358th Fighter Group
Group
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 5013 - The insignia of the 358th Fighter Group.
The 358th Fighter Group flew seventeen missions with the Eighth Air Force from Leiston air base. At the beginning of February 1944 the Group were transferred to the Ninth Air Force in exchange for the 357th Fighter Group. With the Ninth, the Group went on to win three Distinguished Unit Citations and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for the part they played in the liberation of France and their support in pushing the German armed forces back east of the Rhine river and in southern Germany.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Service Numbers: O-022505
- Highest Rank: Major
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Goxhill | 20 October 1943 - 29 November 1943 |
|
Based |
Leiston | 29 November 1943 - 31 January 1944 |
|
Based |
Raydon | 31 January 1944 - 13 April 1944 |
|
Based |
High Halden | 13 April 1944 - 3 July 1944 |
|
Based |
Cretteville | 3 July 1944 - 14 August 1944 |
|
Based |
Pontorson | 14 August 1944 - 14 September 1944 |
|
Based |
Vitry-le-Francois | 14 September 1944 - 16 October 1944 |
|
Based |
Mourmelon | 16 October 1944 - 9 November 1944 |
|
Based |
Toul-Croix De Metz | 9 November 1944 - 2 April 1945 |
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group 366th Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19103690
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16059708 / O-671482
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group 366th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-673297
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-671484
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Jean's Little Moe
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Group 357th Fighter Squadron 367th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group 366th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 358th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Squadron
Mission
- Date: 24 April 1944
- Date: 22 April 1944
- Date: 9 April 1944
- Date: 8 April 1944
- Date: 23 March 1944
Revisions
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
"Battle Colors - Volume III" - Robert A. Watkins
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)
![The wreck of a P-47 Thunderbolt of the 358th Fighter Group that has crash landed at Shorne. Image stamped on reverse: 'Kent Messenger.' [stamp], 'Not to be published 5 Jan 1943.' [stamp] and 298677.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'HE SHOULD KNOW: "Well then I've had a slight crash and I'm slightly injured, drawled the American pilot of this Thunderbolt which crashed at Shorne, near Gravesend. He tried to land on the main roac but had to swerve when a lorry appeared. The pilot was taken to Hospi](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-457148.jpg.webp?itok=Mr0Jgbrx)
