page_title: 97th Air Refueling Squadron
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: 97th Air Refueling Squadron / History / World War II
context_page_description: The 97th Air Refueling Squadron is a currently active United States Air Force unit. It was assigned to the 92d Operations Group at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where it was inactivated on 30 September 2004. It was reactivated on 1 October 2019 following reception of 12 additional Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers at Fairchild AFB.
  The squadron was first activated in January 1941 as the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron. Seven months after activation, it was renamed the 97th Bombardment Squadron and assigned to the 47th Bombardment Group. It performed antisubmarine patrols off the Pacific coast following the entry of the United States into World War II. Three months later, it began training for light bomber operations, and in November 1942 it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The squadron engaged in combat in northern Africa, Italy and France until V-E Day, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions there. The 97th returned to the United States in the summer of 1945 and was inactivated at Lake Charles Army Air Field, Louisiana in March 1946.
  The 97th Air Refueling Squadron was one of the Air Force's first air refueling units, activated in 1949.
context_section_description: The squadron was first activated as the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron at McChord Field, Washington in January 1941, attached to the 17th Bombardment Group, and equipped with Douglas B-18 Bolos.  In May, it was attached to the 47th Bombardment Group and was assigned to the 47th group and redesignated the 97th Bombardment Squadron in August.
  After the Pearl Harbor Attack it was equipped with Douglas DB-7 Bostons and early-model Consolidated B-24 Liberators, to perform antisubmarine patrols along the Pacific coast.   In February 1942, with a Japanese submarine attack unlikely, the squadron moved to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, re-equipped with Douglas A-20 Havoc light bombers and trained for overseas deployment.
  In November 1942, the 97th deployed to French Morocco as part of Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. The squadron engaged in close air support and air interdiction missions during the North African Campaign.  It began operations by flying low-level missions in December, continuing these tactics through May 1943.
  In February 1943, the Afrika Corps broke through American lines at the Kasserine Pass.  Although the unit was undermanned and short of supplies it flew missions on 22 February against advancing enemy armor, helping to blunt the enemy attack.  For this action, the 97th was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.
  The squadron remained active in combat, but also trained for medium altitude bombing missions in April and May.  In June 1943 it participated in the reduction of the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa.  In July, the unit participated in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, attacking German forces evacuating the island from beaches near Messina the following month.
  September 1943 saw the launch of Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy.  During Avalanche, the squadron provided support for the British Eighth Army.   It participated in the Italian Campaign and advance toward Rome until the spring of 1944.
  In August and September 1944, the unit provided support for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France.
  The squadron then returned to Italy, where it attacked German communications and other targets, including tanks, bivouac areas, supply dumps, troop concentrations, roads, bridges, airfields and railways.
  The 97th upgraded to Douglas A-26 Invaders in early 1945.   In April 1945, the squadron and the rest of the 47th group maintained attacks on enemy transportation in the Po River Valley for sixty consecutive hours despite bad weather and adverse terrain.  The attacks prevented the orderly withdrawal of German forces from northern Italy.  For this action, the squadron earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation.
  The squadron returned to the United States in July 1945, and was initially stationed at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina.  It moved to Lake Charles Army Air Field in September, where it trained as a pathfinder unit.
  The unit remained active until March 1946, when the 47th group reduced from four to three squadrons.
caption: Douglas A-26, which replaced the A-20 in 1945
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