31st Fighter Group

Group
 A P-51 Mustang (MX-A, serial number 44-13464), flown by Major Sam Brown of the 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force. media-394882.jpg FRE 7551 A P-51 Mustang (MX-A, serial number 44-13464), flown by Major Sam Brown of the 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 7551 - A P-51 Mustang (MX-A, serial number 44-13464), flown by Major Sam Brown of the 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force.

The 31st Fighter Group only flew missions from England between June and September 1942 but during this period they supported the Dieppe raid, the assault on occupied Europe, predominantly by the Canadian army. The attack was forced into early retreat by very high casualty rates. The Allies would not land on the north coast of France again until 6 June 1944. As part of the Twelfth Air Force, the 31st Fighter Group took part in the North African and Italian campaigns and flew P-51 Mustangs as escorts to the 15th AF from May 1944 until the war's end.

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron 309th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32047878 / ?
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Atcham 11 June 1942 - 1 August 1942

Based

High Ercall 11 June 1942 - 4 August 1842

Based

Westhampnett 1 August 1942 - 21 October 1942

Based

Merston 24 August 1942

Based

Youks-les-Bains 21 February 1943 - 1 March 1943

Based

Korba 15 May 1943 - 30 June 1943

Based

Termini 2 August 1943 - 2 September 1943

Based

San Severo 2 April 1944 - 3 March 1945

Other

Assigned 8th Air Force

Other

Assigned 12th Air Force

Other

Assigned 15th Air Force

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group
  • Service Numbers: o-668547
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16354842
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Airborne Radar
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-435853
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 309th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)

Aircraft

 A P-51 Mustang (HL-B, serial number 44-15459) nicknamed "American Beauty" of the 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force in flight.
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: American Beauty
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Molly M
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron 350th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 78th Fighter Group 307th Fighter Squadron 83rd Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (HL-H) nicknamed "Tempus Fugit" of the 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force. Image via R Jones. Handwritten caption on reverse: '308 FS, 31 FG, 15 AF, Col Wm Daniels Group Co.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Tempus Fugit
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 309th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date
ContributorRED HORSE
Changes
Sources

Private Papers of Lt Col Harry L. Barr

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Aircraft associations indicate Spitfires were used

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Airforce and aircraft type added.

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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).

31st Fighter Group: Gallery (25 items)