John D Ryan, 16 Jul 1951-16 Jun 1952.
Campaigns. Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Combat, EAME Theater;
Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno;
Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland;
Central Europe; Po Valley.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Steyr, Austria, 24 Feb 1944;
Ploesti, Rumania, 18 Aug 1944.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, a spear in pale or, point to base flammant and
embrued proper. Motto: Venit Hora - The Hour Has Come. (Approved 5 Mar
1943.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 |
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Servicemen of the 97th Bombardment Group
ABBOTT, ELMOND CPT
ADKINS, RICHARD SSGT
ADKINS, SIG TSGT
ALBO, EUGENE TSGT
ALEXANDER, JAMES SSGT
ALGEO, PAUL 2LT
ANDERSON, CLIFFORD 2LT
ANDERSON, JULIAN SSGT
ANDERSON, ROLAND SSGT
ANDREWS, KENNETH SSGT
ANTANOVICH, JOHN SSGT
ANTONUCCI, FRANK SSGT
APPERSON, JOHN 2LT
APPLETON, GORDON 2LT
ARLER, HARLAND SGT
AUSTIN, RICHARD 2LT
AUSTIN, STANLEY F/O
BALDWIN, THOMAS SGT
BANNON, EDWIN SGT
BARRY, GEORGE SSGT
BARTELS, HERBERT 2LT
BARTLEY, FRANK 2LT
BARWICK, LOUIS SSGT
BEIHDEFFER, HOWARD 2LT
BELL, JAMES 1LT
BELT, ROBERT 2LT
BELT, ROBERT 2LT
BENES, RAYMOND 2LT
BERZONSKI, GEORGE SSGT
BEVERLY, DANIEL TSGT
BEYERLE, GARLAND SSGT
BICKEL, ALLEN SSGT
BIGGS, THOMAS SGT
BISCOE, EDWARD SGT
BLASIUS, ROBERT 2LT
BLISTEIN, DAVID 1LT
BLOM, LOUIS TSGT
BOBBY, LAWRENCE 2LT
BOCKELMAN, FREDERICK CPT
BORIS, ALEXANDER 1LT
BORIS, NICHOLAS SSGT
BOWMAN, DEAN MSGT
BRADFORD, NORRIS SGT
BREDEMAN, LOUIS 1LT
BREITHAUPT, ERVIN SSGT
BRICKER, ROBERT 2LT
BROIDA, SAUL 1LT
BROWN, WILLIAM TSGT
BRUNK, JOHN 2LT
BRUNSON, JAMES 2LT
BUBNY, JIMMY SGT
BURNEY, HOWARD 1LT
BURRESS, RALPH SGT
BURT, GEORGE 2LT
BUSIK, JOSEPH 2LT
BUSKY, RICHARD TSGT
BUTLER, ROBERT SSGT
CALHOUN, WILLIAM SSGT
CAMPBELL, ROBERT 1LT
CAMPBELL, ROBERT 1LT
CANNON, JOHN 2LT
CARLEY, DONALD TSGT
CARLTON, JOHN TSGT
CARROLL, THOMAS 1LT
CATHRALL, EUGENE SSGT
CHERRY, HENRY SGT
CHRISTENSEN, THEODORE TSGT
CHRISTENSON, SHERMAN 1LT
CHURBUCK, DONALD 2LT
CLANTON, LESLIE SGT
CLARK, RUSSELL 2LT
CLELLAND, VIRGIL MSGT
CLEVELAND, RAYMOND 2LT
CLOUGH, GEORGE TSGT
COFFMAN, LAWRENCE SSGT
CONWAY, JOSEPH SSGT
CONWAY, THOMAS TSGT
COOK, WILLIAM 2LT
COOPER, JOHN SSGT
COTTLE, BENJAMIN SSGT
CRENNAN, GERALD SGT
CRESSWELL, HOWARD SSGT
CREWS, ROY MSGT
CROFT, HERMAN SSGT
CROWLEY, SIDNEY SSGT
