356th Fighter Group

Last updated

356th Fighter Group
Active1942–1945
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Army Air Force
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom 28 November 1943 – 24 April 1944
North American P-51K-5-NT Mustang Serial 44-11564 "Princess Jocelyn" of the 359th Fighter Squadron. P-51 Mustang - Martlesham - 356fg-p51.jpg
North American P-51K-5-NT Mustang Serial 44-11564 "Princess Jocelyn" of the 359th Fighter Squadron.
North American P-51s of the 360th Fighter Squadron in protective revetments at Martlesham Heath, 1944. 356fg-martlesham-1944.jpg
North American P-51s of the 360th Fighter Squadron in protective revetments at Martlesham Heath, 1944.

The 356th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces, being stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945.

Contents

During World War II the group was an Eighth Air Force fighter unit stationed in England. Assigned to RAF Martlesham Heath in 1943. Despite excellent leadership had highest ratio of losses to enemy aircraft claims of all Eighth Air Force fighter groups. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for actions on 17, 18, and 23 September 1944 for support of Operation Market-Garden airborne forces in the Netherlands.

History

See 118th Airlift Wing for additional lineage and history information

Organized and trained in the Northeast United States by First Air Force. During training was part of the air defense of the northeast, being attached to the New York and Boston Fighter Wings.

Deployed to England aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth and served in combat as part of VIII Fighter Command from October 1943 to May 1945, participating in operations that prepared for the invasion of the Continent, and supporting the landings in Normandy and the subsequent Allied drive across France and Germany. The group flew P-47 Thunderbolts until they were replaced by P-51 Mustangs in November 1944. Aircraft of the 356th were identified by a magenta/blue diamond pattern around their cowling.

The group consisted of the following squadrons:

From October 1943 until January 1944, operated as escort for B-17 Flying Fortress/B-24 Liberator bombers that attacked such objectives as industrial areas, missile sites, airfields, and communications.

Fighters from the 356th engaged primarily in bombing and strafing missions after 3 January 1944, with its targets including U-boat installations, barges, shipyards, aerodromes, hangars, marshalling yards, locomotives, trucks, oil facilities, flak towers, and radar stations. Bombed and strafed in the Arnhem area on 17, 18, and 23 September 1944 to neutralize enemy gun emplacements, and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for this contribution to the airborne attack on the Netherlands.

In early 1945, group's P-51 Mustangs clashed with German Me 262 jet aircraft. The group flew its last combat mission, escorting B-17's dropping propaganda leaflets, on 7 May 1945. It returned to Camp Kilmer New Jersey and was inactivated on 10 November 1945.

Redesignated 118th Fighter Group. Allotted to Tennessee Air National Guard on 24 May 1946

Lineage

Activated on 12 December 1942
Inactivated on 10 November 1945.

Assignments

Attached to: New York Fighter Wing 30 May – 4 July 1943
Attached to: Boston Fighter Wing 4 July – 15 August 1943
Attached to: 1st Bombardment (later Air) Division, 15 September 1944 – 2 November 1945

Stations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VIII Fighter Command</span> Military unit

The VIII Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces unit of command above the wings and below the numbered air force. Its primary mission was command of fighter operations within the Eighth Air Force. In the World War II European Theater, its primary mission was air superiority. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe at RAF Honington,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Kings Cliffe</span> Former Royal Air Force station

Royal Air Force Kings Cliffe or more simply RAF Kings Cliffe is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located near Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, 12 miles (19 km) west of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. The airfield was built with hard-surfaced runways and a perimeter track, these were extended early in 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Martlesham Heath</span> Former RAF station 1917–1963

Royal Air Force Martlesham Heath or more simply RAF Martlesham Heath is a former Royal Air Force station located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. It was active between 1917 and 1963, and played an important role in the development of Airborne Interception radar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF East Wretham</span>

Royal Air Force East Wretham or more simply RAF East Wretham is a former Royal Air Force station located 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Thetford, Norfolk, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Steeple Morden</span>

Royal Air Force Steeple Morden or more simply RAF Steeple Morden is a former Royal Air Force station located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Royston, Hertfordshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Bottisham</span> Former RAF Base in Cambridgeshire, England

Royal Air Force Bottisham or more simply RAF Bottisham is a former Royal Air Force station located 5 miles (8 km) east of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Boxted</span> Airport in Boxted, Essex

Royal Air Force Boxted or more simply RAF Boxted is a former Royal Air Force station located 4 miles (6.4 km) north-northeast of Colchester, Essex England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Andrews Field</span> Air Force field in Essex, England 1942–1945

Royal Air Force Andrews Field or more simply RAF Andrews Field is a former Royal Air Force station located 4 miles (6.4 km) east-northeast of Great Dunmow Essex, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Atcham</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Shropshire, England

Royal Air Force Atcham, or more simply RAF Atcham, is a former Royal Air Force station located 5 miles (8 km) east of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, on the north eastern boundary of Attingham Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">118th Wing</span> Military unit

The 118th Wing is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard, stationed at Joint Base Berry Field, formerly Berry Field Air National Guard Base, Nashville, Tennessee. The 118th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, it is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">65th Air Division</span> Military unit

The 65th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with United States Air Forces in Europe, assigned to Seventeenth Air Force, being stationed at Lindsey Air Station, Germany. It was inactivated on 30 June 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">127th Operations Group</span> Unit of the Michigan Air National Guard

The 127th Operations Group is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard. It is stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base and 1s one of two flying groups assigned to the 127th Wing. The group operates Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">123rd Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 359th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Force fighter unit that was active during World War II. Following organization and training in the United States, the group deployed to the European Theater of Operations, operating from RAF East Wretham. The fighter group flew 346 combat missions over continental Europe and claimed 373 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and strafing attacks; probable destruction of 23; and damage to 185. It was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions. The group flew its last mission on 20 April 1945, then returned to the United States for inactivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">479th Flying Training Group</span> Military unit

The 479th Flying Training Group is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola. A component of Air Education and Training Command, the group was activated on 2 October 2009. The current commander of the 479th Flying Training Group is Col Patrick "PDiddy" Dierig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">155th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 155th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard 164th Airlift Wing. It is assigned to Memphis Air National Guard Base, Tennessee and is equipped with the Boeing C-17 aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">78th Fighter Group</span> Military unit

The 78th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 78th Fighter Wing, at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 1 February 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">434th Flying Training Squadron</span> US Army unit

The 434th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It operates Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft conducting flight training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">461st Flight Test Squadron</span> US Air Force squadron, part of Air Force Materiel Command

The 461st Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron, assigned to the 412th Operations Group of Air Force Materiel Command, and is stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The Squadron performs flight testing on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">354th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 354th Operations Group is a component of the 354th Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces. The group is stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Antisubmarine Squadron</span> Military unit

The 361st Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was formed in 1985 by the consolidation of the 1st Antisubmarine Squadron and the 661st Bombardment Squadron. However, the squadron was ever active under its new title.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency