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397th Bombardment Group
| Constituted as 397th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 20
Mar 1943. Activated on 20 Apr 1943. Trained with B26's. Moved to England,
Mar-Apr 1944, and assigned to Ninth AF. Participated in operations preparatory to the
Normandy invasion by attacking V-weapon sites, bridges, coastal defenses, marshalling
yards, and airfields, Apr-Jun 1944. Hit strong points in France on D-Day and assisted
ground forces throughout the remainder of the Normandy campaign by bombing fuel dumps,
defended areas, and other objectives. Engaged in bombardment of German forces in the
region of St Lo during the Allied breakthrough in Jul. After moving to the Continent in
Aug, struck enemy positions at St Male and Brest and bombed targets in the Rouen area as
Allied armies swept across the Seine and advanced to the Siegfried Line. Began flying
missions into Germany in Sep, attacking such targets as bridges, defended areas, and
storage depots. Struck the enemy's communications during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec
1944-Jan 1945) and received a DUC for a mission on 23 Dec 1944 when the group withstood
heavy flak and fighter attack to sever a railway bridge at Eller, a vital link in the
enemy's supply line across the Moselle. Continued to support the Allied drive into Germany
until Apr 1945. Returned to the US, Dec 1945-Jan 1946. Inactivated on 6
Jan 1946. Squadrons
Stations
Commanders
Campaigns
Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation: Eller, Germany, 23 Dec 1944 Insigne: None |