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370th Fighter Group

Group

  • First Lieutenant Ian B

    First Lieutenant Ian B "Mac" Mackenzie of the 370th Fighter Group with his P-38 Lightning (E6-T, serial number 43-28444) nicknamed "Vivacious Virgin II" in Belgium 1944.

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  • Fred Laurentz and a ground crewman of the 370th Fighter Group with their P-38 Lightning nicknamed

    Fred Laurentz and a ground crewman of the 370th Fighter Group with their P-38 Lightning nicknamed "Texas Jewell II". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Probably 370 FG.'

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  • A line of P-51 Mustangs, formerly of the 370th Fighter Group, 485th Fighter Squadron ('7F') and 402nd Fighter Squadron ('E6') in Fürth at 1948, assigned to head to Sweden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '1948. Furth For Sweden. Tage Danielsson. 370th F.G., 485th F.S., 9th Air Force.'

    A line of P-51 Mustangs, formerly of the 370th Fighter Group, 485th Fighter Squadron ('7F') and 402nd Fighter Squadron ('E6') in Fürth at 1948, assigned to head to Sweden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '1948. Furth For Sweden. Tage Danielsson. 370th F.G., 485th F.S., 9th Air Force.'

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  • Lockheed P-38J Lightning 'Droop Snoot*' 44-23151 'Colorado Belle' 401st FS, 370th FG, 9AF USAAF. * The 'Droop Snoot' field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiers position with the installation of a plexiglass nose, a Norden bombsight, side windows and an emergency hatch. The theory was for a formation of P-38's to drop their bombs on the formation lead 'Droop snoots' signal with the precision of the Norden bombsight ensuring the accuracy of the formations bombing. An idea championed by Lt Col Cass Hough and Lt Col Dan Ostrander.

    Lockheed P-38J Lightning 'Droop Snoot*' 44-23151 'Colorado Belle' 401st FS, 370th FG, 9AF USAAF. * The 'Droop Snoot' field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiers position with the installation of a plexiglass nose, a Norden bombsight, side windows and an emergency hatch. The theory was for a formation of P-38's to drop their bombs on the formation lead 'Droop snoots' signal with the precision of the Norden bombsight ensuring the accuracy of the formations bombing. An idea championed by Lt Col Cass Hough and Lt Col Dan Ostrander.

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  • Lockheed P-38 'Droop Snoots' which are used on airfield reconnaissance missions into enemy territory, gave necessary maneuverability, visibility and speed. - Color scheme on the spinners of this P-38J

    Lockheed P-38 'Droop Snoots' which are used on airfield reconnaissance missions into enemy territory, gave necessary maneuverability, visibility and speed. - Color scheme on the spinners of this P-38J "Droop Snoot" indicate assignment to the 401st FS, 370th FG, 9AF. Lockheed P-38J Lightning Droop Snoot 44-23151 'Colorado Belle' 401st FS, 370th FG, 9AF USAAF. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A16333-58059AC.

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  • P38J-15-LO 44-23194 7F-Q Bomba Dear. 401st FS, 370th FG, Ninth Air Force. Seen at strip X-29, Asche, Belgium on March 25,1945. (pilot Lt William L Swisher).

    P38J-15-LO 44-23194 7F-Q Bomba Dear. 401st FS, 370th FG, Ninth Air Force. Seen at strip X-29, Asche, Belgium on March 25,1945. (pilot Lt William L Swisher).

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  • Lockheed P-38J Lightning 'Droop Snoot*' 44-23151 'Colorado Belle' 401st FS, 370th FG, 9AF USAAF. * The 'Droop Snoot' field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiers position with the installation of a plexiglass nose, a Norden bombsight, side windows and an emergency hatch. The theory was for a formation of P-38's to drop their bombs on the formation lead 'Droop snoots' signal with the precision of the Norden bombsight ensuring the accuracy of the formations bombing. An idea championed by Lt Col Cass Hough and Lt Col Dan Ostrander.

