66th Fighter Wing
Wing
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Group
The 353rd Fighter Group was assigned to the Eighth Air Force on 7 June 1943. The group flew P-47 Thunderbolts, and from October 1944, P-51 Mustangs, as escorts for bombing missions across occupied Europe and to strafe targets on the ground. Tactical missions included strafing and dive-bombing targets during the Allied invasion of Normandy and during the airborne assault of Holland. For these latter missions, between 17 and 23 September 1944, the Group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation.
Wing
Group
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Headquarters
9 August 1943
A combined force of 139 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are despatched to conduct fighter sweeps if the Abbeville/Poix area of France. This is the first combat operation for the 353 Fighter Group. There are no losses or claims.
12 August 1943
27 P-47s from 353FG are despatched to perform a high altitude sweep over the Westhoffd/Eekloo/Ostend area of Belgium. This is the first Group despatch for the 353rd Fighter Group. There are no losses or claims.
14 August 1943
A combined force of 88 P-47s from: 56FG; and 353FG are dispatched on a divisionary sweep in support of bombers. The citation of this mission in Roger A. Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" is not clear on which bombers were supported with this...
15 August 1943
176 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are despatched on figher sweeps of the Knokke/Bruges/Lille/St. Omer areas of Belgium and France. There are no losses or claims and no german fighters are encountered. This is typical for the Luftwaffe whose...
15 August 1943
A combined force of 187 P-47s from : 4FG, 56FG, 78FG; and 353FG are despatched to escort the bomber fomrations ov VIII Bomber Command mission #82 in thiser attacks on German airfields in Holland and France. 56FG arrived 30 minutes too early and were...
16 August 1943
A combined force of 180 P-47s (all with belly tanks) are despatched from : 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG to escort VIII Bomber Command mission #83 attacking German airfields in France at Paris (Le Bourget), Poix and Abbeville. 3 aircraft Failed to Return ...
17 August 1943
This operation was conducted in two elements to provide fighter escort for the B-17 formations attacking at Schweinfurt/Regensberg. A composite force of 240 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are despatched to escort the penetration by the B-17s of...
18 August 1943
40 P-47s from 353FG are despatched on fighter sweeps in the Westhoofed/Woensdrecht/Knokke area. There are no losses or claims.
19 August 1943
A combined force of 178 P-47s are despatched from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG to provide escort for the B-17 formations despatched to bomb the Gilze-Rijen and Woensdrecht airfields in Holland. 4FG and 78FG provide fighter cover on the penetration and...
23 August 1943
A combined force of 158 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; and 353FG are sent on fighter sweeps of the Bruges/Woensdrect/Schipol area. Those of 353FG make a high altitude approach in an attempt to confuse the German radar operators into thinking they were a...
Station | Location | Date |
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Based | Goxhill | 7 June 1943 – 3 August 1943 |
Based | Metfield | 3 August 1943 – 12 April 1944 |
Based | Raydon | 12 April 1944 – 10 October 1945 |
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Assigned to 350FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Brussels, one of five A/C bombing Diest aerodrome, failed to rejoin after attack, cause unknown 29-Aug-44. 1st Lt Aal Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8312.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Assigned to 350FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Five confirmed victories. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).
Awards: DFC, AM (12 OLC).
Military | Major | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Assigned to 555FTS, 496FTG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 38FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 350FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). Walter Achramowicz also went on to serve in the Korean War. He retired from the US Air Force in 1964 with the...
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Assigned to 350FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 338FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Flew 70+ combat missions. Credited 1 probable. Killed in Mid Air Collision in P-51D 44-15598 2 miles SW Kaufbuern/ R-70. 5-Aug-45. KIA.
Awards: DFC, AM (6 OLC), PH.
Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Enlisted USAAC Nov-39. Posted to A-20 light bomber squadron. Qualified for pilot training Nov-40. Entered Aviation Cadets Jan-42. Presented wings Nov-42. Advanced pilot training Sep-42. Married Sep-42. Joined 351FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF nucleus Dec-42....
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
First lieutenant in the Air Force during World War II, assigned to 352FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron. Flew 90 European missions and received both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal (5 OLC), as well as...
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Assigned to 351FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort Romilly Sur Seine, having attacked some Fw190's, section was bounced by three Bf109's out of the sun. Lt Albert broke left whilst his element leader broke right and into the E/A....
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Assigned to 350FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Mid Air Collision when his P-51D 42-14422 collided with P-51D 42-14791 and crashed at Wilden, Worcestershire, England.
Killed in Flying Accident KIFA 27-Oct-44.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Assigned to 350FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) dive bombing mission to Plantlunne aerodrome in P-47D 42-76268, hit by flak, A/C abandoned Almelo when oil pressure hit zero. Crashed near Oldenzaal. Parachute failed to open. Killed in Action...
P-47 Thunderbolt
P47C-5-RE 41-6583 [YJ:K] "Alyce" was assigned to the 353FG/351FS at Metfield, UK. On 5-Nov-43 the aircraft, piloted by CPT Orville A. Kincade was despatched with others from the 353FG to provide escort to the B-17 formations of 3rd Bomb Division...
P-51 Mustang
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 352FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) strafing mission to Paris area 12-Aug-44. Strafing a train, hit by exploding debris. Belly landed on fire. Pilot Lt James M Tuttle Evaded (EVD). 12-Aug-44 MACR 7605.
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 351FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) strafing mission Nijmegen last seen pursuing a Fw190 down through the overcast over Arnhem. Shot down, Capt Lloyd G Hally Killed in Action (KIA). 21-Sep-44 MACR 9003.
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Flown by Lieutenant Donald J Corrigan who flew it operationally three times between 30 April and 20 May 1944. He gave it the nickname 'Agony Wagon'. He had one recorded 'victory' and this was marked on the aircraft.
...
P-47 Thunderbolt
None
Date | Contributor | Update |
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24 December 2019 07:44:27 | SOLIDKREATE | Changes to motto and insignia |
Sources | ||
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/3725 |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
09 March 2017 18:16:36 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
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From the Personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
06 March 2017 22:13:37 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
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From the Personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
06 March 2017 22:09:34 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
Sources | ||
From the Personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 March 2017 15:57:49 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
Sources | ||
From the Personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 March 2017 15:35:55 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
Sources | ||
From the Personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
13 February 2017 21:15:15 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
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personal effects of Lt. Billy J. Murray 353rd FG/ 351st FS |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
13 February 2017 18:35:35 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
Sources | ||
personal effects of Lt. Billy J. Murray 353rd FG/ 351st FS |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
13 February 2017 18:10:10 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
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personal effects of Lt. Billy J. Murray 353rd FG/ 351st FS |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
17 January 2017 22:17:37 | dwgdallas | Changes to insignia |
Sources | ||
personal effects of Billy J. Murray |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
17 January 2017 22:16:05 | dwgdallas | Changes to insignia |
Sources | ||
personal effects of Billy J. Murray |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
20 November 2014 16:51:00 | Lucy May | Changes to type, mission associations and stations |
Sources | ||
Dates for when stationed at different bases: http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/353rdfg.php |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 September 2014 18:42:45 | AAM | AAM ingest |
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) |