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 media-379318.jpg 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 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 immediately began reservicing it ready for the next job.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

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

Colonel Frank A. Armstrong of the 97th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photographed by US Army Air Air Forces.' [caption], 'US Official Phot No. USB 230. (WA) Distributed by the Ministry of Information.' [caption] 'USAA(BRI)CCC:TYPE.' [written annotation] Printed caption on reverse: 'LEADER OF THE US BOMBING ATTACK ON WILHELMSHAVEN. Photo shows:- Col. Frank A. Armstrong of Asheville N.C. who led the bombing attack on Wilhelmshaven- the first American air a

Frank Alton Armstrong

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command 1st Bomb Division 306th Bomb Group 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

A bomber crew of the 97th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. They are from left to right: Lieutenant Frank R. Beadle, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sergeant Chester Love, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Sergeant Richard Williams, of Utica, New York; Lieutenant Levon Ray, of Poolville Texas; Glen V. Leland, of St. Petersburg, Florida; Sergeant Frank Rebello, Tiverton, Rhode Island; Sergeant Joseph Cummings, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Sergeant Zane Gemmill, of St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Image stamped on reverse: 'Pas

340th Bomb Squadron

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

342nd Bomb Squadron

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

People

Arthur E Aenchbacher

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-431024
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Albert Andreiko

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • 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

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 342nd Bomb Squadron
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].

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

Revisions

Date7 Jun 2021 13:51:59
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to motto, insignia, us air force combat units of world war ii description, citations and stations
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Date1 Nov 2016 02:14:11
Contributor466thHistorian
ChangesChanges to motto and aircraft associations
Sources

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

Date1 Nov 2016 02:07:25
Contributor466thHistorian
ChangesChanges to stations
Sources

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

Date1 Nov 2016 02:06:14
Contributor466thHistorian
ChangesChanges to stations
Sources

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

Date5 Feb 2016 18:49:55
ContributorJB1
ChangesChanges to type and mission associations
Sources

1943-44

Date15 Nov 2014 22:16:50
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description and mission associations
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
ChangesChanges to description and mission associations
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
ChangesChanges to citations, commanding officers associations and mission associations
Sources

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

Date20 Oct 2014 23:04:38
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to commanding officers associations and mission associations
Sources

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

Date20 Oct 2014 22:53:19
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to air forces, aircraft types, unit part of associations, commanding officers associations and mission associations
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
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).

97th Bomb Group: Gallery (140 items)