    Lockheed P-38J Lightning 'Droop Snoot*' 44-23151 'Colorado Belle' 401st FS, 370th FG, 9AF USAAF. * The 'Droop Snoot' field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiers position with the installation of a plexiglass nose, a Norden bombsight, side windows and an emergency hatch. The theory was for a formation of P-38's to drop their bombs on the formation lead 'Droop snoots' signal with the precision of the Norden bombsight ensuring the accuracy of the formations bombing. An idea championed by Lt Col Cass Hough and Lt Col Dan Ostrander.

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  • Taken at Chelveston Air Base. P-38J Lightning,

    Taken at Chelveston Air Base. P-38J Lightning, "Spirit of Oak Ridge", 485th Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group, 9th AF USAAF.

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  • Y-32 Ophoven Airfield, Belgium

    Y-32 Ophoven Airfield, Belgium

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  • 1st Lt Philip W Barnhart 360FS, 370FG, 9AF.

    1st Lt Philip W Barnhart 360FS, 370FG, 9AF.

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Structure

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

Missions

Stations

Station Location Date
Based Aldermaston 12 February 1944 – 29 February 1944
Based Andover 29 February 1944 – 24 July 1944
Based Cardonville 24 July 1944 – 15 August 1944
Based Saint-Pierre-la-Vieille 15 August 1944 – 6 September 1944
Based Lonray 6 September 1944 – 11 September 1944
Based Roye / Amy 11 September 1944 – 26 September 1944
Based Florennes / Juzaine 26 September 1944 – 27 January 1945
Based Ophoven 27 January 1945 – 20 April 1945

Connections

People

  • Oren Adams

    Military | First Lieutenant | fighter pilot | 370th Fighter Group

  • Philip Barnhart

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 355th Fighter Group
    Left Boston aboard a converted cruise ship along with 1st Lt William 'Bill' Preddy as casual[unassigned] officers supervising a boatload of replacement troops. Due to the battle of the bulge, the delivery of the troops had a higher priority than...

  • Henry Billie

    Military | Major | Fighter pilot | 355th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 357FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed Tour of Duty (ETD). Re-assigned to 357FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 370FG, 9AF USAAF. Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Dean Burns

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 370th Fighter Group
    Pilot P-38 'Droop Snoot' 44-23162, flew recon of Mortain area, due to overcast reduced altitude and A/C was hit by flak in starboard engine, lost control and baled out along with Observer Major William K Collonan 2 x MIA/FOD. MACR 7862.

  • Ernest Cragg

    Military | Major | Pilot, Flight Commander, Assistant Operations Officer | 370th Fighter Group
    Ernest Cragg entered the first of the war-accelerated three-year West Point Classes, completing basic flight training by graduation. He received Advance Flight Training at Craig Field and Matagorda Island. ...

  • Carl Decklar

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter pilot | 355th Fighter Group
    Assigned to HQ Sqn, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 354FS, 255FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 370FG, 8AF USAAF. Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Harold Erschen

    Military | Lieutenant | 370th Fighter Group

  • Frederice Flodberg

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 370th Fighter Group
    KIA On February 21, 1945, while flying a support mission, Second Lieutenant Frederice T. Flodberg was killed in action. His body was recovered and buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. ...

  • Herbert Forman

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 370th Fighter Group
    Herbert Forman served with the 401st Fighter Squadron of the 370th Fighter Group, flying missions out of Andover, England. On 23 May 1944, he was Killed in Action flying a mission over Germany in P-38 42-68179. He is commemorated on the Tablets of the...

  • Charles Gaignat

    Military | Captain | Fighter pilot | 370th Fighter Group
    Charles Gaignat served as a fighter pilot with the 370th Fighter Group. He was Killed in Action flying an armed reconnaissance mission on 23 July 1944. He left behind his wife Patricia and a seven-week old daughter Dawn. Chuck is buried back home in...

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Aircraft

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Citations

None

Air Force
9th
Type
Combat
Type category
Fighter
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
01 February 2017 14:56:10 general ira snapsorter Changes to stations
Sources

Stations added with details from:
- "Battle Colors Volume III - Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War Two' by Robert A. Watkins;
- http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/physical.php
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 15:34:23 rossingtonj Changes to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:45 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / 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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