DAIGNEAULT, MARTIN 2LT
DAILEY, DONALD SSGT
DANNER, ROBERT SGT
DAVEY, ROBERT SGT
DAVIDSON, WILLIS 1LT
DAVIS, DAVID SSGT
DAVIS, OWEN SSGT
DE VORE, ROBERT 2LT
DEMONT, JOHN 2LT
DENFIELD, DONALD 1LT
DIBARTOLOMEO, ARCOLINE 1LT
DIEFENDERFER, WILLIAM SSGT
DINGFEIDER, WILLIAM SSGT
DIRKS, RONALD 2LT
DLUGOSZ, EDWARD SSGT
DORN, RICHARD 2LT
DOWD, JAMES 2LT
DOWDEN, RONALD 2LT
DUDEK, CHESTER SGT
EARLE, JAMES SSGT
EISERHARDT, EUGENE SSGT
EMERSON, IRVING 1LT
ENGELHARDT, VERNIS SGT
ESPINOZA, FLOYD SSGT
EVANS, RICHARD 2LT
FAHEY, THOMAD SSGT
FICE, GRAYDON 2LT
FINK, GEORGE SSGT
FINLEY, SHIRLEY SSGT
FLANIKEN, FRED 1LT
FLOOD, LAWRENCE 2LT
FOLTZ, JOHN 1LT
FOX, VERNON SGT
FRANCO, EDWARD SSGT
FRANKENFIELD, BRUCE SGT
FREELAN, CHARLES SSGT
FRITZLER, LEON SSGT
FUNCHESS, HIRAM SSGT
FURBY, ROBERT TSGT
FURRER, JOHN SGT
FUSCO, ARTHUR 2LT
GADD, NALMER SGT
GAMBLE, THOMAS SSGT
GANT, EDWIN SSGT
GARCIA, FIDEL TSGT
GASH, ROBERT TSGT
GAZARIK, STEPHEN SSGT
GEE, WILSON SSGT
GELONEK, CLIFFORD SSGT
GILL, FREDERICK SSGT
GION, GEORGE SGT
GISCH, FRANK 2LT
GODDARD, ERNEST CPT
GOLDRING, VAIL SSGT
GONNELLA, DONALD SGT
GORMAN, THOMAS TSGT
GRAY, RONALD SGT
GROENE, ROBERT SSGT
GROENER, GEORGE 2LT
GUENTHER, GUILE SSGT
GULLEY, THOMAS SSGT
HAAS, ALBERT TSGT
HAASE, FRANK SGT
HAGEN, WYATT SSGT
HALL, ALBERT SSGT
HANS, CHARLES 2LT
HANSEN, NORMAN TSGT
HAREMSKI, LOUIS SGT
HARGIS, THEODORE SSGT
HARKNESS, HARRY SSGT
HARPER, DON 2LT
HARRIS, RAYMOND TSGT
HARRIS, ROBERT SSGT
HART, WESLEY 1LT
HASSLER, IRA LTC
HAWKINS, NED 2LT
HAYDEN, JOHN SSGT
HAYES, ARTHUR 2LT
HAYES, JOHN SGT
HEATER, ELMER SSGT
HEINTZ, RALPH TSGT
HENLEY, GARLAND 2LT
HILDRETH, GEORGE SSGT
HILEY, SLEDGE 2LT
HINZE, ROBERT SGT
HOFFMAN, LEONARD SGT
HOLCOMB, EARL 2LT
HOLDERER, WALTER SSGT
HOLMAN, VERNE SGT
HOMA, MICHAEL 2LT
HOOD, WILLIAM SGT
HOOVER, EUGENE 2LT
HOWE, WILLIAM SSGT
HOWELL, DANIEL SGT
HUTCHINS, ALDEN SSGT
IGLEHART, WILLIAM SSGT
IRVIN, MELVIN SGT
IVANHOFF, HARRY SSGT
JACK, DEAN SSGT
JACKSON, ALVA SGT
JOHNS, FREDERICK SSGT
JOHNSON, CLAYTON SSGT
JOHNSON, THOMAS SSGT
JONES, ALBERT 1LT
JONTZ, CLYDE SGT
JORDAN, HOWARD SSGT
JORDAN, JOHN TSGT
JORDAN, WILLIAM TSGT
JOSEPH, GEORGE TSGT
JOYCE, MICHAEL SSGT
JOYCE, ROBERT SGT
JURGENS, LOUIS 1LT
KAMM, EDWARD 2LT
KAVANAGH, THOMAS SSGT
KAWTAR, NICK 1LT
KELL, JOHN 1LT
KELLEY, JOE TSGT
KELLNER, HASKELL 2LT
KENNY, RICHARD SSGT
KERNION, CHARLES 2LT
KING, FRANCIS 2LT
KING, HAROLD SSGT
KING, JOHN TSGT
KING, WILLIAM 1LT
