Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
97th OPERATIONS GROUP
Lineage. Established as 97 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 3 Feb 1942. Redesignated 97 Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 30 Sep 1944. Inactivated on 29 Oct 1945. Redesignated 97 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 15 Jul 1946. Organized and activated, on 4 Aug 1946 from the personnel and equipment of the 485 Bombardment Group (inactivated). Redesignated 97 Bombardment Group, Medium, on 12 Jul 1948. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952. Redesignated 97 Operations Group on 29 Aug 1991. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1992. Activated on 1 Oct 1992-.
Assignments. Third Air Force, 3 Feb 1942; VIII Bomber Command, 20 May 1942; First Bombardment Wing, Aug 1942; XII Bomber Command, 14 Sep 1942; Fifth Bombardment Wing, Jan 1943-c. 29 Oct 1945. Fifteenth Air Force, 4 Aug 1946; Attached to Yukon Sector, Alaskan Air Command, c. 2-30 Nov 1947; 97th Bombardment Wing, 4 Nov 1948-15 Feb 1949; 97th Wing, 1 Sep 1991-1 Apr 1992; 97th Air Mobility Wing, 1 Oct 1992-. (attached to: Third Air Division, c. 27 Jul 1950-9 Feb 1951)
Components. Groups. 401st Bombardment, 27 Jun 1949-10 Feb 1951. Squadrons. 11th Air Refueling, 1 Oct 1992-1 Jul 1993; 54th Air Refueling, 16 Jan 1998-; 55th Air Refueling, 28 Oct 1994-Mar 2009; 97th Air Refueling, 1 Mar 1949-16 June 1952 (not operational 1 Mar 1949-23 Jan 1950; detached 12 Jul 1950-16 Jun 1952); 1 Sep 1991-1 Apr 1992; 306th Air Refueling, 1 Oct 1992-1 Jul 1993; 56th Airlift, 1 Oct 1992-30 Sep 2008; 57th Airlift, 1 Oct 1992-30 Sep 2001; 58th Airlift, 30 Jan 1996; 24th Reconnaissance later, 414th Bombardment, 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945; 340th Bombardment, (later, 340th Bomb): 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945; 4 Aug 1946-16 Jun 1952 (detached, 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952); 1 Sep 1991-7 Jan 1992; 341st Bombardment, 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945; 4 Aug 1946-16 Jun 1952 (detached 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952); 342nd Bombardment, 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945; 4 Aug 1946-16 Jun 1952 (detached 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952).
Stations. MacDill Field, FL, 3 Feb 1942; Sarasota AAF, FL, 29 Mar-c. 16 May 1942; RAF Polebrook, England, c. 13 June-c. 9 Nov 1942; Maison Blanche Airport, Algiers, Algeria, c. 13 Nov 1942; Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria, c. 22 Nov 1942; Biskra Airfield, Algeria, c. 25 Dec 1942; Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield, Algeria, c. 8 Feb 1943; Pont du Fahs Airfield, Tunisia, c. 1 Aug 1943; Depienne Airfield, Tunisia, c. 15 Aug 1943; Cerignola Airfield, Italy, c. 20 Dec 1943; Amendola Airfield, Italy, 16 Jan 1944; Marcianise Airfield, Italy, c. 1-29 Oct 1945; Smoky Hill AAFld (later Smoky Hill AFB), KS, 4 Aug 1946; Biggs AFB, TX, 17 May 1948-16 Jun 1952. Eaker AFB, AR, 1 Sep 1991-1 Apr 1992. Altus AFB, Oklahoma, 1 Oct 1992-. (operated from: Mile 26 Air Field (later, Eielson AFB) , AK, 2 Nov 1947-13 Mar 1948; RAF Marham, England, 4 Nov 1948-15 Feb 1949; RAF Sculthorpe, England, c. 27 Jul 1950-9 Feb 1951)
Aircraft. B-17, 1942-1945; B-29, 1946-1950; KB-29, 1950-1951; B-50, 1950-1951. KC-135, 1991-1992; 1992–1993; 1994-; C-141, 1992-2001; C-5, 1992-2007; C-17, 1996-.
Operations. Initially trained B-17 crews in Florida and flew antisubmarine patrols. Deployed to England as part of Operation Bolero and became the first operationally-ready Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress group. Combat in ETO, 1942-1945. Participated in numerous exercises, operational readiness inspections, and overseas deployments. Deployed twice to the United Kingdom as part of SAC’s forward rotation of B-29 groups to Europe. Initiate Global Mobility by expertly training airlift and aerial refueling aircrews to achieve global reach and power while simultaneously maintaining worldwide deployment capabilities.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Decorations. None.
Emblem. Approved on 5 Mar 1943. Motto: VENIT HORA-The hour has come.