Information provided by Gretchen:

Bases Assigned
* MacDill Fld, FL, February 3, 1942
* Sarasota, FL, March 29-c. May 16, 1942
* RAF Polebrook, England, c. June 13-c. November 9, 1942
* Algeria Nov 1942 - Aug 1943
* Tunisia, c. August 15, 1943
* Italy December 20, 1943 - October 1945

Operational History World War II
Constituted as 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on January 28, 1942. Activated on February 3, 1942. Trained with B-17's; also flew some antisubmarine patrols. Moved to England, May-July 1942, for duty with Eighth AF.

Entered combat on August 17, 1942 by bombing a marshalling yard at Rouen, the first mission flown by AAF's heavy bombers based in England. After that, attacked airfields, marshalling yards, industries, naval installations, and other targets in France and the Low Countries.

Moved to the Mediterranean theater in November 1942, being assigned first to Twelfth and later (November 1943) to Fifteenth AF. Struck shipping in the Mediterranean and airfields, clocks, harbors, and marshalling yards in North Africa, southern France, Sardinia, Sicily, and southern Italy, November 1942-May 1943, in the campaign to cut supply lines to German forces in North Africa. Helped to force the capitulation of Pantelleria in June 1943. Bombed in preparation for and in support of the invasions of Sicily and southern Italy in the summer and fall of 1943. From November 1943 to April 1945, engaged chiefly in long-range missions to targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece, attacking oil refineries, aircraft factories, marshalling yards, and other strategic objectives.

Received a DUC(Distinguished Unit Citation) for leading a strike against an aircraft factory at Steyron February 24, 1944 during Big Week, the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry. 2nd Lt David R Kingsley, bombardier, was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the life of a wounded gunner on June 23, 1944: during a mission to Ploesti, Kingsley's B-17 was seriously crippled and the tail gunner was injured; when the crew was ordered to bail out, Kingsley gave his parachute to the gunner, whose own had been damaged, and assisted him in bailing out; Kingsley died a few moments later when his bomber crashed and burned.

The group received its second DUC for a devastating raid against one of the Ploesti refineries on August 18, 1944. Other operations of the 97th included pounding enemy communications, transportation, and airfields in support of Allied forces at Anzio and Cassino; bombing coastal defenses in preparation for the invasion of Southern France; and assisting US Fifth and British Eighth Army in their advance through the Po Valley.
Inactivated in Italy on October 29, 1945.

Pilot Richard L. Sims Arrives at Squardron 6/11/43

Sky Witch Crew Missions

Palermo City 6/13/43 Lost #1 engine 20' out from target.

Messina City 6/18/43 Lost #1 & 2 engines on run.

Messina City 6/25/43 OK! First for Sky Witch

Leghorn 6/27/43 Second for Sky Witch 1,2,3,4 engines rough.

Monserrato Sardinia 7/3/43 Weather bad, couldn't find target.
Ammo Depot

Gerbini Sicily 7/5/43 Perfect pattern. Flak accurate.
Ammo Depot

Gerbini Sicily 7/8/43 Col. Doolittle led in Sky Witch. Poori lost 090.
Ammo Depot

Caltanissetta City 7/10/43 Dismal... Flak terrific & accurate.

Catania 7/11/43 A Honey!! Perfect pattern.
Ammo Depot

Messina 7/14/43 Terrific!! Bastille Day- Vive La France
Marshalling yard Blew the hell out of target.

San Giovani Barracks 7/16/43 Fair! 1 ship in drink(Shell) Lots of flak.

Rome 7/19/43 Fine! Moderate flak. General Doolittle leads.
Marshalling yard

Grossetto 7/21/43 Fair. Lead 2nd El. Flak lite. Shell crew picked Ammo Depot

Foggia 7/22/43 A Honey! 99th lost ship over target.
Marshalling yard Moderate flak ME 210's.

Tartarella 7/27/43 Turned back. Weather! 99th lost 12 ships.
Ammo Depot

Capodichino Naples 8/1/43 Perfect! Direct hit right wing. Lost 1 ship.

Messina City 8/5/43 Fine! Six flack holes!!

Terni 8/11/43 OK! 6 fighters. Lite flak.
Ammo Depot


Salon-de-Provence 8/17/43 OK! 3 fighters. 97th Anniversary. Flak moderate.
Ammo Depot

Foggia City 8/19/43 OK! #1 & 3 engines detonating, #2 oil leak #4- 34”
Flak lite. 3 fighters.

Capua 8/26/43 OK! #1 feathered. Got a fighter... Flak lite- 1 hole Ammo Depot 20 fighters.

Orte 8/29/43 Poor. No flak! 10 fighters.
Marshalling yard

Pisa 8/31/43 OK! Enemy B-17 flew in formation. No flak. 3 fighters.
Marshalling yard

Bologna 9/2/43 Perfect! Lite flak. 3 fighters.
Marshalling yard

Capodichino Naples 9/4/43 Saw 12 fighters. Lite flak. Didn't drop bombs- weather.

Pomigliano Naples 9/6/43 2 fighters. Flak moderate. Didn't drop bombs- weather.

Foggia 9/7/43 OK. Drake ditched. Ships crashed. Flak heavy.
Ammo Depot #1 414 lost a ship.

Capua Bridges 9/9/43 OK! A honey! No flak.

Torre del Grece 9/13/43 OK! No flak. No fighters.

Pompei Highways 9/14/43 100% Perfect! No fighters or flak.

Rome Ciampino 9/17/43 OK. Flak moderate. 3 holes.
Ammo Depot

N. Salerno Road 9/18/43 Poor. Flak heavy. No fighters.

Benevento Bridge 9/23/43 OK. Flak heavy- 12 holes. No fighters.

Bologna 9/25/43 Sorry! No flak or fighters. Weather
Marshalling yard missed alternative.

Augsburg Innesbrueck 10/1/43 Dismal weather dropped in Mts. No flak or fighters.
Ammo Depot

Bologna 10/5/43 OK. Flak moderate. No fighters. Last in Witch.
Marshalling yard

Larissa 10/9/43 OK. Flak moderate. No fighters. Hank hit. Landed Ammo Depot on Pantelleria.

Rome Marcigliano 10/20/43 OK. Flak & fighters nil. Poor lead- 11th.
Marshalling yard

Vienna Nuestader 10/24/43 Weather! Moderate flak. Brought 'em back.
Ammo Depot

Turin B. B. Works 10/30/43 Weather! No flak or fighters. Dropped near Genoa.

Vienna Nuestrader 11/3/43 Poor! Lots of flak and fighters. Lost 13 ships.
Got 35 fighters.

Turin B.B. Works 11/8/43 Good! No flak or fighters. Feist ship in drink.

Bologna 11/10/43 Good! Flak and fighters moderate. Lost 2 ships.
Marshalling yard

Istres Le Tube 11/16/43 Good. Flak and fighters heavy- 32 holes.
Ammo Depot Lost Dodge & Packard ships

Athens Eleusis A/D 11/17/43 Beautiful! Heavy flak. No fighters.

Tulon Sub-pens 11/24/43 Fair. Flak moderate in accurate.
Elmore ship down.

Rome Ciampino A/D 11/29/43 Hit Grossetto good. No flak or fighters.

Turin B.B. 12/1/43 Fair. Flew with 2nd. Heavy flak. 10 fighters.

Athens/Kalamaki 12/6/43 OK. 10 fighters. Heavy flak. 381st ship hit.
Scott ship down.

Got credit for 51 missions.

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