KINSER, ALBERT SSGT
KIRBY, EDMOND TSGT
KIRK, OLIVER TSGT
KLIEN, FRANCIS TSGT
KLOSS, JAMES F/O
KLOSTERMAN, RONALD SGT
KLUG, RONALD 2LT
KNAPP, DAVID SSGT
KNIGHTLY, HENRY 2LT
KNOWLES, BILLY 2LT
KNOX, JEPTHA 2LT
KOCHER, DONALD F/O
KOKOEFER, ADOLPH SSGT
KOMO, WILLIAM SSGT
KONTOS, JAMES 1LT
KOTTEL, HENRY SSGT
KUTLIK, MICHAEL SSGT
KUZEMCHAK, PETER SSGT
KYLE, JOHN TSGT
LA ROCCA, HARRY 2LT
LANDMAN, MITCHEL TSGT
LANG, HOWARD SGT
LARSON, GEORGE SGT
LARSON, RICHARD 2LT
LATKER, CHARLES SSGT
LESTER, HARLEY TSGT
LEVA, ARTHUR SSGT
LEVINSTEIN, DONALD SSGT
LEWIS, DONALD 1LT
LIND, CHARLES SSGT
LIPARULO, LAWRENCE SGT
LITCHFIELD, ARTHUR SSGT
LOEST, WILLIAM 1LT
LOMBARDO, DANIEL TSGT
LONG, FREDERICK 1LT
LOUIS, WESTLEY SSGT
LUCAS, JAMES SSGT
LUGANNANI, PAUL TSGT
LYKINS, HERMAN 1LT
LYNAM, MARSHALL SGT
MABIE, RICHARD 1LT
MADARAS, JOHN SGT
MANDRO, THEODORE F/O
MARKMAN, PHILIP 2LT
MARLIN, HARRY SSGT
MARSHALL, WILLIAM 1LT
MARTIN, ROBERT 1LT
MASON, EDGAR 2LT
MATAKONIS, LEONARD SSGT
MATES, JACK 2LT
MATESEVAC, JOHN 2LT
MAULICK, DONALD SSGT
MAY, ARTHUR SSGT
MC DOLE, WILLIAM SSGT
MC DONALD, EDWARD TSGT
MC FATE, HARVEY SSGT
MC LANE, WILLIAM 2LT
MC STRACK, DARREL 2LT
MEAD, LEO 2LT
MELLOR, JAMES SSGT
MEYER, WALTER TSGT
MEYRING, DONALD SGT
MICHELS, ARTHUR SSGT
MIDDAUGH, EVAN SSGT
MILLER, HAROLD SSGT
MILLER, JOHN 1LT
MILLIKEN, LEROY SGT
MILLNER, EDWARD 1LT
MODICA, MICHAEL SGT
MOEN, MILTON SGT
MONEY, CARROL 2LT
MORAN, JERALD TSGT
MORAN, NORBERT SSGT
MOROKOFF, GENE SSGT
MORSE, PAUL TSGT
MOSCHOGIANIS, PETER CPT
MULCAHY, THOMAS SSGT
MURPHY, ALFRED 2LT
MURPHY, JOHN TSGT
MURRAY, JOHN 2LT
MYRICK, GORDON 2LT
NATEN, WINFORD TSGT
NEAL, NORMAND SSGT
NEFF, JOHN 2LT
NEIL, FREDERICK 1LT
NEILSON, FRANCIS SSGT
NELSON, CHARLES 2LT
NELSON, WILLIAM SSGT
NETZEL, PATRICK SSGT
NEWMAN, JAMES SSGT
NISULA, HALSEY 2LT
NORDEN, HERMAN 1LT
NORTON, HORACE 2LT
ODOM, CHARLES 1LT
OGDEN, DONALD SGT
OLIVO, PETER SGT
OLSON, ROGER TSGT
OWENS, CURTIS SGT
PAPPAS, MICHAEL 1LT
PATTERSON, ROBERT SSGT
PEARSON, ROBERT SSGT
PECK, GEORGE F/O
PEDONE, GASPAR SGT
PERRY, THOMAS SSGT
PERSONS, LOUIS SSGT
PFOST, BERNARD TSGT
PFURSICH, EDWIN SGT
PHILLIPS, THOMAS SSGT
PIGG, WILLIE SGT
PIZZO, SAMUEL 2LT
PORTER, JAMES SSGT
POULOS, GEORGE SGT
PRATT, ROBERT 2LT
PRATT, WILLIAM CPT
PRESSLEY, PERSHING 2LT
PUCCI, ANTHONY SSGT
RAFETTO, RODNEY SGT
RAHL, BERNARD SSGT
RALSTON, DONALD 1LT
RASKOPF, ROY TSGT
REAGAN, PAUL 2LT
REARDON, PAUL 2LT
RECK, EVARIST TSGT
REIDY, JOHN SSGT
