357th Fighter Group | American Air Museum in Britain

The insignia of the 357th Fighter Group.

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Captain Richard A "Bud" Peterson, a P-51 Mustang pilot of the 357th Fighter Group, explains fighter tactics to a B-17 Flying Fortress crew, led by Second Lieutenant Seymour W. Isaacs, of the 34th Bomb Group at Mendlesham. In the front row from left to right: Second Lieutenant Seymour W. Isaacs; Captain Richard A. "Bud" Peterson; Sergeant William W. Muntger, from 4C20 Hartel St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Second Lieutenant Robert M. Platz, from Glensdale, Pennslyvania 5 and 2d; Lieutenant Kenneth C. Hood, from Globe, Arizona. Rear row, left to right: Corporal Samuel W. Peteroff, from Miami Beach, Florida; Corporal Eddie K. Jones, from Norfolk, New York; Second Lieutenant Edgar D. Rabun, from 224 North Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth, Texas; Sergeant Berchmans L. Oliver, from 831 Salem Street, Malden, Massachusetts; and Sergeant John R. Mason, from Tenefly, New Jersey. Official Photograph. Printed caption on reverse: '5562C USAF - England - At the bomber base to which he was invited by the B-17 Flying Fortress crew commanded by 2d. Lt. Seymour W. Isaacs, 20, 2827 West 28th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., in gratitude for his escorting them home from their first bombing attack on a Nazi industrial target, P-51 Mustang pilot, Capt. Richard A. Peterson) 21, of Alexandria Minnesota, explains 8th Air Force fighter tactics. Front row left to right: Lt. Isaacs; Capt. Peterson; Sgt. William W. Muntger, 4c20 Hartel St., Philadelphia, Pa.; 2/Lt. Robert M. Platz, Glensdale, Pa. 5 and 2d Lt. Kenneth C. Hood, Globe, Arizona. Rear row, left to right: Cpl. Samuel W. Peteroff, Miami Beach, Fla.; Cpl. Eddie K. Jones, Norfolk, N.Y.; 2d. Lt. Edgar D. Rabun, 224 North Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth, Tex.; Sgt. Berchmans L. Oliver, 831 Salem Street, MAlden, Mass.; and Sgt John R. Mason. Tenefly, N.J. U.S. AIRFORCE PHOTO.' This gathering occurred on June 18, 1944 after Pete Peterson escorted the bomber back to England. In gratitude, the bomber crew picked him up at his base in Leiston, England, and let him fly their bomber back to their base for a "thank you" party in gratitude for his escort efforts. A subsequent story about this escort and other similar ones by Pete Peterson was written up and published in the Chicago Tribune entitled "Shepherd of the Sky".

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Captain Davis Perron of the 357th Fighter Group, holding a dog, sits in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'David T Perron.'

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Four P-51 Mustangs of the 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group fly in formation.

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Two P-51 Mustangs, (B6-F, serial number 44-13681) flown by Major Donald H Bochkay and (B6-D, serial number 44-13518) nicknamed "Horse's Itch" flown by Major Edwin W Hiro, of the 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group fly together. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bochkay B6-F, L: B6-D.'

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A P-51 Mustang (B6-D, serial number 44-13518) nicknamed "Horse's Itch" of the 357th Fighter Group perfroms an aerial stunt. The aircraft was piloted by Captain Edwin Hiro, later promoted to Major. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'D6-D Horse Itch [sic] 413518.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'Capt Edwin Hiro, P-51D-5, August 44, Horses' Itch.'

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A P-51 Mustang (C5-T, serial number 44-14868) nicknamed "Hurry Home Honey", flown by Major Richard A. "Pete" Peterson of the 357th Fighter Group. Photo was taken from the right waist gun port window of a 34th Bomb Group B-17, 391st Bombardment Squadron, called "Sugah", a B-17G-85-BO with tail number 43-38365. The fellow in the bomber who took these pictures of "Hurry Home Honey" was William Poveroff. This occurred on "Sugah's" #82 mission to Hamburg on October 25, 1944. They were badly damaged with two engines out of order and trailing smoke. The B-17 was losing altitude, and the crew was throwing all excess weight out of the side ports of the plane, including machine guns, ammo, chairs, anything they could do without. They stabilized the plane, but remained especially vulnerable to attack on their way home when Pete Peterson pulled up in "Hurry Home Honey". His triple ace status was reassuring, and the bomber crew felt the name of his plane spoke to them. They made it safely back to their base in England with his escort.

