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47th BOMBARDMENT GROUP

The Army Air Corps Library and Museum created this website, to preserve and present the history of the 47th Bombardment Group if the Army Air Forces of World War II. Volunteers are transcribing servicemen names from General Orders (awards) and other documents; we are publishing this information on this website for enthusiasts, families and researchers of genealogy and World War II history. The names on this honor roll of men assigned to the 47th Bomb Group is not a complete list of all who served with the 5th, however, we are attempting to locate as many documents that have survived as possible. Sources of material include the US National Archives, Air Force Historical Research Agency and the records donated by individual servicemen and their families. We hope you will find this information useful and enjoyable. We are accepting volunteers help in this very large World War II project as we preserve this history and honor service.

ROSTERS

Headquarters & Support Commands
84th Bomb Squadron
85th Bomb Squadron
86th Bomb Squadron
97th Bomb Squadron

CAMPAIGNS

American Theater
Algeria-French Morocco
Tunisia
Sicily
Naples-Foggia
Anzio
Rome-Arno
Southern France
North Apennines
Po Valley

Men of the 47th would receive a bronze campaign star if they were assigned to the unit during the dates of each particular campaign.

Robert Adams, Killed In Action, 4 July 1944.

Enjoy this history of the 47th Bombardment Group in World War II with this archival film footage. Order Your DVD: $29.99

MISSING IN ACTION

There still remain members of the 47th Bombardment Group classified as Missing In Action. Research and information about these men. Until they can all be brought home.

MIAs

MISSING AIRCREW REPORTS

Every time that an aircraft went down behind enemy lines as a result of enemy action or mechanical failure, official reports were created known as missing aircrew reports or MACRs. Many of these reports were completed after the conclusion of the war as interviews were conducted following the return of prisoners of war who may have witnessed and/or were the topic of the MACR.

MACRs

AIRCRAFT

Aircraft of the 47th Bombardment Group. We welcome photos, noseart and other information about the 47th BG A-20 aircraft.

Aircraft

12th Air Force Insignia

Distinguished Flying Cross.

Air Medal

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 47th Bombardment Group 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.

VOLUNTEERING

Are you an AAC, AAF or USAF Veteran, family member, historian or WW2 enthusiast? We Need YOU! Contact us today to see how you can help the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, a Texas Not-For-Profit Corporation. We need your help! We are looking for volunteers that can help us with the following tasks. Typing and Transcriptionists: One of our big projects is extracting data from the thousands of documents we have and putting this data into a database where we can display the information on a website such as this one.

Contact About Volunteering

47TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP WORLD WAR II

Constituted as 47th Bombardment Group (Light) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Patrolled the west coast for several weeks after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, then trained for duty overseas. Moved to North Africa, Oct-Nov 1942. Assigned to Twelfth AF. Served in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war, using A-20's and (after Jan 1945) some A-26's for support and interdictory operations in which the group attacked such targets as tanks, convoys, bivouac areas, troop concentrations, supply dumps, roads, pontoon bridges, rail lines, and airfields. Also flew numerous night intruder missions after Jun 1944. Began operations by flying low-level missions against the enemy in North Africa during the period Dec 1942-May 1943. When Axis forces broke through at Kasserine Pass in Feb 1943, the 47th Group, though undermanned and undersupplied, flew eleven missions on 22 Feb to attack the advancing armored columns and thus to help stop the enemy's offensive - an action for which the group was awarded a DUC.

The 47th remained active in combat during Mar and Apr 1943 while training for medium-level bombardment. Participated in the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa in Jun 1943 and the invasion of Sicily in Jul. Bombed German evacuation beaches near Messina in Aug. Supported British Eighth Army during the invasion of Italy in Sep. Assisted the Allied advance toward Rome, Sep 1943-Jun 1944. Supported the invasion of Southern France, Aug-Sep 1944. Attacked German communications in northern Italy, Sep 1944-Apr 1945. Received second DUC for performance from 21 to 24 Apr 1945 when, in bad weather and over rugged terrain, the group maintained operations for 60 consecutive hours, destroying enemy transportation in the Po Valley to prevent the organized withdrawal of German forces. Returned to the US in July 1945.

SQUADRONS

84th: 1941-1949
85th: 1941-1948
86th: 1941-1949
97th: 1941-1946

COMMANDERS

Maj William A Schulgen, 15 Jan 1941
Lt Col Hilbert M Wittkop, unkn
Col Frederick R Terrell, Jan 1942
Col Malcolm Green Jr, 17 May 1943
Lt Col Kenneth S Wade, 1 Apr 1945
Col Marvin S Zipp, 28 Aug 1945

DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS

North Africa, 22 Feb 1943
Po Valley, 21-24 Apr 1945

AIRCRAFT

B-18 - 1941-1942
A-20 - 1942-1945

HEADQUARTERS

McChord Field, Wash, 15 Jan 1941
Fresno, Calif, 14 Aug 1941
Will Rogers Field, Okla, c. 16 Feb 1942
Greensboro, NC, c. 16 Jul-18 Oct 1942
Mediouna, French Morocco, 18 Nov 1942
Youks-les-Bains, Algeria, 7 Jan 1943
Canrobert, Algeria, 6 Mar 1943
Thelepte, Tunisia, 30 Mar 1943
Souk-el-Arba, Tunisia, 13 Apr 1943
Soliman, Tunisia, c. 1 Jul 1943
Malta, 21 Jul 1943
Torrente Comunelli, Sicily, 9 Aug 1943
Gerbini, Sicily, 20 Aug 1943
Grottaglie, Italy, 24 Sep 1943
Vincenzo Airfield, Italy, 15 Oct 1943
Vesuvius Airfield, Italy, c. 10 Jan 1944
Capodichino, Italy, 22 Mar 1944
Vesuvius Airfield, Italy, 25 Apr 1944
Ponte Galeria, Italy, c. 10 Jun 1944
Ombrone Airfield, Italy, 27 Jun 1944
Corsica, 11 Jul 1944
Salon, France, 7 Sep 1944
Follonica, Italy, 18 Sep 1944
Rosignano Airfield, Italy, Oct 1944
Grosseto, Italy, 11 Dec 1944
Pisa, Italy, Jun-24 Jun 1945
Seymour Johnson Field, NC, 11 Jul 1945
Lake Charles AAFld, La, Sep 1945

Insigne. Shield: Or, in chief, a bomb sable, point downward, winged gules, surmounting an arc, reversed and couped, azure, all above a stylized cloud indication, of the second, emitting four lightning flashes gules toward base. (Approved 26 Oct 1951.)

Data excerpted from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986.