REIK, JERRY SSGT
REINEN, JOSEPH 2LT
REINKE, MORRIS 1LT
RHEINECKER, LEONARD SGT
RHODES, MELVIN SGT
RICHARDSON, LEROY SGT
ROBERTSON, DONALD 1LT
ROCKEY, DONALD SSGT
ROE, DAVID 1LT
ROGERS, BILLY SGT
RONAYNE, THOMAS 1LT
ROSE, RALPH SGT
RUDDOCK, WILLIAM 2LT
RUMSEY, BERNARD SGT
RUPARD, MACK SSGT
RUVERE, ROBERT SGT
RYALL, JOSEPH SSGT
SAFFRAN, LEO 1LT
SAKELLARIS, JAMES SGT
SALIT, JACK SGT
SAUTER, WILLIAM SSGT
SAVRAN, MANUEL 2LT
SCHEFFLER, WILLIAM PVT
SCHELL, EUGENE SGT
SCHILLING, JOHN 1LT
SCHWINN, FLOYD TSGT
SEVERIN, MICHAEL 2LT
SHAFER, ROBERT LTC
SHAFER, ROLAND SSGT
SHAFFER, EARL SGT
SHALANCA, PHILLIP 2LT
SHURKO, MICHAEL SGT
SIMPSON, GEORGE SSGT
SLOTHOWER, BEN 2LT
SMITH, EUGENE SGT
SMITH, LEROY SGT
SMITH, WILLIAM SSGT
SMITHBACK, ELDON 1LT
SOMMER, LAWRENCE SGT
SPECK, PAUL SSGT
SPOELSTRA, PHILLIP 2LT
ST. CROIX, JAMES SSGT
STEINHILBER, EUGENE 1LT
STEVENS, DONALD 1LT
STEWART, RICHARD SGT
STONE, HENRY F/O
STRELOW, SYLVESTER SSGT
STRUMPFER, LOWELL SGT
SULLIVAN, EARLE 2LT
SUMMEY, CLARENCE SSGT
SURIRENANT, HENRY 2LT
SUTTON, DEAN 2LT
SZKLANY, FRANK PVT
TAYLOR, IRVIN 2LT
TAYLOR, OTHO SSGT
THOMAS, EUGENE SGT
THOMPSON, VICTOR SSGT
TONSING, WARREN SGT
TOUNTAS, KENNETH 2LT
TOWNSEND, VAN TSGT
TRAUGH, ROBERT SGT
TRIVETT, VICTOR 2LT
TURNER, LEO SGT
URBAN, CLARENCE SSGT
VALE, WILLIAM 2LT
VAN ROEKEL, EDWIN 1LT
VASLAVSKY, WILLIAM SSGT
VASQUEZ, JOHN SSGT
VIGNES, MALCOLM TSGT
VISCHE, FREDERICK SSGT
VLICK, GORDON SGT
VOIGTMANN, FRANK 1LT
WARD, JOHN 1LT
WARD, ROLLAND 2LT
WARNER, STANLEY 2LT
WATSON, ROBERT 2LT
WEBER, CHARLES 1LT
WEEMS, JOHN SGT
WEILBAECHER, MAURICE 2LT
WEINSTEIN, DAVID SSGT
WELDIN, THOMAS 1LT
WERNER, EDWARD SSGT
WESTERMAN, EMIL SSGT
WESTMANN, WILLIAM 2LT
WETHMAN, NORMAN SSGT
WHEATLEY, EUGENE 1LT
WHITT, EARL SSGT
WILLIAMS, GERALD CPT
WILLIAMS, THOMAS TSGT
WILLIAMSON, FRED SGT
WINDHAM, OLIVER SSGT
WINTER, LEONARD SSGT
WISEMAN, ANDREW 2LT
WOLFE, WILBUR SSGT
YACOVELLI, JOHN SGT
YOUELL, MARK SSGT
YOUNG, LEON SGT
ZAMOJEIN, JOHN SSGT
ZIEBOLD, JUNIOR SSGT
ZUBER, WILLIAM 1LT
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Additional Resources
Obtaining Individuals' Military Records: These are located at the National Archives. Information and Order Forms can be found [Here]
Search US National Cemeteries [Here]
Air Force Historical Research Agency Where you will find group and command records NOT individual service records. [Here].
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