The wing was activated in late November 1943 at
Marks Hall, England. It was assigned three
Douglas A-20 Havoc groups in the spring of 1944 and conducted combat missions from April 1944 until
VE Day. In late 1944 and early 1945, its
groups converted to the more capable
Douglas A-26 Invader. In October 1945 the wing returned to the United States and was inactivated.[1]
Lineage
Constituted as the 97th Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 2 November 1943
Activated on 12 November 1943
Redesignated 97th Combat Bombardment Wing, Light in July 1944
Redesignated 97th Bombardment Wing, Medium in June 1945
416th Bombardment Group: 4 February 1944 – 27 July 1945 4 (under the operational control of
99th Combat Bombardment Wing, until c. 20 March 1944, IX Bomber Command, 11 – 18 September 1944 and 99th Combat Bombardment Wing, 19 – 28 September 1944)[5]
^Warnock, A. Timothy, (1 January 2013) Lineage and Honors History of the 409 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE), Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL (partly updated by Haulman, Daniel L.)