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69th Fighter Squadron | 58th Fighter Group | Fifth Air Force | CBI | "Werewolves"


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58th Fighter Group | Fifth Air Force | CBI

 

Constituted as 58th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 58th Fighter Group in May 1942. Used P-35, P-36, P-39, and P-40 aircraft while serving as a replacement training unit for pilots until 1943. Prepared for combat with P-47’s. Moved to New Guinea, via Australia, Oct-Dec 1943. Assigned to Fifth AF.

 

Began operations in Feb 1944, flying protective patrols over US bases and escorting transports. After that, covered bombers on raids over New Guinea, attacked Japanese airfields and installations, and escorted convoys to the Admiralty Islands.

 

Moved to Noemfoor in Aug 1944, and until Nov bombed and strafed enemy airfields and installations on Ceram, Halmahera, and the Kai Islands. After moving to the Philippines in Nov 1944, conducted fighter sweeps against enemy airfields, supported ground forces, and flew patrols over convoy and transport routes. Received a DUC for strafing a Japanese naval force off Mindoro on 26 Dec 1944 to prevent destruction of the American base on that island. Moved to Okinawa in Jul 1945 and attacked railways, airfields, and installations in Korea and Kyushu before V-J Day. Remained in the theater after the war as part of Far East Air Forces. Flew some reconnaissance and surveillance missions over Japan. Moved to Japan in Oct and returned to the Philippines in Dec 1945. Inactivated on 27 Jan 1946.

 

SQUADRONS. 67th: 1941-1942. 68th: 1941-1942. 69th: 1941-1946. 310th: 1942-1946. 311th: 1942-1946.

 

STATIONS. Selfridge Field, Mich, 15 Jan 1941; Baton Rouge, La, 5 Oct 1941; Dale Mabry Field, Fla, 4 Mar 1942; Richmond AAB, Va, 16 Oct 1942; Philadelphia Mun Aprt, Pa, 24 Oct 1942; Bradley Field, Conn, c. 3 Mar 1943; Green Field, RI, 28 Apr 1943; Grenier Field, NH, 16 Sep-22 Oct 1943; Sydney, Australia, 19 Nov 1943; Brisbane, Australia, 21 Nov 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, 28 Dec 1943; Saidor, New Guinea, c. 3 Apr 1944; Noemfoor, 30 Aug 1944; San Roque, Leyte, 18 Nov 1944; San Jose, Mindoro, c. 30 Dec 1944; Mangaldan, Luzon, 5 Apr 1945; Porac, Luzon, 18 Apr 1945; Okinawa, 10 Jul 1945; Japan, 26 Oct 1945; Ft William McKinley, Luzon, 28 Dec 1945-27 Jan 1946.

 

CAMPAIGNS. American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; China Offensive.

 

INSIGNE. Shield: Azure, on clouds in base a representation of the Greek mythological goddess Artemis with quiver and bow, in her chariot drawn by the two deer, all or. Motto: NON REVERTAR INULTUS meaning I Will Not Return Unavenged. (Approved 10 Aug 1942.)

 

Fully embroidered

 

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69th Fighter Squadron | "Werewolves"

 

LINEAGE. Constituted 69th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 69th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942. Inactivated on 27 Jan 1946.

 

ASSIGNMENTS. 58th Pursuit (later Fighter) Group, 15 Jan 1941-27 Jan 1946.

 

STATIONS. Selfridge Field, Mich, 15 Jan 1941; Baton Rouge, La, 6 Oct 1941; Dale Mabry Field, Fla, 3 Mar 1942; Drew Field, Flay ig Jun 1942; Sarasota, Fla, c. 25 Jul 1942; Dale Mabry Field, Fla, 26 Sep 1942; Richmond AAB, Va, 16 Oct 1942; Philadelphia Mun Aprt, Pa, 4 Nov 1942; Bradley Field, Conn, c. 5 Mar 1943; Bedford AAFld, Mass, 1 May 1943; Grenier Field, NH, c. 15 Sew2 Oct 1943; Brisbane, Australia, 21 Nov 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, 29 Dec 1943; Saidor, New Guinea, 3 Apr 1944; Noemfoor, 6 Sep 1944; San Roque, Leyte, 18 Nov 1944; San Jose, Mindoro, 22 Dec 1944; Mangaldan, Luzon, c. 8 Apr 1945; Porac, Luzon, c. 17 Apr 1945; Okinawa, 8 Jul 1945; Japan, 26 Oct 1945.

 

AIRCRAFT. P-35, 1941-1942; P36, 1941-1942; P-39, 1941-1942.

 

OPERATIONS. Operational and replacement training unit, Mar 1942-Apr 1943. Combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, 17 Feb 1944-14 Aug 1945.

 

CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Japan; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive.

 

Although an official insigne was approved in 1942, a different insignia, below, appeared later during the war and is included in the official squadron history published in 1945.

 

Theater-made. Australian embroidery on wool.

 

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Theater-made. Silkscreened on aircraft fabric.

 

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A memorial plaque at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base includes both the authorized insigne and werewolf design.

 

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References

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. pp 121-123.

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982). Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. pp 257-258.
Watkins, Robert A. Battle Colors. Volume V. Schiffer, 2013. p 31.

 

 

 

 

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Bill Scott

Your Collection Never Ceases To Amaze Us Rick Thank You For Posting Them.Scotty

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