96 Bomb Squadron (ACC)

Lineage. Organized as 96 Aero Squadron on 20 Aug 1917. Redesignated: 96 Squadron (Bombardment) on 14 Mar 1921; 96 Bombardment Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 96 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Dec 1939; 96 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, c. 6 Mar 1944. Inactivated on 28 Feb 1946. Redesignated 96 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 5 Apr 1946. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Redesignated 96 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 28 May 1948. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Apr 1963. Redesignated 96 Bomb Squadron on 28 Sep 1993. Activated on 1 Oct 1993. 

Assignments. Unkn, 20 Aug 1917-Sep 1918; 1 Day Bombardment Group, Sep-Nov 1918; unkn, Nov 1918-Sep 1919; 1 Day Bombardment (later, 2 Bombardment) Group, 18 Sep 1919-28 Feb 1946 (attached to 1 Surveillance Group, 12 Nov 1919-10 Jan 1921, and to 1 Provisional Air Brigade, May-Oct 1921). 2 Bombardment Group, 1 Jul 1947; (attached to 2 Bombardment Wing, 10 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952); 2 Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1963. 2 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993-. 

Stations. Kelly Field, TX, 20 Aug-7 Oct 1917; Clermont-Ferrand, France, 16 Nov 1917; Amanty, France, 18 May 1918; Maulan, France, 23 Sep 1918; Colombey-les-Belles, France, 10 Jan 1919; St Denis de Pile, France, 13 Feb 1919; Libourne, France, 12-16 Apr 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, 2 May 1919; Ellington Field, TX, 26 May 1919; Camp Furlong, NM, c. 28 Jun 1919; Fort Bliss, TX, 3 Jul 1919 (flight operated from Douglas, AZ, c. 10 Aug 1919-10 Jan 1920); Kelly Field, TX, 12 Jan 1920 (operated from Langley Field, VA, 20 May-26 Oct 1921); Langley Field, VA, 30 Jun 1922; Ephrata, WA, 29 Oct 1942; Glasgow, MT, 29 Nov 1942-14 Mar 1943; Navarin, Algeria, 25 Apr 1943; Chateaudun-du-Rhumel, Algeria, 27 Apr 1943; Ain M'lila, Algeria, 17 Jun 1943; Massicault, Tunisia, 30 Jul 1943; Amendola, Italy, c. 10 Dec 1943; Foggia, Italy, c. 20 Oct 1945-28 Feb 1946. Andrews Field, MD, 1 Jul 1947; Davis-Monthan Field (later, AFB), AZ, 24 Sep 1947; Chatham AFB, GA, 1 May 1949; Hunter AFB, GA, 29 Sep 1950-1 Apr 1963 (deployed at Bassingbourne RAF Station, England, 4 May-24 Sep 1951; Upper Heyford RAF, England, 4 Sep-3 Dec 1952; Sidi Slimane Afld, French Morocco, 11 Aug-20 Sep 1954 and 6 Jul-24 Aug 1956). Barksdale AFB, LA, 1 Oct 1993-. 

