97th Bombardment Wing (U.S. Army Air Forces)

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

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.

History

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

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

9th Bombardment Division, 12 November 1943 – 11 October 1945^[1]

Stations

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

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 Mar 1944, IX Bomber Command, 11 - 18 Sep 1944 and 99th Combat Bombardment Wing, 19 - 28 Sep 1944)^[5]

References

Notes

1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Units, p. 413
1 2 Station number in Anderson
↑ "Abstract, History 97 Bombardment Wing June 1944-June 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved June 15, 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

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center.
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.

USAAF Ninth Air Force in World War II

Stations

Palestine (Mand)	Lydda Muqueibile Ramat David St Jean

Egypt	Abu Sueir Ismailia El Amiriya Daba Deversoir Fayid Kabrit * Landing Ground 174 Payne Sidi Haneish

Libya	Baheira Belandah Benina Castel Benito Berca Darragh El Adem El Assa Gambut Hamraiet Lete Martuba Tmed El Chel Tobruk Tripoli Sidi Azeiz

Tunisia	Ben Gardane Bou Grara Chekira Hani Hazbub Hergla El Djem El Haouaria Kairouan Medenine Menzel Heurr Sfax Soltane

United Kingdom	Aldermaston Andover Andrews Field Ashford Balderton Barkston Heath Beaulieu Birch Bisterne Boreham Bottesford Boxted Charmy Down Chalgrove Chilbolton Chipping Ongar Christchurch Cottesmore Earls Colne Exeter Folkingham Fulbeck Gosfield Great Dunmow Greenham Common Grove High Halden Headcorn Holmsley South Hurn Ibsley Kingsnorth Langar Lashenden Little Walden Lymington Matching Membury Merryfield Middle Wallop North Witham Ramsbury Raydon Rivenhall Saltby Scorton Staplehurst Spanhoe Stansted Stoney Cross Thruxton Upottery Warmwell Welford Weston Zoyland Wethersfield Winkton Woodchurch Wormingford

Europe	Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany too numerous.

Units

Commands

Wings

Bombardment	97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment

Fighter	8th Fighter 9th Fighter 70th Fighter 71st Fighter 84th Fighter 100th Fighter 303d Fighter

Troop carrier	50th Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 53d Troop Carrier

Groups

Bombardment	12th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 322d Bombardment 323d Bombardment 340th Bombardment 344th Bombardment 376th Bombardment 386th Bombardment 387th Bombardment 391st Bombardment 394th Bombardment 397th Bombardment 409th Bombardment 410th Bombardment 416th Bombardment

Fighter	36th Fighter 48th Fighter 50th Fighter 57th Fighter 79th Fighter 324th Fighter 354th Fighter 358th Fighter 365th Fighter 362d Fighter 363d Fighter 366th Fighter 367th Fighter 368th Fighter 370th Fighter 371st Fighter 373d Fighter 404th Fighter 405th Fighter 406th Fighter 474th Fighter

Troop carrier	61st Troop Carrier 64th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 315th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier 349th Troop Carrier 434th Troop Carrier 435th Troop Carrier 436th Troop Carrier 437th Troop Carrier 438th Troop Carrier 439th Troop Carrier 440th Troop Carrier 441st Troop Carrier 442d Troop Carrier IX Troop Carrier Pathfinder (Provisional)

Reconnaissance	10th Reconnaissance 67th Reconnaissance 69th Reconnaissance

Squadrons

Liaison	14th Liaison 47th Liaison

Night fighter	422d Night Fighter 425th Night Fighter

United States Army Air Forces

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