319th Fighter Squadron
SquadronP-51D-15-NA #44-15284 "Dusty Butt" Code: #100
325th Fighter Group - 319th Fighter Squadron
Colonel Felix Vidal's aircraft Roger Freeman Collection
"Checkertails" - Ernest R. MdDowell
page #72
It was established in mid-1942 as a fighter squadron, and trained under I Fighter Command primarily in the northeast with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. It was deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in Algeria, and took part in the North African Campaign supporting the United States Fifth Army's advance with tactical air support. It attacked enemy armored columns, troop concentrations, road transport, bridges and other targets of opportunity. It also flew combat missions over Sicily from airfields in Tunisia, supporting the Allied ground forces in the liberation of the island. The squadron was moved to Italy in late 1943 and continued tactical operations as part of Twelfth Air Force. It supported the Fifth Army as it advanced into central and northern Italy during the Italian Campaign. It was re-equipped with North American P-51D Mustangs in 1944. It continued combat operations until the German capitulation, and demobilized in northern Italy during the summer of 1945. It was inactivated in October.
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Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-40 Warhawk
- Nicknames: Behra
- Unit: 325th Fighter Group 319th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 325th Fighter Group 319th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 325th Fighter Group 319th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 325th Fighter Group 319th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Dorothy II
- Unit: 325th Fighter Group 319th Fighter Squadron