66th Fighter Squadron

Squadron
Ground personnel of the 51st Fighter Group, 10th Air Force work on a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-29264). Handwritten caption on reverse: '51 FG, 316 FS, [illegible].' media-457064.jpg FRE 9551 Ground personnel of the 57th Fighter Group, 66th Fighter Squadron, 12th Air Force work on a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-29264). Handwritten caption on reverse: '51 FG, 316 FS, [illegible].' This photo was taken at Grossetto, Italy in early 1945. It was lost in combat on 20 April 1945 with pilot Lt. Robert B. Orcutt, KIA near Piumazzo, Italy.

P-47D-28-RA #42-29264 #97 Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 9551 - Ground personnel of the 57th Fighter Group, 66th Fighter Squadron, 12th Air Force work on a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-29264). Handwritten...

Formed as a P-40 Warhawk pursuit squadron in January 1941 as part of the Army Air Corps Northeast Defense Sector (later I Fighter Command) at Mitchel Field, New York. Trained in New England and provided air defense of the northeast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.



Was reassigned to the U.S. Army Middle East Force in Egypt, July 1942, becoming part of IX Fighter Command. Took part in the British Western Desert Campaign, engaged in combat during the Battle of El Alamein and, as part of Ninth Air Force, supported the Commonwealth Eighth Army's drive across Egypt and Libya, escorting bombers and flying strafing and dive-bombing missions against airfields, communications, and troop concentrations until Axis defeat in Tunisia in May 1943. The unit participated in the reduction of Pantelleria (May–June 1943) and the conquest of Sicily (July–August 1943).



The squadron supported the British Eighth Army's landing at Termoli and subsequent operations in Italy, being reassigned to Twelfth Air Force in August 1943. It flew dive-bombing, strafing, patrol, and escort missions.



In 1944, converted to P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft and flew interdiction operations in Italy. They moved to Corsica on 30 March 1944 to operate as a separate task force. It flew interdiction missions against railroads, communication targets, and motor vehicles behind enemy lines, providing a minimum of 48 fighter-bomber sorties per day.



Participated in the French campaign against Elba in June 1944 and in the invasion of Southern France in August. It engaged in interdiction and support operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to May 1945.



The 66th flew its last combat mission on 2 May 1945. Remained in northern Italy after the end of the European War, demobilizing throughout the summer of 1945. It was reassigned to the United States in August 1945 without personnel or equipment and was inactivated at the end of August.

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 52nd Fighter Group 2nd Fighter Squadron 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-420832
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot / Squadron Commander

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-707637
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 52nd Fighter Group 2nd Fighter Squadron 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-420832
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot / Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12020404
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Ground Crew Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (66th Fighter Wing) 66th Fighter Squadron

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Anna May
  • Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Toots
  • Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
Ground personnel work on a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-28572) nicknamed "Lil Abner II" of the 57th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force. Image via RL Cavanagh. Handwritten caption on reverse: '57 FG, 316 ASC, Corsica.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Lil Abner II
  • Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

"57th Fighter Group" - Carl Molesworth
page 120

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes

66th Fighter Squadron: Gallery (9 items)