DEDICATED TO 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 CREWMAN

SGT. LLOYD A. MERRIFIELD

12^th AF 15^th AF 97^th BG 414^th BS

Material submitted by his son Tim Merrifield tsm_35@hotmail.com

Photographs from the collection of Lloyd Merrifield

Site edited and maintained by Doug Cook

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

Last Update March 5, 2010

My father was born Aug 22, 1922 Lloyd A Merrifield. He was born and raised in Hiram Maine. He graduated from Fryburg Academy and was attending first year of college when he was called to duty. He served from Dec, 1942 to Sept of 1945 (overseas in the 97^th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron). As far as I remember he worked on the turrets and the sights, and loaded bombs onto the bombers. He then returned to Hiram Maine.  He worked in agriculture most of his life, settling in South Paris Maine (30 miles from where he was born) raising blueberries, making maple syrup, and enjoying the outdoors. He married Beverly in 1963, raised three kids. He died March 1, 2003 in South Paris Maine. I live only 10 minutes from where I was raised and I have a full time job and raise blueberries on the side. I have two sisters both living here in Maine.

Lloyd A. Merrifield and his Draft Notice

Lloyd served from Dec, 1942 to Sept of 1945 (overseas in the 97^th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron)

Decorations: Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge (Oak Leaf Cluster)and Mediterranean Theater Campaign Ribbon.

97^th Bomb Group Stations During Lloyd Merrifield’s Service
Chateaudun-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

Lloyd Merrifield (center) loading frag bombs into the bomb bay of a B-17

Fifteenth Air Force

CO – Maj. Gen. Nathan F. Twining

VC – Brig. Gen. William E. Hall

Headquarters: Bari, Italy

Bari, Italy Cemetery honoring men killed when a British plane crashed into barracks

Gen. Twining

Gen. Twining visits the 97^th BG

Gen. Hap Arnold visits the 97^th BG

Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces (from 1941 until 1945), and the only ever five-star General of the Air Force (starting in 1949).

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill visits the 97^th BG in North Africa

Bomb Squadron briefing map from when the 97^th had advanced to their base in Amendola, Italy

Days of milk runs finished as the 97^th begins to fly missions deeper into Nazi occupied Europe.

B-17 Flying Fortesses

B-17 Bombs on target

Rome Coliseum: The mission was to bomb RR yards. Gen. Jimmy Doolitle participated to insure accuracy and avoidance of historic sites.

Rome bombing mission and liberation

Monte Cassino aftermath

B-17 31622 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 46197 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 46553 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 2102944 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 Marquerite 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 Pistol Packin Mama 97^th BG 414^th BS

Crew Unknown

B-17 Strictly Baggage 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 crash landing 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 crash landing 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 crash landing 23340 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 crash landing 238084 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 crash landing 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 crash while taxiing? 97^th BG 414^th BS

B-17 crash landing 97^th BG 414^th BS

OTHER PLANES

B-24 Easy Maid

B-24 crash landing N. Africa

B-26 Marauder N. Africa

P-38s buzz the field

LIFE ON CAMP

Life on camp. Amendola?

A well deserved enlisted men’s party!!!

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