Robert Lewis didnt meet the reserve price. The Wing participates in the Arc Light and Linebacker missions and serves as the lead formation during the first Linebacker missions into North Vietnam.Īugust 1990 - March 1991 - In support of Operation Desert Storm the wing operates from England flying bombing missions into Iraq and Kuwait.Īpril - September 1992 - The 97th Bombardment Wing inactivates at Eaker AFB and reactivates at Altus AFB as the 97th Air Mobility Wing, the first of its kind. Bonhams in Manhattan says bidding Wednesday for the two log books belonging to Enola Gay co-pilot Capt.
It is also the first group to fly 300 combat missions.ġ945 - 1951 - Following the war, the Mighty 97th transfers to Kansas, then Alaska, before settling at Biggs AFB, Texas where it helps develop the American boom style of aerial refueling.ġ July 1959 - The wing transfers to Blytheville AFB, Arkansas and deploys B-52 Stratofrotresses to Southwest Asia during the Vietnam War.
Besides being the first to bomb Europe from England, the group is also the group the first to bomb Germany from Africa, led the first raid on Rome, and the first to land in Russia. Lieutenant Kingsley is currently the only member of the 97th to earn the award.ġ942 - 1945 - During World War II the 97th served as the lead group in several key campaigns. Kingsley, a bombardier assigned to the 97th, earns the Medal of Honor for sacrificing himself for a wounded crewmember following a raid on the oil fields near Ploesti, Romania. The lead co-pilot is Major Paul Tibbets - later the pilot of the Enola Gay dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.Ģ3 June 1944 - Lt David R.
Armstrong, Jr later portrayed by Gregory Peck in the movie Twelve O'clock High. March - May 1942 - The Group trains with the B-17 Flying Fortress for combat operations, flying anti-submarine patrols of the Florida coast.ġ3 June 1942 - The Group arrives at Polebrook, England with the first American B-17s.ġ7 August 1942 - Twelve B-17s from the 97th fly the first high altitude daylight, heavy bomber mission on occupied Europe. 3 February 1942 - The War Department activated the 97th Bombardment Group at MacDill Field, Florida.