96th Bombardment Group

96th Bombardment Group was a unit of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and participating in key battles such as the Battle of Kassel and the Battle of Berlin. The group was part of the Eighth Air Force and operated from bases in England, including RAF Snetterton and RAF Horham, under the command of notable figures like Carl Andrew Spaatz and Ira C. Eaker. The 96th Bombardment Group played a significant role in the Combined Bomber Offensive, working closely with other units like the 91st Bombardment Group and the 303d Bombardment Group.

● History

The 96th Bombardment Group was activated on July 15, 1942, at Salt Lake City Army Air Base in Utah, under the command of Colonel Alexander D. Sharpe. The group was initially composed of the 337th Bombardment Squadron, 338th Bombardment Squadron, 339th Bombardment Squadron, and 340th Bombardment Squadron, and began training with B-17 Flying Fortress bombers at Gowen Field in Idaho. The group's training was overseen by experienced commanders like Henry H. Arnold and Curtis LeMay, and they worked closely with other units like the 93d Bombardment Group and the 95th Bombardment Group. In March 1943, the group moved to RAF Grafton Underwood in England, where they joined the Eighth Air Force under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and participated in key battles like the Battle of Hamburg and the Battle of Regensburg.

● Organization

The 96th Bombardment Group was organized into four squadrons: the 337th Bombardment Squadron, 338th Bombardment Squadron, 339th Bombardment Squadron, and 340th Bombardment Squadron. Each squadron was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and was responsible for conducting bombing missions against enemy targets in Europe. The group was supported by a range of units, including the 18th Weather Squadron and the 203d Finance Detachment, and worked closely with other groups like the 44th Bombardment Group and the 93d Bombardment Group. The 96th Bombardment Group was also supported by notable figures like Winston Churchill and George S. Patton, who recognized the importance of the group's missions in the Allied effort.

● Operations

The 96th Bombardment Group conducted its first combat mission on May 13, 1943, targeting the St. Omer airfield in France. The group went on to participate in a range of key battles, including the Battle of Kassel and the Battle of Berlin, and worked closely with other units like the 379th Bombardment Group and the 384th Bombardment Group. The group's operations were supported by a range of notable figures, including General Omar Bradley and General George C. Marshall, and they played a significant role in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The 96th Bombardment Group also worked closely with the Royal Air Force and the French Resistance, conducting missions in support of the Allied effort.

● Aircraft

The 96th Bombardment Group was equipped with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, which was the primary aircraft used by the group throughout its operational history. The B-17 was a four-engine heavy bomber that was capable of carrying a range of payloads, including bombs and Norden bombsights. The group's aircraft were maintained by a range of units, including the 12th Air Force and the 8th Air Force Service Command, and were supported by notable figures like Donald Douglas and Clarence L. Johnson. The 96th Bombardment Group also worked closely with other units that operated the Consolidated B-24 Liberator and the North American B-25 Mitchell.

● Stations

The 96th Bombardment Group was stationed at a range of bases throughout its operational history, including RAF Snetterton and RAF Horham in England. The group also operated from Gowen Field in Idaho and Salt Lake City Army Air Base in Utah, and worked closely with other units based at RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth. The 96th Bombardment Group's stations were supported by a range of notable figures, including General Curtis LeMay and General Carl Andrew Spaatz, and played a significant role in the Allied effort during World War II. The group's stations were also home to other units, including the 91st Bombardment Group and the 303d Bombardment Group, and were supported by the Eighth Air Force and the Royal Air Force.

Category:United States Army Air Forces units