Dedicated to Col. Wm. L Ross III Service to the Army Air Corps and his Collection of 12^th Air Force 97^th Bomb Group 414^th Squadron History in Algeria and Tunisia, January-July 1943

Site Edited and Maintained by his son-in-law Doug Cook

Last update February 25, 2024

Contacts from 97^th BG and 414^th Squadron Welcome!

97^th BG History under the 8^th AF, 12^th AF, and 15^th AF

97 BG Moto Venit Hora” The hour has come…

97^th BG Bomb Squadrons: 340^th, 341^st, 342^nd, and 414^th

414^th BS LOGO “On a Wing and a Prayer” after the B-17 “All American” Story

8th Air Force

12th Air Force

15th Air Force

WWII

97th BOMB GROUP (Heavy)

414th SQUADRON INDEX

Comments and Corrections from Readers

B-17 Specs

B-17 Flight Instruction Video

Col. Wm. L. Ross III Biography and Career Chronology

Col. Wm. L. Ross III Air Mission Awards Announcements

Air Medals Explained

12 Air Force 97^th Bomb Group 414^th Squadron Chronology

97^th Bomb Group Reunion 2006

B-17 Heavy Bomber Pilot Training

Transport to Base in Tunisia

North Africa Campaign Video

414^th BS “On a Wing and a Prayer” - Video

97^th BG Precision bombing of Rome- Video

414^th BS 1943 Bombing Foggia, Italy- Video

414^th BS B-17 Old Ironsides and her Last Crew

414^th BS B-17 Ball Turret Gunner Frank Dancey’s story and DANCEY MISSION LOG

414^th BS Pilot Col. Hank Tillman’s story and TILLMAN MISSION LOG

414^th BS Pilot Col. Robert Rast’s story: B-17 downed on 49^th mission and became POW

414^th BS Pilot Truman W. Cummings B-17 ‘Ther-N-Bak’

Career Pan Am Pilot

414^th BS Pilot 2^nd Lt. Paul B. Slaten KIA July 6, 1943

414^th BS Pilot Lt. Col. James L. Russell

414^th BS Navigator Lt. Harry C. Nuessle: B-17 “All American” Story

B-17 Pilot Will S. Arnett’s Combat Diary - 301^st and 97^th BG

414^th BS B-17 Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer Tech Sgt Ray Womack’s story and Mission Log

414^th BS B-17 Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Kenneth Tucker’s book

‘Last Roll Call’ : B-17 “Kwitchurbitchin” Shot down over the Adriatic Dec. 25, 1944

414th BS B-17 Tail Gunner

Sgt. Ned S. Smith

414th BS B-17 Tail Gunner

SSGT. Leo Wotanis

414th BS B-17 Tail Gunner and Maintenance Officer

ESAF E9 CHIEF M. SGT. (Ret.) James N. Bracewell

414^th BS B-17 Engineer

SFC Doug (Jenkinson) Laurence

414^th BS B-17 Ordinance & Gunnery Maintenance Crew

Sgt. Lloyd A. Merrifield

414^th BS Mechanic and Asst Crew Chief Sgt. Ernst F Knobloch

340th BS B-17 Tail Gunner

S/Sgt. William R. Bowers

341^st BS B-17 Radioman and Gunner Lt. Col. Jesse S. Raybourn

414^th Squadron Planes and Crews to 1943

414^th Squadron Planes 1944-45

414^th Sq. Missions, Targets, and Combat Action

R&R in Algeria and Tunisia

Tunisia Camp Photos

414^th Bomb Squadron B-17 in flight

LIFE Magazine Mar. 1, 1943 Tunis Airfield Bombed

12 Air Force 1^st Fighter Group 71^st Fighter Squadron

97^th Bomb Group B-17 escort

P-38 Pilot Major Fredric Arnold

P-38 Specs

B-17 Memphis Belle (Hollywood movie)

In Heavy Flak - video

WW II : RARE COLOR FILM : B-17 MEMPHIS BELLE :

25TH MISSION (actual 1943 combat action)

B-17 vs fighters - video

B-17 Raid Schweinfurt-video

97^th BG 414^th BS B-17 “Dottie” Crash Feb. 27, 1945 Includes crew stories

Link to more WWII Air Combat Video

97^th Bomb Group Memorial at Wright Patterson Museum Dayton, OH

(photo credit Bob Lineberger)

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