370th Fighter Squadron

370th Fighter Squadron
370th Fighter Squadron
	359th Fighter Group P-51 Mustang at RAF East Wretham
Active	1942–1945
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Engagements	European theater of World War II
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation
Insignia
370th Fighter Squadron Emblem (approved 6 July 1943)
ETO Fuselage Code and squadron color	CR then CS; Blue

Last updated February 10, 2024

The 370th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. The squadron was activated in early 1943 and assigned to the 359th Fighter Group. After training in the United States, it deployed to England and participated in combat in the European Theater of Operations, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for its action. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it was inactivated on 10 November 1945.

History

The 370th Fighter Squadron was activated in early 1943 as one of the original three squadrons of the 359th Fighter Group.^[1] The squadron trained in New England during 1943.

The squadron moved to England in October 1943, where it became part of VIII Fighter Command. It entered combat in mid-December 1943, using the callsign "Wheeler"^[2] supported the invasion of Normandy during June 1944 by patrolling the English Channel, escorting bombardment formations to the French coast, and dive-bombing and strafing bridges, locomotives, and rail lines near the battle area. After D-Day, engaged chiefly in escorting bombers to oil refineries, marshalling yards, and other targets in such cities as Ludwigshafen, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Merseburg, and Brux. Continued combat operations until the German capitulation in May 1945. The unit returned to the United States and was inactivated in November 1945.^[1]

Lineage

Constituted as the 370th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 20 December 1942

Activated on 15 January 1943

Inactivated on 10 November 1945^[1]

Assignments

359th Fighter Group, 15 January 1943 – 10 November 1945^[1]

Stations

Westover Field, Massachusetts, 15 January 1943
Bedford Army Air Field, Massachusetts, 5 April 1943
Mitchel Field, New York, 24 May 1943
Westover Field, Massachusetts, 22 August 1943 – 2 October 1943
RAF East Wretham (Station 133),^[3] England, ca. 18 October 1943 – ca. 4 November 1945
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 9 November 1945 – 10 November 1945^[1]

Aircraft

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944
North American P-51 Mustang, 1944–1945

Awards and Campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	11 September 1944	Germany^[1]

Manual campaign table

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Air Offensive, Europe		^[1]
	Normandy		^[1]
	Northern France		^[1]
	Rhineland		^[1]
	Ardennes-Alsace		^[1]
	Central Europe		^[1]
	Air Combat, EAME Theater		^[1]

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References

Notes

Explanatory notes

↑ The 370th appears to be the only Eighth Air Force unit other than the squadrons of the 4th Fighter Group to have changed its fuselage code. Watkins, pp.78-79.

Citations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 458-459
1 2 Watkins, pp. 78–79.
↑ Station number in Anderson.

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. Vol. II (VIII) Fighter Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2535-9.

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[3] The 370th appears to be the only Eighth Air Force unit other than the squadrons of the 4th Fighter Group to have changed its fuselage code. Watkins, pp.78-79.

[Maurer370FS-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 458-459

[Watkins-2] 1 2 Watkins, pp. 78–79.

[4] Station number in Anderson.

[1]

[2]

[note 1]

[3]