96th Bomb Group

Group
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group. media-395035.jpg FRE 5092 The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5092 - The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.



The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for particularly testing missions. The first was awarded for the bombing of an aircraft factory at Regensburg on 17 August 1943 under intense pressure from enemy fighters. The second was for leading the 45th Bomb Wing through difficult weather conditions and anti-aircraft fire to drop their payload on aircraft components factories at Poznan on 9 April 1944.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Grafton Underwood 16 April 1943 - 27 May 1943

Based

Andrews Field 13 May 1943 - 11 June 1943

Based

Snetterton Heath 12 June 1943 - 11 December 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12155334
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wildfire
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Paisano
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Marzi Doats
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron

Mission

A mission log for Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst of the 91st Bomb Group, 3 August 1944 -15 December 1944. Image via Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst, 91st Bomb Group.
  • Date: 5 August 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added dates the Group were at different bases in England from Roger Freeman's book 'The Mighty Eighth'.

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
Changes
Sources

Daughter

Date
Changes
Sources

Mr. Councell

Date
Changes
Sources

Mr. Councell

Date
Changes
Sources

Mr. Councell

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

96th Bomb Group: Gallery (509 items)