Lineage. Established as 97 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 3 Feb 1942. Redesignated as 97 Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 30 Sep 1944. Inactivated on 29 Oct 1945. Redesignated as 97 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 15 Jul 1946. Activated on 4 Aug 1946. Redesignated as 97 Bombardment Group, Medium, on 12 Jul 1948. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952. Redesignated as 97 Operations Group on 29 Aug 1991. Activated on 1 Sep 1991. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1992. Activated on 1 Oct 1992.
Assignments. Third Air Force, 3 Feb 1942; VIII Bomber Command, 20 May 1942; XII Bomber Command, 14 Sep 1942; 5 Bombardment Wing, Jan 1943-c. 29 Oct 1945. Fifteenth Air Force, 4 Aug 1946 (attached to Yukon Sector, Alaskan Air Command, c. 2-30 Nov 1947); 97 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy (later, 97 Bombardment Wing, Medium), 1 Dec 1947-16 Jun 1952 (attached to 3 Air Division, 4 Nov 1948-15 Feb 1949 and c. 26 Jul 1950-9 Feb 1951; not operational, 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952). 97 Wing, 1 Sep 1991-1 Apr 1992. 97 Air Mobility Wing, 1 Oct 1992-.
Operational Components. Group. 401 Bombardment: attached 27 Jun 1949-10 Feb 1951. Squadrons. 11 Air Refueling: 1 Oct 1992-1 Jul 1993. 24 Reconnaissance (later, 414 Bombardment: 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945. 54 Air Refueling: 16 Jan 1998-. 55 Air Refueling: 28 Oct 1994-1 Apr 2009. 56 Airlift: 1 Oct 1992-30 Sep 2008; 1 Aug 2016-. 57 Airlift: 1 Oct 1992-30 Sep 2001. 58 Airlift: 30 Jan 1996-. 97 Air Refueling: 1 Mar 1949-16 Jun 1952 (not operational 1 Mar 1949-23 Jan 1950; detached 12 Jul 1950-16 Jun 1952); 1 Sep 1991-1 Apr 1992. 306 Air Refueling: 1 Oct 1992-1 Jul 1993. 340 Bombardment (later, 340 Bomb): 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945; 4 Aug 1946-16 Jun 1952 (detached, 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952); 1 Sep 1991-7 Jan 1992. 341 Bombardment: 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945; 4 Aug 1946-16 Jun 1952 (detached 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952). 342 Bombardment: 3 Feb 1942-29 Oct 1945; 4 Aug 1946-16 Jun 1952 (detached 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952).
Stations. MacDill Fld, FL, 3 Feb 1942; Sarasota, FL, 29 Mar-c. 16 May 1942; Polebrook, England, c. 13 Jun-c. 9 Nov 1942; Maison Blanche, Algeria, c. 13 Nov 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, c. 22 Nov 1942; Biskra, Algeria, c. 25 Dec 1942; Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel, Algeria, c. 8 Feb 1943; Pont-du-Fahs, Tunisia, c. 1 Aug 1943; Depienne, Tunisia, c. 15 Aug 1943; Cerignola, Italy, c. 20 Dec 1943; Amendola, Italy, 16 Jan 1944; Marcianise, Italy, c. 1-29 Oct 1945. Smoky Hill AAFld (later, Smoky Hill AFB), KS, 4 Aug 1946 (deployed at Mile 26 Air Field [later, Eielson AFB], AK, 2 Nov 1947-13 Mar 1948); Biggs AFB, TX, 17 May 1948-16 Jun 1952 (deployed at Marham RAF Station, England, 4 Nov 1948-15 Feb 1949, and at Sculthorpe RAF Station, England, c. 26 Jul 1950-9 Feb 1951). Eaker AFB, AR, 1 Sep 1991-1 Apr 1992. Altus AFB, OK, 1 Oct 1992-.
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.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Steyr, Austria, 24 Feb 1944; Ploesti, Rumania, 18 Aug 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 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.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 1 Apr 2022.
Supersedes statement prepared on 1 Jun 2010.
Emblem. Approved on 7 Feb 2019.
Prepared by Melissa Lahue.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.