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A P-51 Mustang (C5-J, serial number 44-14660) nicknamed "Little Duckfoot" of the 357th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Believed to be Lt. Gerald Tyler'

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Staff Sergeant Bignell of the 357th Fighter Group cleans an engine cover, whilst fellow ground crew conduct work on P-51 Mustangs. Handwritten caption on reverse: ' S/Sgt Bignell, 362nd Sq.'

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Ground crew of the 357th Fighter Group winch a P-51 Mustang (G4-H, serial number 43-12474) following a landing accident at Raydon 21 January 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Olmsted, Raydon.'

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The 357th Fighter Group was the first P-51 Mustang Group in the Eighth Air Force, training with them from November 1943 at Raydon, England and entering combat with them in the February of the following year from their new base at Leiston. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, first for defending bombers on what was their first mission over Berlin on 6 March 1944 and on a mission over Leipzig on 29 June 1944. The second was awarded for breaking up a group of enemy aircraft endangering bombers and destroying many of them on mission over Derben, Germany on 14 January 1945. On this mission the Group made a claim for 56 air victories, the highest enemy aircraft claim for a single mission.

Structure

Part of

66th Fighter Wing

Wing

Encompassing

50th Service Group

Group
362nd Fighter Squadron

Squadron
363rd Fighter Squadron

Squadron
364th Fighter Squadron

Squadron
Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)

Headquarters

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Missions

VIII Fighter Command FO 238 BOMBER ESCORT

8 February 1944
A combined force of 553 fighters of types: P-38, P-47 and P-51 are despatched to provide escort for heavy bombers attacking the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany and Targets of Opportunity in the Frankfurt area. Mission Summary follows: ...
VIII Fighter Command FO 240 BOMBER ESCORT

11 February 1944
This fighter escort operation is conducted by two separate fighter elements in support of heavy bomber missions attacking at Siracourt, France and Frankfurt, Germany. ...
VIII Fighter Command FO 241 BOMBER ESCORT

12 February 1944
A combined force of 125 fighters of types: P-47 and P-51 provide escort to heavy bombers attacking at Siracourt, France. The despatch includes 84 P-47s from 4FG and IX Fighter Coommand 362FG. There are no losses or claims in this force. ...
VIII Fighter Command FO 242 BOMBER ESCORT

13 February 1944
A combined force of 232 fighters of types: P-47 and P-51 are despatched to provide escort to heavy bombers attacking V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. Mission summary follows: ...
VIII Fighter Command FO 245 BOMBER ESCORT

20 February 1944
A combined force of 835 fighters of types: P-38, P-47 and P-51 is assembled and despatched to provide escort to the first BIG WEEK mission heavy bombers attacking at Leipzig and Brunswick, Germany. The combined total of all claims against enemy...
8th Air Force FO 246 BOMBER ESCORT

21 February 1944
A combined force of fighters of types: P-38; P-47; and P-51s are despatched to escort the heavy bombers attacking airfields in Germany. Mission Summary follows: ...
8th Air Force FO 247 BOMBER ESCORT

22 February 1944
A combined force of 659 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are desdpatched to provide escort to the heavy bomber attacking the GErman aircraft industry on Day of of BIG WEEK. Mission Summary follows: ...
8th Air Force FO 250 BOMBER ESCORT

24 February 1944
A combined force of 767 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despatched to provide escort to the heavy bombers attacking the German aircraft industries at Gotha, Germany and the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany as part of Day 5 of BIG...
8th Air Force FO 251 BOMBER ESCORT

25 February 1944
A combined force of 899 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despatched to provide escort to heavy bombers attacking the German aircraft industries at Regensberg, Augsburg, Stuttgart and Furth, Germany in the final Day 6 operation of BIG WEEK....
8th Air Force FO 255 BOMBER ESCORT

29 February 1944
A combined force of 554 fighters of types: P-38; P-47 and P-51 are despacthed to provide fighter escort for heavy bombers attacking at Brunswick, Germany. The 357FG begins its transition from P-47s to P-51s. Mission Summary follows: ...

Stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	Raydon	30 November 1943 – 31 January 1944
Based	Leiston	31 January 1944 – 8 July 1945

Connections

People

Alan Abner

Military | Major | Fighter Pilot | 357th Fighter Group
Assigned to 363FS, 357FG, 8AF USAAF. Fifty missions under his belt, including one where he was shot down into the English Channel and rescued. ...
James Ackley

Military | First Sergeant | 357th Fighter Group
Fletcher Adams

Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot-1055 single engine | 357th Fighter Group
Assigned to 362FS, 357FG, 8AF USAAF. Nine confirmed kills. Failed to Return (FTR) from bomber escort mission to Bernburg, section bounced out of the sun by four Bf109's. Shot down near Celle in P-51B 43-12468. Baled out safely only to become the 1st...
Thomas Adams

Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot | 357th Fighter Group
Assigned to 364FS, 357FG, 8AF USAAF. 4.5 air victories and 1 ground victory credited. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).
Ray Allbright

Military | 357th Fighter Group
Merle Allen

Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 357th Fighter Group
Assigned to 364FS, 357FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited 1 Victory and 2 shared. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). Awards: DFC, AM (6 OLC), WWII Victory.
Alan Alner

Military | Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 357th Fighter Group
Flew 50 missions and was shot down over the English Channel and rescued by the American forces Air Medals w/4Oak Leaf Cluster; DFC; French Croix de Guerre
Bryant Anderson

Military | Colonel | Fighter Pilot | 357th Fighter Group
Assigned to 82FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 364FS, 357FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed (End) Tour of Duty (ETD). 2nd tour with 6th Fighter Wing. Awards: WWII Victory. Post War: Remained in USAF serving in Korea and Vietnam, retiring as Colonel.
Clarence Anderson

Military | Colonel | Fighter Pilot-1055 single engine | 357th Fighter Group
Clarence "Bud" Anderson enlisted shortly after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour. He earned his pilots wing in September 1942 and joined the 357th Fighter Group a year later. In late 1943, Anderson and the 357th arrived in Europe, where they quickly...
Clifford Anderson

Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 357th Fighter Group
Assigned to 362FS, 357FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited 1 victory on 18-Aug-44. Completed (End) Tour of Duty (ETD).

Aircraft

42-100829

C-47 Skytrain
Assigned to 357FG, 8AF USAAF. Lost in fatal crash at Cuneo, Italy. 30-Oct-45. Transfer flight from Neubiberg, Germany to Nice, France flew into mountain side killing 3 man crew and 12 passengers. MACR 15451. ...
42-103041

P-51 Mustang
42-103286

P-51 Mustang
42-103389

P-51 Mustang
Assigned to 357FS, 364FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) escort mission; once the escort was complete, strafed aerodrome in vicinity of Albert, France, hit by machine gun fire and light flak and crashed. 24-Jun-44 Lt Joseph M Jenkins KIA MACR 5109
42-106470

P-51 Mustang
42-106473 Geronimo

P-51 Mustang
42-106632

P-51 Mustang
42-106640

P-51 Mustang
42-106648

P-51 Mustang
42-106652

P-51 Mustang

Citations

None

Date	Contributor	Update
24 December 2019 08:12:00	SOLIDKREATE	Changes to motto and insignia
Sources
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/3882 https://archive.org/details/generalarmoryofe00burk/page/n37
Date	Contributor	Update
01 April 2015 17:30:39	usxpat	Changes to nicknames and mission associations
Sources
http://www.friendsofleistonairfield.co.uk/
Date	Contributor	Update
13 March 2015 15:13:31	rossingtonj	Changes to type and mission associations
Sources
Type added.
Date	Contributor	Update
27 November 2014 12:58:30	Lucy May	Changes to mission associations and stations
Sources
Dates at different bases in England: http://www.8thafhs.org/fighter/357fg.htm
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)