37th Fighter Squadron and 49th Fighter Squadron | 14th Fighter Group | Eighth AAF, Twelfth AAF, Fifteenth AAF | theater-made patches

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37th Fighter Squadron and 49th Fighter Squadron | 14th Fighter Group | Eighth AAF, Twelfth AAF, Fifteenth AAF

 

Eighth AAF Jul 1942; Twelfth AAF Nov 1942; Fifteenth AAF Nov 1943 - V-E Day.

 

37th Fighter Squadron

 

LINEAGE. Constituted 37th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 37th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942. Inactivated on 9 Sep 1945.

 

ASSIGNMENTS. 55th Pursuit (later Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1941; 14th Fighter Group, 1 Mar 1943-9 Sep 1945. 8th AAF: Jul 1942; 12th AAF: Nov 1942; 15th AAF Nov 1943-V-E Day.

 

STATIONS. Hamilton Field, Calif, 15 Jan 1941; Portland, Ore, 21 May 1941 (operated from Paine Field, Wash, 7-24 Dee 1941); Olympia, Wash, 24 Dec 1941; McChord Field, Wash, 8-18 Jan 1943; La Senia, Algeria, 27 Feb 1943; Mediouna, French Morocco, c. 17 Mar 1943; Telergma, Algeria, 5 May 1943; El Bathan, Tunisia, 4 Jul 1943; Ste-Mariedu-Zit, Tunisia, 26 Jul 1943; Triolo Airfield, Italy, 12 Dec 1943 (operated from Corsica, 10-21 Aug 1944); Lesina, Italy, Sep-9 Sep 1945.

 

AIRCRAFT. P-43, 1941-1942; P-38, 1942-1945.

 

OPERATIONS. Air Defense, 7-24 Dec 1941. Combat in ETO and MTO, 6 May 1943-4 May 1945.

 

CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Amo; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

 

Theater-made. Incised leather, hand-painted. (Capri)

 

 

 

Theater-made. Hand-painted.

 

 

 

49th Fighter Squadron

 

LINEAGE. Constituted 49th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 49th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942. Inactivated on 9 Sep 1945.

 

STATIONS. Hamilton Field, Calif, 15 Jan 1941; March Field, Calif, 10 Jun 1941 (operated from San Diego, Calif, 7-12 Dec 1941); Hamilton Field, Calif, 9 May-16 Jul 1942; Atcham, England, 18 Aug-28 Oct 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 15 Nov 1942; Youks-les-Bains, Algeria, 22 Nov 1942; Berteaux, Algeria, 9 Jan 1943; Mediouna, French Morocco, 5 Mar 1943; Telergma, Algeria, 5 May 1943; El Bathan, Tunisia, 3 Jun 1943; Ste-Marie-du-Zit, Tunisia, 25 Jul 1943; Triolo Airfield, Italy, 12 Dec 1943 (operated from Corsica, 10-21 Aug 1944); Lesina, Italy, Sep-9 Sep 1945.

 

AIRCRAFT. P-40, P-43, and P-66, 1941; P-38, 1941-1945.

 

OPERATIONS. Air defense patrols, 7-12 Dec 1941. Combat in ETO and MTO, 21 Oct 1942-1 May 1945.

 

CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

 

This insignia was designed by Frederic Kohn. He hand-painted five original patches of which the lone surviving original is below. I was was fortunate to acquire it years ago.  After the war he legally changed his last name to Arnold. Quoting his Letter of Authenticity, Maj. Arnold wrote:

 

"I designed and painted this squadron patch and wore it during my combat tour in north Africa in 1943. I hand-painted five patches. Four were lost. This is the only one left.  The original squadron patch dated back years before WWII and didn't reflect who we were or our mission. Instead I was inspired by what the German fighter pilots called our P-38:

 

'Der Gabelschwanz Teufel'. Translation: 'The Forked-Tail Devil.'

 

It better described who we were and our purpose; strike terror and destroy the Luftwaffe. That's the image I painted."

 

Theater-made. Hand-painted by the designing artist Frederic Kohn.

 

 

 

Theater-made. Hand-painted. (Capri)

 

 

 

Sources.

Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force - World War II.

Watkins, Robert.  Battle Colors. Volume IV.

 

 

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