362nd Fighter Group

Group
Colonel J.L. Laughlin, of the 362nd Fighter Group, smokes a cigar with his dog mascot "Prince" inside the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang. Image via Chuck Mann. Written on slide casing: 'Col Jos Laughlin, Gp CO and "Prince", note- German Cruiser. 362 FG, Rennes, Aug '44.' media-395945.jpg FRE 7218 Colonel J.L. Laughlin, of the 362nd Fighter Group, smokes a cigar with his dog mascot "Prince" inside the cockpit of his P-47D serial 44-33287 "Five By Five" (coded B8-A). Image via Chuck Mann. Written on slide casing: 'Col Jos Laughlin, Gp CO and "Prince", note- German Cruiser. 362 FG, Rennes, Aug '44.' Roger Freeman Collection

Other images of this aircraft in the USAF WWII photo collection posted on www.fold3.com.

Object Number - FRE 7218 - Colonel J.L. Laughlin, of the 362nd Fighter Group, smokes a cigar with his dog mascot "Prince" inside the cockpit of his P-47D serial 44-33287 "Five...

The Group trained in P-47s and moved to England in November 1943. Arriving earlier than many other Ninth Air Force fighter groups, the pilots main occupation was escort work for heavy bombers. The Group's first mission on 8 February 1944 was one protecting B-24 bombers as they dropped their payload V weapon launching sites near Pais de Calais on the French north coast. The Group escorted large aircraft with a different kind of payload on D-Day when they accompanied C-47 aircraft carrying paratroopers about to deploy in the French interior. In July the Group moved to their first continental base at Lignerolles, north- France. From there they continued to strike targets in support of the Allied westwards push. The Group received a DUC for their role in disabling defences at Brest harbour on 25 August 1944. Their second DUC came from action over the Moselle-Rhine river triangle when the group were able to strike enemy targets on an armed reconnaissance mission for infantry forces below.

Connections

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

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Wormingford 30 November 1943 - 13 April 1944

Based

Headcorn 13 April 1944 - 2 July 1944

Based

Lignerolles 2 July 1944 - 10 August 1944

Based

Rennes 10 August 1944 - 19 September 1944

Based

Prosnes 19 September 1944 - 5 November 1944

Based

Verdun 5 November 1944 - 8 April 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group 379th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-745266
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885170
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group 377th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-745276
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group 377th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group 378th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributormillebr
Changes
Sources

Argunners.com

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). / 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)

362nd Fighter Group: Gallery (32 items)