97th Bomb Group

Group
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

Object Number - FRE 882 - Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on...

The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the Mediterranean theater. Flying first with the Twelfth, and later with the Fifteenth, Air Force, the Group flew bombing missions in support of ground operations as well as bombing more strategic targets in Germany. The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for leading a strike against an aircraft factory at Steyr, Austria, on 24 February 1944 during Big Week, 20-25 February 1944.

Between 17-Aug-42 and 21-Oct-42, while they flew from Polebrook and Grafton Underwood with the 8th Air Force the Group flew 14 missions using 247 sorties and dropped 395 tons of bombs. The Group had 14 aircraft KIA during this period.

CLAIMS TO FAME (17-Aug-42 to 21-Oct-42)\
Flew the first heavy bombing mission of the war 17-Aug-42 Rouen.

Commanding Officers

Frank Alton Armstrong

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command 1st Bomb Division 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 97th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-17459
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer; Pilot

Joseph H Atkinson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Bombardment Group Commander

Cornelius W Cousland

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer

Connections

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

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Polebrook 13 June 1942 - 25 November 1942

Based

Grafton Underwood 6 July 1942 - 8 September 1942

Based

Chateaudun-du-Rhumel 8 February 1943

Based

Amendola 16 January 1944 - 1 October 1945

Other

Assigned 8th Air Force

Other

Assigned 12th Air Force

Other

Assigned 15th Air Force

Encompassing

340th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

342nd Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Albert Andreiko

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron

Anthony R Arioto

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron

Bob Bastanchury

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron

Anthony J Belli

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 774483
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Bernard W Bognovitz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group Headquarters Squadron (97th Bomb Group)

Aircraft

41-24342

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Stinky Jr
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron

41-24344

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron

41-24378

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: War Eagle
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group

41-24392

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell’s Kitchen
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron

41-24400

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Bill
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron

Mission

VIII Bomber Command 1

  • Date: 17 August 1942
  • Official Description: 12 B-17’s of 97th Bomb Group, escorted by Spitfires, launch first Army Air Force Heavy Bomber attack from UK against Western Europe. Target is Rouen-Sotteville Marshalling Yard. Sergeant Kent R West shoots down German fighter, thus becoming the first...

VIII Bomber Command 2

  • Date: 19 August 1942
  • Official Description: 22 B-17’s drop 34 tons of bombs on Abbeville/Drucat airfield causing extensive damage. This mission is flown to occupy enemy fighters and prevent them from opposing an invasion by over 5,000 Allied troops, mostly Canadians, who raid Dieppe.

VIII Bomber Command 3

  • Date: 20 August 1942
  • Official Description: Principle of coordinated day and night bombing receive its first formal definition in ‘Joint British/American Directive on Day Bomber Operations involving Fighter Cooperation.’ Emphasis is placed on achieving continuity in bombing offensive from UK...

VIII Bomber Command 4

  • Date: 21 August 1942
  • Official Description: At Gen Arnold’s request, Gen Eisenhower gives Gen Spaatz additional duties as Air Officer for ETOUSA and head of the air section of its staff, thus assuring active participation by Eighth AF in theater planning. 12 airplanes are dispatched to bomb...

VIII Bomber Command 5

  • Date: 24 August 1942
  • Official Description: 12 Heavy Bombers hit the shipyard of Ateliers et Chantiers Maritime de la Seine at Le Trait. General Spaatz reports RAF attitude towards US daylight precision bombing seems to be changing from one of skepticism to one of tentative approval.

Revisions

Date7 Jun 2021 13:51:59
ContributorEmily
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Date1 Nov 2016 02:14:11
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/97th_Bombardment_Group.cfm

Date1 Nov 2016 02:07:25
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/97th_Operations_Group

Date1 Nov 2016 02:06:14
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/97th_Operations_Group

Date5 Feb 2016 18:49:55
ContributorJB1
Sources

1943-44

Date15 Nov 2014 22:16:50
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Nov-2014. Added claims to fame: http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/97bg.HTM

Date15 Nov 2014 22:14:09
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Nov-2014. Statistics for period in England: http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/97bg.HTM

Date7 Nov 2014 17:23:02
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Nov-2014. Adding Commanding Officer Cornelius W. Cousland.

