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 August 02, 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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF East Wretham</span> Former RAF station in Norfolk, England

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">409th Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 409th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE), which may activate or inactivate the group as needed at any time.

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.

The 181st Airlift Squadron is a unit of the 136th Airlift Wing of the Texas Air National Guard stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The 181st is equipped with the Lockheed C-130J Hercules.

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.

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.

The 370th Fighter Group was a unit of the Ninth Air Force that was located in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">487th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 487th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It activated during World War II and was assigned to the 352nd Fighter Group of VIII Fighter Command. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, it returned to the United States and was inactivated at the port of embarkation, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 9 November 1945.

The 383d Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit assigned to the 495th Fighter Group. It is stationed at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, where it is an active duty associate unit of the 120th Fighter Squadron.

The 359th Bombardment Squadron was a United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 303d Bombardment Wing, stationed at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. It was inactivated on 15 June 1964.

The 599th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was activated at MacDill Field, Florida in April 1943. After training in the United States, it transferred to the European Theater of Operations, where it was a component of IX Bomber Command. The squadron served in combat from April 1944 until the end of World War II, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for an attack on Ediger-Eller, Germany, in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. Following V-E Day the squadron remained in France until December 1945, when it returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer in December 1945.

The 598th Range Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and is stationed at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida where it replaced Detachment 1, 23d Fighter Group on 22 September 2015. The squadron also operates the Deployed Unit Complex at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">485th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 485th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 370th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, stationed at Camp Shanks, New York. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">401st Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 401st Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 370th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, stationed at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.

The 402d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 370th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, stationed at Camp Shanks, New York. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945.

The 384th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit assigned to the 495th Fighter Group. It is stationed at Duluth Air National Guard Base, Minnesota, where has been an active duty associate unit of the 179th Fighter Squadron since February 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">385th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 385th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was activated in February 1943. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations. It flew combat missions until 1945, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions on 27 December 1944, defending a bomber formation during a raid on Frankfurt am Main. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, the port of embarkation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">486th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 486th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It activated during World War II and was assigned to the 352nd Fighter Group of VIII Fighter Command. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, it returned to the United States and was inactivated at the port of embarkation, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 9 November 1945.

The 377th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force active duty unit stationed at Montgomery Air National Guard Base, Alabama. It is an Active Associate Unit administratively assigned to the 495th Fighter Group at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina and integrated operationally with the 100th Fighter Squadron of the Alabama Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">140th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 140th Operations Group is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard, stationed at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. If activated to federal service, the group is gained by Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force.

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.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[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]