99th Bombardment Group

Constituted as 99th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Jun 1942. Trained with B-17's. Moved to North Africa, Feb-May 1943, and assigned to Twelfth AF. Entered combat in Mar 1943 and bombed such targets as airdromes, harbor facilities, shipping, railroads, viaducts, and bridges in Tunisia, Sardinia, Sicily, Pantelleria, and Italy until Dec 1943. Received a DUC for performance on 5 Jul 1943 when the group helped to neutralize fighter opposition prior to the invasion of Sicily by penetrating enemy defenses to bomb planes, hangars, fuel supplies, and ammunition dumps at the Gerbini airfield. Assigned to Fifteenth AF in Nov 1943 and moved to Italy in Dec. Their B-17 Flying Fortress flew long-range missions to attack such strategic objectives as oil refineries, marshalling yards, aircraft factories, and steel plants in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece.

Received another DUC for withstanding severe fighter assaults to bomb the vital aircraft factory and facilities at Wiener Neustadt on 23 Apr 1944. Other operations included assisting ground forces at Anzio and Cassino, Feb-Mar 1944; participating in the preinvasion bombing of southern France, Aug 1944; and supporting the Allied offensive in the Po Valley, Apr 1945. Inactivated in Italy on 8 Nov 1945.

Advertisement
DVD Video with Combat Film footage of 99th BG in WW2.

Squadrons

346th: 1942-1945
347th: 1942-1945
348th: 1942-1945
416th: 1942-1945

Stations

Orlando AB, Fla, 1 Jun 1942
MacDill Field, Fla, 1 Jun 1942
Pendleton Field, Ore, 29 Jun 1942
Gowen Field, Idaho, 28 Aug 1942
Walla Walla, Wash, c. 30 Sep 1942
Sioux City AAB, Iowa, 17 Nov 1942-3 Jan 1943
Navarin, Algeria, c. 23 Feb 1943
Oudna, Tunisia, 4 Aug 1943
Tortorella Airfield, Italy, c. 11 Dec 1943
Marcianise, Italy, Oct-8 Nov 1945

Commanders

Unkn, Jun-Sep 1942
Col Fay R Upthegrove, c. Sep 1942
Lt Col Wayne E Thurman, 24 Nov 1943
Col Charles W Lawrence, 19 Dec 1943
Lt Col Wayne E Thurman, 26 Jan 1944
Col Ford Lauer, 15 Feb 1944
Col Trenholm Meyer, Jul 1944
Lt Col James A Barnett, Aug 1944
Col Ford Lauer, Sep 1944
Col Raymond V Schwanbeck, Jan 1945
Lt Col Robert E Guay, 8 Oct 1945
Maj Joseph D Russell, 11 Oct 1945

Campaigns

Air Combat, EAME Theater
Air Offensive, Europe
Tunisia
Sicily
Naples-Foggia
Anzio
Rome-Arno
Normandy
Northern France
Southern France
North Apennines
Rhineland
Central Europe
Po Valley

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citations:
Sicily, 5 Jul 1943
Austria, 23 Apr 1944

Insigne. Shield: Azure, issuant from sinister chief a cloud argent emitting a lightning flash to dexter base or between an eye of the second with pupil sable represented as a radar scope of the third with eyelid of the like, and a globe of the last with lines of the fifth encircled by a motion picture film silver. Motto: Sight With Might. (Approved 3 Nov 1943. This insigne was replaced 7 Feb 1958.)

Missing Air Crew Reports

Missing Air Crew Reports also known as MACRs are reports of US aircraft that went down, via enemy action or mechanical issues, behind enemy lines. These reports detailed the aircraft and crew along with their disposition; there were statements and eyewitness reports if available describing what they saw. The majority of these reports were completed in the years following the conclusion of World War II. This was so that the survivors who had become prisoners of war could provide statements of the events of that day. These reports differ from accident reports in that those documented aircraft that crashed on take off or landing; these events happened on allied lines.

DONATE

Do you have WWII memorabilia that you are not sure what to do with it? The children don't want it? Then let us help you preserve this history by donating these items to the Army Air Corps Library and Museum. We are accepting donations in the form of uniforms, medals, ribbons, patches, photos, memorabilia, papers, gear and equipment. We also accept monetary donations to support our operations and long term plans. This website is part of the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, and as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit, your qualifying donations are tax deductible.

Monetary Donation

Read about how we need your support and use donations

Historical Artifacts: We are looking for photos, documents and other types of artifacts including uniforms and gear of the 15th Air Force in World War II as well as other units and commands. We accept electronic/scans or originals of pictures and paper records. A General Order could be an award document that contains information on many servicemen. Special Orders may contain transfers or other information. Flight records, accident reports, maintenance logs, after action reports, pilot encounter reports, diaries and biorgraphies; all of these types of documents help us support or mission: preserving your history! Contact us today for instructions on sending us this material.