359th Fighter Group
GroupAdded details of third aircraft
The 359th Fighter Group flew 346 missions from East Wretham between December 1943 and April 1945. In the main these missions were escorting bombers flying over occupied Europe. The Group, soon after converting from Thunderbolts to Mustangs, were awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for defending heavy bombers against enemy fighters in a mission over Merseberg, Germany on 11 September 1944.
Connections
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Unit stations
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based |
East Wretham | 19 October 1943 - 2 November 1945 |
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Supply
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-062487 / O-2005203
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron 369th Fighter Squadron 370th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-435836
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-822590
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15170119 / O-675633
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 36th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron 53rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14191392 / O-831284
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 369th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 369th Fighter Squadron
Mission
- Date: 19 March 1945
- Official Description:
- Date: 2 July 1944
- Date: 8 June 1944
- Date: 23 May 1944
- Date: 6 May 1944
Related videos and documents
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: Unit histories
- Object Number: UPL 60139
- Description: 359th Fighter Group Unit History, complete copy. Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record...
Revisions
Added dates to the 'based' event - from information in the unit history field.
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)