Lineage. Established as 97 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, on 11 Sep 1947. Organized on 1 Dec 1947. Redesignated as: 97 Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 12 Jul 1948; 97 Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 1 Oct 1959; 97 Wing on 1 Sep 1991. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1992. Redesignated as 97 Air Mobility Wing on 21 Aug 1992. Activated on 1 Oct 1992.
Assignments. Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Dec 1947 (attached to Yukon Sector, Alaskan Air Command, 1 Dec 1947–12 Mar 1948; 301 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, 17 Mar–16 May 1948); Eighth Air Force, 16 May 1948 (attached to 7 Air Division, 15 Mar–11 Jun 1952); 810 Air Division, 16 Jun 1952 (attached to 7 Air Division, 5 May–4 Jul 1956); 4 Air Division, 1 Jul 1959; 42 Air Division, 1 Jul 1963; 19 Air Division, 2 Jul 1969; 42 Air Division, 1 Jan 1970; 19 Air Division, 30 Jun 1971; 42 Air Division, 1 Jul 1973; Eighth Air Force, 16 Jun 1988–1 Apr 1992. Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Oct 1992; Nineteenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1993; Air Education and Training Command, 12 Jul 2012; Nineteenth Air Force, 1 Oct 2014-.
Operational Components. Groups. 97 Bombardment (later, 97 Operations): 1 Dec 1947–16 Jun 1952 (detached 4 Nov 1948–15 Feb 1949 and c. 26 Jul 1950–9 Feb 1951); 1 Sep 1991–1 Apr 1992; 1 Oct 1992–. 398 Operations: 1 Oct 1992–31 Mar 1995. 401 Bombardment: attached 10 Feb–25 Jun 1951. Squadrons. 97 Air Refueling: attached 12 Jul 1950–15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952–1 Sep 1957 (detached c. 21 Nov–c. 20 Dec 1954, c. 31 May– 10 Jul 1955, 1 May–9 Jul 1957, and 25 Aug–1 Sep 1957); assigned 23 Oct 1964–1 Sep 1991. 340 Bombardment: attached 10 Feb 1951–15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952–1 Sep 1991 (detached 16 Dec 1953–c.15 Mar 1954 and 24 Sep–2 Nov 1957). 341 Bombardment: attached 10 Feb 1951–15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952–15 Feb 1960 (detached c. 15 Mar–c. 12 Jul 1954 and 12 Aug–24 Sep 1957). 342 Bombardment: attached 10 Feb 1951–15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-1 May 1960 (detached 10 Dec 1952–19 Mar 1953 and 1 Jul–12 Aug 1957). 914 Air Refueling: 1 Oct 1961–23 Oct 1964. 4024 Bombardment: attached 1 Apr 1955-1 May 1956.
Stations. Mile 26 Air Field (later, Eielson AFB), AK, 1 Dec 1947–12 Mar 1948; Smoky Hill AFB, KS, 16 Mar 1948; Biggs AFB, TX, 22 May 1948; Blytheville (later, Eaker) AFB, AR, 1 Jul 1959–1 Apr 1992. Altus AFB, OK, 1 Oct 1992–.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Grenada, 1983.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 2 Jul–3 Nov 1957; 23 Oct–22 Nov 1962; 1 Jul 1975–30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1977–30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978–30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1986–30 Jun 1988; [1 Oct 1992]–30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1993-30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1995; 1 Jul 1995-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998; 1 Jul 1998-30 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2000; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2002-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 Jun 2006; 1 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008; 1 Jul 2008-30 Jun 2009; 1 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2010; 1 Jul 2010-30 Jun 2011; 1 Jul 2011-30 Jun 2012; 1 Jul 2013-30 Jun 2015; 1 Jul 2016-30 Jun 2017; 1 Jul 2017-30 Jun 2019; 1 Jul 2019-30 Jun 2021.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 97 Bombardment Group prior to 1 Dec 1947. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Steyr, Austria, 24 Feb 1944; Ploesti, Rumania, 18 Aug 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 1 Apr 2022.
Supersedes statement prepared on 1 Jun 2010.
Emblem. Approved on 2 May 1957; latest rendering, 7 Feb 2019.
Prepared by Melissa Lahue.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.