96th Bomb Group

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

337th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

338th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

339th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

413th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

Headquarters (96th Bomb Group)

Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
Air Force: Eighth Air Force

People

Aaron Murray Becker

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

Albert Bittenbring

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
Nationality: American
Unit: 96th Bomb Group

Adam G Cochran

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant

Albert Combs

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Ainey B Contner

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Sergeant

Aircraft

42-102444

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Wildfire
Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron

42-102450

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Paisano
Unit: 95th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron

42-102451

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron

42-102452

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron

42-102454

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Marzi Doats
Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron

Mission

EAST Command

Date: 19 September 1944

8th Air Force

Date: 13 September 1944

8th Air Force 554

Date: 15 August 1944

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.

519

Date: 5 August 1944

479

Date: 17 July 1944

Revisions

Date23 Jul 2020 13:25:03

ContributorEmily

ChangesChanges to citations

Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Date15 Apr 2015 10:23:22

ContributorLucy May

ChangesChanges to description, mission associations and stations

Sources

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

Date13 Mar 2015 15:31:33

Contributorrossingtonj

ChangesChanges to type and mission associations

Sources

Type added.

Date12 Oct 2014 20:57:13

ContributorRebecca Barton Lutz

ChangesChanges to motto, insignia and mission associations

Sources

Daughter

Date12 Oct 2014 20:51:47

ContributorRebecca Barton Lutz

ChangesChanges to mission associations

Sources

Mr. Councell

Date12 Oct 2014 20:51:43

ContributorRebecca Barton Lutz

ChangesChanges to insignia and mission associations

Sources

Mr. Councell

Date12 Oct 2014 20:49:48

ContributorRebecca Barton Lutz

ChangesChanges to motto, aircraft types and mission associations

Sources

Mr. Councell

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:46

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

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 (513 items)

Object number: UPL 25897 -

Engineers work to complete the runway, in time for the first B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3123) nicknamed "Ron Chee" of the 381st Bomb Group to touch down. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Reviewed and passed 21 May 1943.' [stamp] and '265190.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows:- American Engineers completeing the last piece of the aerodrome - as the first "Flying Fortress" bomber arrives on the new field. AND, 21 May 1943. PN-s.' Handwritten caption on reve

Object number: FRE 1270 -

Lieutenant Bill Gaither and Lieutenant Bill Stull of the 452nd Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-3778) of the 96th Bomb Group that was destroyed by German dive bombers. Image via William C Gaither. Letter from Gaither enclosed with print: ‘These photographers were taken at Poltava, Russia on June 22 1944. On June 21st my group, the 452d and others flew from England to Poltava en route hitting oil refinery at Rhurland, Germany. That night after landing German dive bombers bombed th

Object number: FRE 1829 -

Personnel of the 452nd Bomb Group examine the wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 96th Bomb Group that has been destroyed by German dive bombers. Image via William C Gaither. Letter from Gaither enclosed with print: ‘These photographers were taken at Poltava, Russia on June 22 1944. On June 21st my group, the 452d and others flew from England to Poltava en route hitting oil refinery at Rhurland, Germany. That night after landing German dive bombers bombed the field destroying ninety or more B-17 airc

Object number: FRE 1831 -

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group and 457th Bomb Group and B-24 Liberators of the 466th Bomb Group with P-51 Mustangs. A B-17 Flying Fortress (BG-F, serial number 42-97363) of the 95th Bomb Group is on the left. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Boeing B-17's, 95th BGp and 457th BGp. Convair B-24's 466th B.G. 297363, BG-F.'

Object number: FRE 3929 -

A temporary hut used by the 96th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 3933 -

John Latham of the 96th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Escape photo, John Latham, 96BG.'

Object number: FRE 3934 -

Object number: FRE 3936 -

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-37716) nicknamed "5 Grand" of the 338th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group. On reverse: William T. Larkins [address Stamp].

Object number: FRE 3937 -

Object number: FRE 3938 -

A B-17 Flying Fortress serial number 42-3265) nicknamed "5 Grand" of the 96th Bomb Group in the USA, 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USA 1945.'

Object number: FRE 3939 -

A B-17G Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3265) nicknamed "5 Grand"" of the 338th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17G 42-37716 "5 Grand" 338th Sqn, 96th BG, covered in signatures, see photo taken from front.'

Object number: FRE 3940 -