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597th Bomb Squadron

Squadron

  • A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96191) nicknamed

    A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96191) nicknamed "The Milk Run Special" of the 397th Bomb Group at Steeple Morden, 1945. Image by Alexander "Cal" Sloan. Written on slide casing: '296191, 397 BG.' Flown overseas by Lt. George Overbey and assigned to him in the 597th squadron.

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  • Lieutenant M.B. Gleis, pilot of the 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group, leans on a propeller of his B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96125). He would be promoted to Captain after this photograph was taken. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-26B-55-MA; 42-96125; 597BS/397BG; Capt. M.B. Gleis a/c; (Image) Col. James M. Snow.' Lt. Marcel B. Gleis and my father, Lt. Winfred W. Anderson, flew together via the

    Lieutenant M.B. Gleis, pilot of the 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group, leans on a propeller of his B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96125). He would be promoted to Captain after this photograph was taken. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-26B-55-MA; 42-96125; 597BS/397BG; Capt. M.B. Gleis a/c; (Image) Col. James M. Snow.' Lt. Marcel B. Gleis and my father, Lt. Winfred W. Anderson, flew together via the "Southern Route" to England as pilots assigned to the 397th Bomb Group.

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  • "Helen Hi-Water III" (front, 9F-K, serial number 43-34401) of the 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group drops its load of bombs through a cloud layer. "Baby Butch II", another 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (9F-T, serial number 42-96280) is behind "Helen Hi-Water III" at the very top of frame. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-26, 397BG, 597BS.'

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  • B-26 Marauders of the 597th Bomb Squadron ('9F') and the 598th Bomb Squadron ('U2'), 397th Bomb Group, fly towards Europe on a raid. The lower flight are all 598th Bomb Squadron aircraft; the two upper B-26 Marauders (9F-Y, serial number 42-96137 in front; 9F-N, serial number 42-96191 behind) are 597th Bomb Squadron aircraft. Handwritten caption on reverse: '597 BS (9F) & 598 BS (U2) of 397BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '52421 USAF - A Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, England - Silver Streak Marauders Over England's Famed Countryside. Here, in formation, are the

    B-26 Marauders of the 597th Bomb Squadron ('9F') and the 598th Bomb Squadron ('U2'), 397th Bomb Group, fly towards Europe on a raid. The lower flight are all 598th Bomb Squadron aircraft; the two upper B-26 Marauders (9F-Y, serial number 42-96137 in front; 9F-N, serial number 42-96191 behind) are 597th Bomb Squadron aircraft. Handwritten caption on reverse: '597 BS (9F) & 598 BS (U2) of 397BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '52421 USAF - A Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, England - Silver Streak Marauders Over England's Famed Countryside. Here, in formation, are the "Silver Streaks", Martin B-26 Marauders with their war paint removed for the sake of added speed. In this picture, the "Silver Streaks" - medium bombers of a Ninth Air Force Group commanded by Col. Reginald Vance of San Antonio, Texas, are seen streaking toward the Channel, and another visit to Hitler's Europe. U.S. Air Force Photo.' On reverse: U.S. Air Force Detachment-5, HQ AAVS (MAC) [Stamp]. Photo was taken from my father's ship by Sgt. Max Berger, group photographer. Group CO was Col Richard L. Coiner.

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  • A B-26 Marauder (9F-T, serial number 42-96280) nicknamed

    A B-26 Marauder (9F-T, serial number 42-96280) nicknamed "Baby Butch II" of the 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: '296280. 397BG, 597BS, B-26, 9F-T, "Baby Butch II". Lost in action 23 Dec 44.'

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  • A 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (9F-N, serial number 42-96191) in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 597BS.' Flown by Lt. George Overbey.

    A 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (9F-N, serial number 42-96191) in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 597BS.' Flown by Lt. George Overbey.

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  • A B-26 Marauder (9F-K, serial number 43-34401) nicknamed

    A B-26 Marauder (9F-K, serial number 43-34401) nicknamed "Helen Hi-Water III" of the 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 597BS.'

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  • B-26 Marauders (9F-K, serial number 43-34401) nicknamed

    B-26 Marauders (9F-K, serial number 43-34401) nicknamed ""Helen Hi-Water III" and ( 9F-T, serial number 42-96280) nicknamed "Baby Butch II" of the 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group release bombs during a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 597BS. "Baby Butch II" & "Helen Highwater III".' "Helen Highwater III" was squadron commander Col. Frank Wood's airplane.

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Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Not yet known
Previously was
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Became
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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Rivenhall

Connections

People

  • Clarence Abrahamson

    Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 397th Bomb Group
    Air Medal Abrahamson was originally with the 385th BG, 549 Squadron and was transferred to the 9th AF when there was a shortage of gunners.

  • Winfred Anderson

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 397th Bomb Group
    65 missions

  • Francis Brodley

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Departed base Perrone (A-72) on mission to Germany, climbing through 10/10 cloud layer departed formation. Crashed 3 km SW Wassigny, partial bomb load detonation destroyed A/C and crew. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR...

  • Robert Curran

    Military | Flight Sergeant | Gunner | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. 5 x missions. Departed base Perrone (A-72) on mission to Germany, climbing through 10/10 cloud layer departed formation. Crashed 3 km SW Wassigny, partial bomb load detonation destroyed A/C and crew. Killed in...

  • Andrew Essman

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Airplane Crew Chief MOS 059 | 397th Bomb Group
    Technical Sergeant Andrew W. Essman was the dedicated crew chief of Aircraft B-26B-55-MA 42-96191/9FN nicknamed “The Milk Run Special.” ...

  • Frank Evans

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator
    Frank Evans was Mortally wounded by a Flak burst over enemy territory. The aircraft he was flying in 42-96137 was written off in a crash landing at West Malling Airfield

  • Moses Gatewood

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 397th Bomb Group
    Gatewood was a US military academy graduate, class of January 1943. Assigned to 9th air force, 397th bomb group, 597th squadron as aircraft commander of a b-26 martin marauder medium bomber named 'Holy Moses'. While flying another aircraft, the 'Mama...

  • Edward Lindquist

    Military | Second Lieutenant

  • Fred Marshall

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bomber pilot | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Eller railroad bridge, shot down by fighters over target crew baled out Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 11349. Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Edward Moore

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Departed base Perrone (A-72) on mission to Germany, climbing through 10/10 cloud layer departed formation. Crashed 3 km SW Wassigny, partial bomb load detonation destroyed A/C and crew. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR...

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Aircraft

  • 42-95930 Angel Puss

    B-26 Marauder
    Baugher: Martin B-26B-50-MA 42-95930 Angel Puss (387th BG, 558th BS, 9th AF) shot down by AAA at Raon near St Die, France Oct 12, 1944. MACR 9817. One crewman killed, seven bailed out and became POW.

  • 42-96120 'Mama Liz'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) hit by flak, dropped 3-4 thousand feet, crew baled out 24-Jun-44 1 x EVD, 5 x POW MACR 6197. ...

  • 42-96280 'Baby Butch II'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Eller railroad bridge, shot down by fighters over target crew baled out 6 x POW. MACR 11349. ...

  • 42-96191 The Milk Run Special

    B-26 Marauder

  • 43-34401 Helen Highwater III

    B-26 Marauder

  • 42-96139 'Susan J'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 598BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Transferred to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF.

  • 42-96123 'Baby Butch'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF.

  • 42-96137

    B-26 Marauder
    Lost in a Crash at West Malling airfield after battle damage May 13, 1944, The Navigator Frank K Evans was KIA.

Citations

None

Air Force
9th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 16:05:11 rossingtonj Changes to type
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:50 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / 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)

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