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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-379318.jpg.webp?itok=fzWfGYcJ)
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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379326.jpg.webp?itok=PgnVoxm0)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-17459
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
- Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
- Role/Job: Bombardment Group Commander
- 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
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-431024
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 774483
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stinky Jr
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
![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].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-457813.jpg.webp?itok=nsZbwgls)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Berlin sleeper II
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron 97th Bomb Group
- 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].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-457795.jpg.webp?itok=BzUTLl1F)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hell’s Kitchen
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
Mission
- Date: 21 October 1942
- Official Description:
- Date: 9 October 1942
- Official Description:
- Date: 2 October 1942
- Official Description:
- Date: 26 September 1942
- Official Description:
- Date: 7 September 1942
- Official Description:
Related videos and documents
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 20373
- Description: Soldier's Medal Awarded on April 1st, 1944 for action on July 16th, 1943.
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Nov-2014. Added claims to fame: http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/97bg.HTM
Lee Cunningham 15-Nov-2014. Statistics for period in England: http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/97bg.HTM
Lee Cunningham 7-Nov-2014. Adding Commanding Officer Cornelius W. Cousland.
Lee Cunningham 20-Oct-2014 Commanding Officer connections within site data.
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/…
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 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].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-457807.jpg.webp?itok=yYKFdO5u)
![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].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408318.jpg.webp?itok=fHieGQdP)
![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].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408703.jpg.webp?itok=b81yTk62)
![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].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408705.jpg.webp?itok=IjcTT7A0)
![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.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408706.jpg.webp?itok=um72ebNM)