359th Fighter Group

Group
Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3 media-377226.jpg FRE 547 Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394) piloted by Captain René L Burtner Jr. (This was the first of Capt. Burtner's three P-51Ds and is seen here before the application of the "Hubert" noseart) First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group. P-51Ds returning from mission.' Roger Freeman Collection

Added details of third aircraft

Object Number - FRE 547 - Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P,...

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

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:

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

Date
Changes
Sources
Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added dates to the 'based' event - from information in the unit history field.

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
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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). / 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)

359th Fighter Group: Gallery (354 items)