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354th Fighter Group

Group

  • P-51B 43-12375 FT*E Bonnie B. 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th FG, 8th AF.

    P-51B 43-12375 FT*E Bonnie B. 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th FG, 8th AF.

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  • Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group prepare a P-51 Mustang (GQ-U, serial number 43-6737) for a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P51B, 354th FG 1st Unit Equipped, Boxted.'

    Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group prepare a P-51 Mustang (GQ-U, serial number 43-6737) for a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P51B, 354th FG 1st Unit Equipped, Boxted.'

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  • Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang after a mission Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp]. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Boxted.'

    Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang after a mission Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp]. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Boxted.'

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  • Capt Ken Dahlberg watches Sgt Harry Phillips and SSgt George Spikos of the 353rd FS 354th FG load ammo into a P-47D Thunderbolt.

    Capt Ken Dahlberg watches Sgt Harry Phillips and SSgt George Spikos of the 353rd FS 354th FG load ammo into a P-47D Thunderbolt.

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  • An aircrew of the 354th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang nicknamed

    An aircrew of the 354th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang nicknamed "My Toni". Handwritten at top of image: 'Crew with Gumm.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Radio/ Pilot (Gumm)/ Armorer (Lippoff)/ Crew Chief.'

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  • Glenn Eaglesten of the 354th Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Glenn Eaglesten at BX.'

    Glenn Eaglesten of the 354th Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Glenn Eaglesten at BX.'

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  • Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group fit a Packard Merlin engine into a P-51 Mustang. Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA, OWIL 21145 AIRMADA OF LIBERATION Mechanics tear down and tune up motors and parts of one of the fast P-51 Mustang fighters on the Ninth US Air Force in England. The fighting Ninth is pounding enemy-held railway centers, airfields, shipping and military objectives on the Continent in preparation for spearheading the liberation of Nazi-held Europe. KX, Serviced by London OWI to list B.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Changing packard Merlin Engine in a Boxted Factory, men of 354 FG 9th Air Force.'

    Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group fit a Packard Merlin engine into a P-51 Mustang. Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA, OWIL 21145 AIRMADA OF LIBERATION Mechanics tear down and tune up motors and parts of one of the fast P-51 Mustang fighters on the Ninth US Air Force in England. The fighting Ninth is pounding enemy-held railway centers, airfields, shipping and military objectives on the Continent in preparation for spearheading the liberation of Nazi-held Europe. KX, Serviced by London OWI to list B.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Changing packard Merlin Engine in a Boxted Factory, men of 354 FG 9th Air Force.'

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  • Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group with a two seat P-51 Mustang (GR-B). Image via Cary Salter. Salter has handwritten on the reverse: '353 Ftr Sqdn- 354 Ftr Group, Jun 1945. GRB were initials of George R Bickell, commander of 354th Group at end of WWII. George died in October 1987. GRB was a two seat P-51B and had previously been named

    Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group with a two seat P-51 Mustang (GR-B). Image via Cary Salter. Salter has handwritten on the reverse: '353 Ftr Sqdn- 354 Ftr Group, Jun 1945. GRB were initials of George R Bickell, commander of 354th Group at end of WWII. George died in October 1987. GRB was a two seat P-51B and had previously been named "The Stars Looks Down". Gen Eisenhower had been a passenger, flown by Ged Edward Queseda, on July 4 1944 as they looked over the Normandy beach area, France.'

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  • Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang (FT-π), serial number 44-63747) nicknamed

    Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang (FT-π), serial number 44-63747) nicknamed "Charlotte's Chariot II". Image via Cary Salter. Salter has handwritten on the reverse: '353 Ftr Sqdn, 354 Ftr Group, June 1945, Herzogenaurach, Germany. FT-?'

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  • A P-51 Mustang (AJ-U, serial number 43-12216) of the 354th Fighter Group in flight. Printed caption on reverse: '50373 AC- A 9th Air Force North American P-51

    A P-51 Mustang (AJ-U, serial number 43-12216) of the 354th Fighter Group in flight. Printed caption on reverse: '50373 AC- A 9th Air Force North American P-51 "Mustang" in flight. US Air Force Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '356FS P-51 over a 'solid' undercart.'

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The Group moved to England in the autumn of 1943 and was assigned to the Ninth Air Force in December 1943. The Group were the first to fly P-51 Mustangs operationally and in their bomber escort missions pushed to find the long-range limits of the aircraft. The Group escorted gliders on D-Day on 6 June 1944 and in the course of that month continued to strike targets like railways lines and German gun positions in support of Allied troop positions in northern France. The Group was awarded two DUC, the first for their work escorting bombers in the first half of 1944 and the second for a series of successful fighter-sweeps that destroyed numerous enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground on 25 August 1944. The Group support the Battle of the Bulge that winter and Allied troops fighting at the Rhine river in early 1945.