Date20 Oct 2014 23:04:38
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Oct-2014 Commanding Officer connections within site data.

Date20 Oct 2014 22:53:19
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Oct-2014, Commanding Officers http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/97bg.HTM; Biography of Joseph H. Atkinson http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/107783/…

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:46
ContributorAAM
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).

97th Bomb Group: Gallery (142 items)

The crew of a 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24392) play poker near the tail of their aircraft. Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress crews play poker near their planes.' On reverse: Life Magazine Photo [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 10128 - The crew of a 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress...

A portrait of Sergeant William N. Hess, a waist gunner of the 340th Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group, taken in October 1944. Caption at bottom of print: "William N. Hess, 18210045, 44-10, 256."

Object number: FRE 10131 - A portrait of Sergeant William N. Hess, a waist...

A formation of Flying Fortresses on their way to attack targets near the Anzio beachhead. Nearest the camera is a 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30056) that was declared Missing In Action on the 2nd of July 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '230056, MIA 2/7/44, 342BS, 97BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA. IA 18239. Forts Bound For Anzio. A flight of Flying Fortresses, carrying fragmentation bombs, gather in formation for a flight to the Anzio beachhead,

Object number: FRE 10136 - A formation of Flying Fortresses on their way to...

97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (serial number 44-6181), drop their payloads on Lechfeld airdrome on the 12th of September 1944. Printed caption on reverse: '62004 AC - Bombs Away - Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th Air Force release their string of bombs on the airdrome at Lechfeld, Germany, 12 Sept. 1944. U.S. Air Force Photo.' On reverse: Substandard Original Material and US Air Force 1361st Photographic Squadron AAVS (MAC) Photo [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 10140 - 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses, including...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24370) nicknamed "Berlin Sleeper" of the 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group. The aircraft survived its 'tour' and returned to the USA in October 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '342BS, 97BG, Returned USA 10/43.' Printed caption on reverse: '53448 AC - Boeing B-17 "Berlin Sleeper". U.S. Air Force Photo.' On reverse: US Air Force 1361st Photographic Squadron AAVS (MAC) Photo [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 10146 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24370)...

Burtonwood Servicing Centre maintained aircraft of the 8th, 9th, 12th and 15th Air Forces during the war; on the 16th of March 1943, a 8th Air Force, 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress was at the airfield for maintenance. Official caption on image: "78996 A.C." Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Burtonwood Servicing Centre. 8th/9th/12th/15th AF. 97BG, 8th AF.' Printed caption on reverse: '78996 AC - Front view of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" at Burtonwood Airdrome, England, 16 March 1943. U.S. Air Forc

Object number: FRE 10914 - Burtonwood Servicing Centre maintained aircraft of...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9017) of the 92nd Bomb Group in flight. Passed for publication 5 Sep 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Q.13312: A Flying Fortress photographed in flight at a U.S. Training Centre.' On reverse: Westminster Press Provincial Newspapers Ltd and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 3717 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9017)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9022) nicknamed "Alabama Exterminator II" of the 92nd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '414 Squadron, 97th Bomb Group.'

Object number: FRE 3741 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9022)...

A bomber crew of the 97th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Big Punk". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Saunders and crew.'

Object number: FRE 4042 - A bomber crew of the 97th Bomb Group with their B...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 97th Bomb Group taxiis down the runway after returning from a raid on Rouen. 18 August 1942. Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Flying Fortresses Raid Rouen In Daylight. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The first arrivals back from the raid taxi in along the runway. AKP/ROB 249439. 18-8-42-N.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 4044 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 97th Bomb Group...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 97th Bomb Group after the raid over Rouen. 18 August 1942 Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Flying Fortresses Raid Rouen In Daylight. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The first arrivals back from the raid taxi in along the runway. AKP/ROB 249441. 18-8-42-N.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 4045 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 97th Bomb Group...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 97th Bomb Group flies over a C-47 Skytrain at Grafton Underwood. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 28 Aug 1942.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 'T/O Grafton Underwood, 97BG. 20/8/42.'

Object number: FRE 4046 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 97th Bomb Group...