359th Fighter Group | Eighth Air Force | "The Unicorns" | Caeda Forte

[walika]

359th Fighter Group | Eighth Air Force | "The Unicorns"

 

Constituted as 359th Fighter Group on 20 Dec 1942. Activated on 15 Jan 1943. Apparently not manned until Mar 1943. Moved to England in Oct 1943 and became part of Eighth AF. Entered combat in mid-Dec, after some of the pilots had already flown combat missions with another fighter group. Began operations with P-47’s; converted to P-51’s in Apr 1944.

 

In combat, Dec 1943-May 1945, flew escort, patrol, strafing, dive-bombing, and weather-reconnaissance missions. At first, engaged primarily in escort activities to cover bombers that attacked airfields in France. Expanded area of operations in May 1944 to provide escort for bombers that struck rail centers in Germany and oil targets in Poland. Supported the invasion of Normandy (Jun 1g44), patrolling the English Channel, escorting bombardment formations to the French coast, and dive-bombing and strafing bridges, locomotives, and rail lines near the battle area. During the period Jul 1944-Feb 1945, engaged chiefly in escorting bombers to oil refineries, marshalling yards, and other targets in such cities as Ludwigshafen, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Merseburg, and Brux. Received a DUC for operations over Germany on 11 Sep 1944 when the group protected a formation of heavy bombers against large numbers of enemy fighters. In addition to its escort duties, the group supported campaigns in France during Jul and Aug 1944, bombed enemy positions to support the airborne invasion of Holland in Sep, and participated in the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945). Flew missions to support the assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945, and escorted medium bombers that attacked various communications targets, Feb-Apr 1945. Returned to the US in Nov 1945. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1945.

 

SQUADRONS. 368th: 1943-1945. 369th: 1943-1945. 370th:1943- 1945.

 

AIRCRAFT: P-47; P-51 (Apr 1944- ).

 

STATIONS. Westover Field, Mass, 15 Jan 1943; Grenier Field, NH, 7 Apr 1943; Republic Field, NY, 11 Jul 1943; Westover Field, Mass, 23 Aug-2 Oct 1943; East Wretham, England, Oct 1943-Nov 1945.

 

CAMPAIGNS. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Painted on leather.

 

 

 

Squadron Insignia

 

368th Fighter Squadron

 

 

 

369th Fighter Squadron

 

 

 

370th Fighter Squadron

 

 

 

Detail for the squadrons is posted here.

 

 

References:
Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II.
Watkins, Robert A. Battle Colors. Volume II. Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War Two. Schiffer, 2006. p 78.

 

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[walika]

A correction to the post heading. This post is for the 359th Fighter Group (not squadron), Caede Forte.