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-196 BOMBER ESCORT

    5 December 1943
    This is the FIRST use of the P-51 Mustang to escort bombers. 36 are despatched from 9th Air Force, 354th Fighter Group (under 8th AF control). There are no losses or claims in this element. ...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-198 BOMBER ESCORT

    11 December 1943
    This fighter mission is composed of three elements despatched to provide escort to heavy bomber attacking at Bremen, Germany. The first element is a force of 31 P-38s from 55FG (included some from 20FG). There are no losses or claims in this element. ...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-203 BOMBER ESCORT

    16 December 1943
    This fighter mission is despatched to escort bombres attacking at Bremen, Germany. The mission consists of three elements. The first element if a force of 31 P-38s from 55FG. No aircraft are lost in combat, but 1 aircraft went out of control over...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-204 BOMBER ESCORT

    20 December 1943
    This mission is a combined force of 491 fighter aircraft despatched to escort bombers attacking at Bremen, Germany. NOTE: Fighter claims of 16-3-6 on enemy aircraft were not allocated in source data, so they have been bundled with P-47 statistics. The...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-207 BOMBER ESCORT

    22 December 1943
    This fighter mission is composed of three elements despatched to provide escort to bombers attacking as Osnabruck and Munster Germany. It is composed of three elements. The first element is a forcr of 40 P-38s from 55FG. 2 aircraft Failed to Return ...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-210 BOMBER ESCORT

    30 December 1943
    A force of 583 fighter aircraft are despatched to provide escort to bombers attacking at Ludwigshafen, Germany. The force is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 79 P-38s from 20FG and 55FG. There are no losses or claims in this...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-211 BOMBER ESCORT

    31 December 1943
    This is the last fighter operation of 1943. It is composed of three elements despatched to escort bomber formations attacking German airfield in France. The first element is a forc of 74 P-38s from 20FG and 55FG. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)1POW...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-212 BOMBER ESCORT

    4 January 1944
    A combined force of 70 P-38s from 20FG & 55 FG are despatched to provide escort to bombers attacking at Kiel, Germany. The P-38 are joined by 42 P-51s despatched by IX Fighter Command 354FG. 20FG sustaines 2 losses - 1KIA 1POW. 1 P-38 from 55FG...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO 213 BOMBER ESCORT

    5 January 1944
    This is a VIII Fighter Command operation of the despatch of fighter elements to escort bombers attacking targets in Germany and France. The operation consists of four elements. The first element is a despatch of 70 P-38s from 20FG and 55FG. These are...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO 215

    7 January 1944
    A combined fighter force of 571 aircraft are despatched to provide escort for the bombers attacking at Ludwigshaven, Germany. Three elements of fighters are despatched. ...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Boxted November 1943 – April 1944
Based Greenham Common 4 November 1943
Based Lashenden April 1944 – June 1944
Based Cricqueville 22 June 1944 – August 1944
Based Orconte August 1944 – September 1944
Based Gael 13 August 1944 – 17 September 1944
Based Rosieres en Haye 1 December 1944 – 8 April 1945
Based Ansbach March 1945 – April 1945

Connections

People

  • David Allen

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 354th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 2nd Scouting Force. Transferred to 358FS, 355FG 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 354FG. Ended Tour Duty (ETD).

  • Gus Allen

    Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot-1055 Single Engine | 354th Fighter Group
    2.5 air kills 4 ground kills

  • William Anderson

    Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot 1055 single engine | 354th Fighter Group
    7 kills plus 2 V-1s

  • William Anderson

    Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot-1055 single engine | 20th Fighter Group
    William Yngve Anderson (June 28, 1921 – May 9, 2011) was a Swedish American fighter ace of World War II with seven official victories in Europe, flying P-51 Mustang fighters in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF). He was born in Kramfors, Sweden. ...

  • William Aney

    Military | Technical Sergeant | GN | 354th Fighter Group
    Prisoner of War (POW)

  • Hayes Appell

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot, Pilot | 354th Fighter Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) when he baled out at about 18000ft he struck the tail with his legs and was taken to local hospital at Saarburg. Had mid-air collision.

  • Richard Asbury

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Fighter Pilot-1055 single engine | 354th Fighter Group
    1st tour Wingman/Element leader 382nd FS 363rd FG Aug. 1943 - Aug. 1944. ...

  • Bradford Ashcraft

    Military | Pilot | 354th Fighter Group

  • Raymond Bain

    Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot | 354th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 555FTS, 496FTG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 355FS, 354FG, 9AF USAAF. 80 missions. Failed to Return fighter sweep to Schifferstadt hit by return fire and shot down in P-51D 44-63193 21-Feb-45. Baled out POW. MACR 12599.

  • John Bakalar

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot-1055 single engine | 354th Fighter Group
    Namesake of Bakalar Air force Base

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Aircraft

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Citations

None

Air Force
9th
Type
Combat
Type category
Fighter
Nicknames

Pioneer Mustang Group

Motto
Valor In Combat
Insignia
Not yet known
Aircraft used
  • P-47 Thunderbolt
  • P-51 Mustang

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
30 September 2019 13:56:44 Emily Changes to stations
Sources

USAAF Continental Airfields: ETO, D-Day to VE Day
Date Contributor Update
27 July 2015 01:36:33 466thHistorian Changes to type and mission associations
Sources

Chris Brassfield
Date Contributor Update
27 July 2015 01:35:57 466thHistorian Changes to type, nicknames, motto, aircraft types and mission associations
Sources

Chris Brassfield
Date Contributor Update
27 July 2015 01:29:55 466thHistorian Changes to mission associations and stations
Sources

Battle Colors - Volume III
Date Contributor Update
27 July 2015 01:29:09 466thHistorian Changes to mission associations and stations
Sources

"Battle Colors - Volume III" - Robert A. Watkins
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

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