65th Fighter Wing
Wing
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Group
Where the 353rd Fighter Group had pioneered ground strafing techniques, it was the 355th Fighter Group who destroyed more enemy aircraft by ground strafing than any other Eighth Air Force Group. Based at Steeple Morden from July 1943 to July 1945, the Group flew Thunderbolts and Mustangs as escorts for bombers and in area patrols and fighter sweeps.
Browse 355th Fighter Group photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/54
Wing
Browse 65th Fighter Wing photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/51
Group
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Formed by Col. Peaslee following presentation of his theory to Gen. Doolittle. The purpose of the Scouting Force concept was for experienced, tour expired lead bomber pilots, escorted by volunteer fighter pilots, to fly ahead of bomber formations to...
Headquarters
9 September 1943
36 P-47s from 355FG are despatched on a practice fighter sweep along the Holland/Belgium coast. No losses or claims.
14 September 1943
A force of 126 P-47s from: 4FG, 56FG, 352FG, and 355FG are despatched on a fighter sweep over dunkirk and the Dutch Islands. 1 aircraft is damaged on take-off, hitting a tree. Pilot makes wheels up landing in a field and is OK. Aircraft repaired.
14 September 1943
A formation of 83 P-47s frim 352FG and 355FG are despatched on a fighter sweep of the Knokke/Calaise area. 1 Aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-1KIA. There are no other losses or claims.
22 September 1943
A combined force of 240 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched on fighter sweeps of the Calaise/Egmond area of France. One aircraft Failed to Retunr (FTR) 1KIA and another sustained a mechanical failure of the propellor...
22 September 1943
A combined force of 155 P-47 from 56FG; 325FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched to fly fighter sweeps of the Furnes/Lille/Ghent/Flushing area. No enemy fighters are encountered. There are no losses or claims.
23 September 1943
A combined force of 140 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG and 353FG are despatched to escort the B-17s of VIII Bomber Command mission 100. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA and 2 were damaged. The fighters claimed 4-0-1 of attacking German fighters.
24 September 1943
A combined force of 128 P-47s from 78FG; 352FG; 355FG are despatched on fighter sweeps in the Sangatte/Lille/Ghent/Blankenberge area. No enemy aircraft are encountered. There are no losses or claims.
26 September 1943
A combined force of 243 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched to provide escort to the bombers scheduled to attack at Paris, but they are recalled when the bomber mission is cancelled. There are no losses or claims.
27 September 1943
A combined force of 262 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despached to escort the bomber formations attacking Emden, Germany. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA and one crashlanded upon return at RAF Ludham when it ran out of...
2 October 1943
A combinded formation of 227 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 353FG; and 355FG is despatched to provide escort to the bomber formations attacking at Emden, Germany. There are no losses, but one aircraft is damaged. The fighters claim 5-3-1 of attacking...
Station | Location | Date |
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Based | Steeple Morden | 8 July 1943 – 3 July 1945 |
Military | 355th Fighter Group
Military | 355th Fighter Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 355th Fighter Group
Assigned to 358FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from free lance mission, A/C developed coolant system failure, A/C abandoned and crashed near Elsten on 15-Dec-44 in P-51D 44-15014 Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 11310.
Military | 355th Fighter Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 355th Fighter Group
Assigned to 354FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. On a fighter support mission to Munster on 11-Mar-44, P-51B 43-6849 lost oil pressure due to heavy flak and crashed at Essen- Altenessen after the pilot bailed out. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3054.
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 354th Fighter Group
Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 2nd Scouting Force. Transferred to 358FS, 355FG 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 354FG. Ended Tour Duty (ETD).
Military | 355th Fighter Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 355th Fighter Group
Assigned to 358FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).
Awards: WWII Victory.
Post War: Joined Caterpillar Tractor Co. where he worked as a research engineer until his retirement.
Military | 355th Fighter Group
Military | 355th Fighter Group
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
Assigned to 354FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) strafing mission Lechfield A/D. Hit by flak crashed SW Lechfield. Pilot Lt Peter M Sawchuck KIA (KIA). 24-Jul-44 MACR 7730.
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
Assigned to 354FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) escort to Neuberg A/D on 2nd strafing pass hit by flak crashed into wood near Boenfeld pilot 1st Lt Robert M White Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 12398.
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
Assigned to 358FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) strafing mission to Metz. 28-Aug-44. Pilot Lt William W Tolby Evaded (EVD). MACR 8398.
P-51 Mustang
Shortly after converting to Mustangs, the Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for an attack on German airfields during a snow squall on 5 April 1944.
Date | Contributor | Update |
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09 March 2018 15:49:52 | 2nd Air Division Memorial Library | Changes to description |
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2nd Air Division Memorial Library |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
10 April 2015 06:55:23 | EMBLEMHUNTER | Changes to mission associations and media associations |
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my photo |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
19 March 2015 11:38:27 | rossingtonj | Changes to citations, description, mission associations and stations |
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Dates at Steeple Morden added (source: unit history highlights), DUC moved to citations. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
15 February 2015 22:35:34 | Drgondog | Changes to mission associations |
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Russell McNally's YFbar-J Morphine Sue - part of 358FS "E" Flight designated to support the Scout Force - Experimental based at Steeple Morden July 11 through early September, 1944 |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
15 February 2015 22:18:00 | Drgondog | Changes to type, nicknames, motto, insignia, aircraft types and mission associations |
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Scout Force Experimental YFbar J 44-13659 - pilot Russell McNally. Noseover at Steeple Morden approximately July 11, 1944. McNally was TDY from 358FS. The 355th FG provided volunteers to fly wingman for various bomber pilots flying Mustangs as Weather and Target Scouts. |
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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) |