Commanders. Capt George C. Thomas Jr., 9 Oct 1917; Maj H. M. Brown, by 18 May 1918; Capt James A. Summersett Jr., 10 Jul 1918 (temporary); Maj J. L. Dunsworth, 16 Jul 1918; unkn, 1919-Feb 1937; Maj J. K. McDuffie, by Mar 1937; Maj H. L. George, by Aug 1938; unkn, 1939-Oct 1942; 1 Lt Richard W. Weitzenfeld, 10 Nov 1942; Capt John J. Melcher, 10 Dec 1942; Maj Marion F. Caruthers, 17 Dec 1942; Maj Bradford A. Evans, 2 Nov 1943; Maj Charles H. Hillhouse, 23 Mar 1944; Capt Robert D. Doyle, 9 Jul 1944; Maj Lawrence R. Jordan, 11 Jul 1944; Maj George A. Redden, 14 Nov 1944; Capt George H. Chadwick Jr., 3 Jan 1945; Maj George A. Redden, 15 Jan 1945; Lt Col Robert K. Martin, 25 Apr 1945; Maj George M. Dwight Jr., 25 Jun 1945; 1 Lt James G. Johnson, 24 Aug 1945; Maj Arthur D. Alsobrook, 7 Oct 1945; Capt Wilfred F. Skinner, 30 Jan 1946; unkn, 14-28 Feb 1946. Lt Col Bernard V. Ogas, by 7 Nov 1947; Lt Col Harry E. Stengele III, by Mar 1951; Lt Col John W. Carroll, by May 1952; Lt Col Joseph N. Donovan, by Aug 1952; Lt Col Harry E. Stengele III, by Feb 1953; Lt Col Robert J. Hill, by Mar 1955; Lt Col Edmund A. Rafalko, by May 1956; Maj Clifford W. Hargrove, by Apr 1957; Maj Hiram M. Snowden, by Oct 1957; Maj Kenneth E. Gross, by Aug 1958; Maj John A. Runge Jr., by Nov 1958; Maj Fito J. Fierro, by Mar 1961, Maj Ira W. Misenheimer, 25 Jul 1961-1 Apr 1963. Lt Col John A. Kurtz, 11 May 1993; Lt Col Paul A. Thomasson, 1 Jul 1994; Lt Col Floyd L. Carpenter, 2 Apr 1996; Lt Col Thomas J. Griffith, 24 Jun 1997; Lt Col Timothy S. Leaptrott, 30 Aug 1999; Lt Col Timothy M. Ray, 4 Jun 2001; Lt Col Edwin F. Donaldson III, 3 Dec 2002 (temporary); Lt Col Timothy M. Ray, 22 May 2003; Lt Col Robert A. Colella, 2 Jul 2003; Lt Col Bruce K. Way, 24 May 2004 (temporary); Lt Col Robert A. Colella, 10 Sep 2004; Lt Col Douglas A. Cox, 13 Sep 2004 (temporary); Lt Col Robert A. Colella, 3 Oct 2004; Lt Col Stephen M. Matson, 19 Jul 2005-. 

Aircraft. In addition to Breguet 14, included DH-4, 1918; included DH-4, Caproni bomber, HP 0/400, and MB-2 (NBS-1) during period 1919-1928; included LB-5, LB-7, B-3, and apparently B-5 during period 1928-1932; primarily B-6 during period 1932-1936; in addition to B-10, B-17, and B-18, included B-25 during period 1936-1942; B-17, 1942-1945. B-29, 1947-1950; B-50, 1949-1954; B-47, 1954-1963. B-52, 1993-.
 
Operations. Combat as a day bombardment unit with the French Eighth and American First Army, 12 Jun-4 Nov 1918. Mexican border patrol, Aug 1919-10 Jan 1920; participated in demonstrations of the effectiveness of aerial bombardment on warships, Jun-Sep 1921, and 5 Sep 1923; good-will flights to South America, 1938-1939. Antisubmarine patrols, 8 Dec 1941-c. 28 Oct 1942; combat in MTO and ETO, 28 Apr 1943-1 May 1945; performed occupational duty in Europe, Jun 1945-Jun 1946. Strategic bombardment training, 1 Jul 1947-1 Apr 1963. In Sep 1996, deployed and launched attacks against military targets in Iraq; earned the 1996 Mackay Trophy for this 33-hour long mission as the most meritorious flight of the year. Since 1993 conducted combat operations to support worldwide conventional and nuclear taskings; provided long-range, heavy strike, initial response and sustained firepower in support of all regional and global warfighting commanders. 

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War I: Lorraine; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; 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; Germany, 25 Feb 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1956-1 Apr 1957; 1 Oct 1993-31 May 1995; 1 Jun 1995-31 May 1996; 1 Jun 1996-31 May 1997; 1 Jun 1998-31 May 2000; 1 Jun 2000-31 May 2002. 

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 14 Sep 2006. 

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 14 Sep 2006. 

Supersedes published information contained in: Judy G. Endicott (ed), Active Air Force Wings as of 1 Oct 1995 (Washington: USGPO, 1999). 

Emblem. Approved 4 Mar 1924. 

Prepared by Patsy Robertson. 

Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.