From Amendola to Alps
Boeing B-17s Flying Fortress of the 97th Bomb Group, based at Amendola, Puglia, Italy in 15th Air Force markings flying over Alps during a war mission, 1944. After an operational cycle in England with 395 tons of bombs dropped on German-controlled territory 14 aircraft lost (the Group, August 17, 1942, carried out the first Eighth Air Force heavy bomber mission of the war, attacking the Rouen-Sotteville marshalling yards in France) the 97th Bombardment Group was moved, 21 October 1942, to the Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater being assigned first to Twelfth and later (November 1943) to Fifteenth Air Force. The first bases were in North Africa, Algeria and Tunisia, whence, November 1942-May 1943, struck shipping in the Mediterranean Sea and airfields, docks, harbors, and marshalling yards in Northern Africa, Southern France, Sardinia, Sicily, and the Southern Italian mainland for cut supply lines to German forces in North Africa. After to make one's contribution to capitulation of Pantelleria Island, in June 1943, the Group flew bombardment missions in preparation for and in support of the invasions of Sicily and Southern Italy in the summer and fall of 1943. At the end 1943, was transferred in Italy, before at Cerignola and after, January 16, 1944, at large airport of Amendola in the Foggia Airfield Complex. Frome here, until April 1945, the Flying Fortress of 97th BG attacked targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Greece, bombing oil refineries, marshalling yards, aircraft factories, and other strategic objectives. The 97th BG earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for leading a raid against an aircrat assembly line at Steyr, Austria, on 24 February 1944 during Big Week, the air campaign against the German aircraft industry. The 97th BG also participated in first shuttle-bombing mission to Russia (Operation Frantic) in June 1944. The Group earned a second DUC for a successful raid against one of the Ploesti oil refineries in Rumania, August 18, 1944. airfields. Bombed also coastal defenses in preparation for landing on Southern France and assisted the American Fifth and British Eighth Armies in their advance through the Po Valley of Northern Italy until the German surrender in May 1945. Flew 467 combat missions with loss of 110 aircraft. After the end of war the 97BG remained in Italy and at October 1945 was transferred in Campania, near Caserta, on Marcianise Airfield. After this date the Group returned in USA. Victor Sierra
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://ww2incolor.com/gallery/us-army-air-force/41812/from-amendola-to-alps