Wikipedia
97th Bombardment Wing (U.S. Army Air Forces)
The 97th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with 9th Bombardment Division, at Camp Shanks, New York, where it was inactivated on 11 October 1945.
| 97th Bombardment Wing | |
|---|---|
416th Bombardment Group A-26 Invader in 1945 | |
| Active | 1943–1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Size | Command of light bomber forces |
| Part of | Ninth Air Force |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
History edit
The wing was activated in late November 1943 at Marks Hall, England. It was assigned three Douglas A-20 Havoc groups in the spring of 1944 and conducted combat missions from April 1944 until VE Day. In late 1944 and early 1945, its groups converted to the more capable Douglas A-26 Invader. In October 1945 the wing returned to the United States and was inactivated.[1]
Lineage edit
- Constituted as the 97th Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 2 November 1943
- Activated on 12 November 1943
- Redesignated 97th Combat Bombardment Wing, Light in July 1944
- Redesignated 97th Bombardment Wing, Medium in June 1945
- Inactivated on 11 October 1945[1]
Assignments edit
- 9th Bombardment Division, 12 November 1943 – 11 October 1945[1]
Stations edit
- Marks Hall, England (Station 160),[2] 12 November 1943
- RAF Little Walden (AAF-165),[2] England, 13 March 1944
- Voisenon, France, 13 September 1944
- Marchais, Aisne,[3] France, 13 February 1945
- Arrancy, France, 25 April 1945
- Sandaucourt, France, 24 May – 1 October 1945
- Camp Shanks, New York, 10–11 October 1945[1]
Components edit
- 409th Bombardment Group: 7 March 1944 – 15 August 1945[4]
- 410th Bombardment Group: 4 April 1944 – June 1945
- 416th Bombardment Group: 4 February 1944 – 27 July 1945 4 (under the operational control of 99th Combat Bombardment Wing, until c. 20 March 1944, IX Bomber Command, 11 – 18 September 1944 and 99th Combat Bombardment Wing, 19 – 28 September 1944)[5]
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ a b c d Maurer, Combat Units, p. 413
- ^ a b Station number in Anderson
- ^ "Abstract, History 97 Bombardment Wing June 1944 – June 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ^ Warnock, A. Timothy, (1 January 2013) Lineage and Honors History of the 409 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE), Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL (partly updated by Haulman, Daniel L.)
- ^ Kane, Robert B. (6 April 2010). "Factsheet 416 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
Bibliography edit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.