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355th Fighter Group

Group

  • Two pilots of the 355th Fighter Group talk next to a P-51 Mustang. Image stamped on reverse: 'passed for publication 11 April 1945' and Photo Number 405478 Printed caption on reverse is damaged- remains reads: 'USSTAF Foto by SGT. ... Talking over [illegible text]... (see No. 5)'

    Two pilots of the 355th Fighter Group talk next to a P-51 Mustang. Image stamped on reverse: 'passed for publication 11 April 1945' and Photo Number 405478 Printed caption on reverse is damaged- remains reads: 'USSTAF Foto by SGT. ... Talking over [illegible text]... (see No. 5)'

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  • Captain Henry W

    Captain Henry W "Baby" Brown and Lieutenant-Colonel Claiborn H "Zoot" Kinnard Jr of the 355th Fighter Group with Brown's P-51 Mustang (WR-Z, serial number 42-106448) nicknamed "The Hun Hunter ~ Texas". Image stamped and signed on reverse to pass base censorship. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'HW Brown (Left) & unknown commander 355 FG.' Second handwritten caption on reverse, in different script, refers to the "unknown commander": 'He is Lt Col Kinnard.'

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  • A P-51 Mustang (YF-L, serial number 44-13354) nicknamed

    A P-51 Mustang (YF-L, serial number 44-13354) nicknamed "Slugger" of the 358th Fighter Squardon, 355th Fighter Group.

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  • A P-51 Mustang (WR-D) nicknamed

    A P-51 Mustang (WR-D) nicknamed "Faithful Fernie II" of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group flies in formation with two comrades.

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  • A P-51 (WR-P, serial number 42-106950), nicknamed

    A P-51 (WR-P, serial number 42-106950), nicknamed "The Iowa Beaut", of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P-51B of the 355th Fighter Group in flight over England, August 1944. Aircraft has Malcolm hood'.

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  • A P-51 Mustang (WR-P, serial number 42-106950), nicknamed

    A P-51 Mustang (WR-P, serial number 42-106950), nicknamed "The Iowa Beaut", of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group flies over English countryside.

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  • A P-51 Mustang (YF-J, serial number 44-15014) nicknamed

    A P-51 Mustang (YF-J, serial number 44-15014) nicknamed "Look" of the 358th Fighter Squadron escorts a bomber during a mission flown by the 355th Fighter Group.

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  • A P-51 Mustang of the 357th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group. Handwritten Caption on reverse: 'Lt Hal Knight... Weidman Pie.'

    A P-51 Mustang of the 357th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group. Handwritten Caption on reverse: 'Lt Hal Knight... Weidman Pie.'

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  • A P-51 Mustang (YF-A) of the 358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group flies over an English village.

    A P-51 Mustang (YF-A) of the 358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group flies over an English village.

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  • Lieutenant Alvah G. Gilleland and two colleagues of the 355th Fighter Group stand in front of the P-51 Mustang nicknamed

    Lieutenant Alvah G. Gilleland and two colleagues of the 355th Fighter Group stand in front of the P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Georgia Peach" at Steeple Morden. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lt. Alvah Gillland [sic], 355th FG.'

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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

Structure

Part of
  • 65th Fighter Wing

    65th Fighter Wing

    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

Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-129 PRACTICE SWEEP

    9 September 1943
    36 P-47s from 355FG are despatched on a practice fighter sweep along the Holland/Belgium coast. No losses or claims.

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-130 FIGHTER SWEEP

    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.

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-131 FIGHTER SWEEP

    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.

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-138 FIGHTER SWEEPS

    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...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-139 FIGHTER SWEEPS

    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.

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-140 BOMBER ESCORT

    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.

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-143 FIGHTER SWEEPS

    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.

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-145 BOMBER ESCORT

    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.

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-147 BOMBER ESCORT

    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...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-148 BOMBER ESCORT

    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...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Steeple Morden 8 July 1943 – 3 July 1945

Connections

People

  • Robert Adler

    Military | 355th Fighter Group

  • John Ahrens

    Military | 355th Fighter Group

  • Arthur Alexander

    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.

  • Jerry Alford

    Military | 355th Fighter Group

  • Lawrence Allard

    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.

  • David Allen

    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).

  • Lonnie Allen

    Military | 355th Fighter Group

  • Roscoe Allen

    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.

  • Robert Allison

    Military | 355th Fighter Group

  • David Alvarez

    Military | 355th Fighter Group

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Aircraft

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Citations

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.

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Fighter
Nicknames

Steeple Morden Strafers

Motto
Our Might Always
Insignia
WR - 354FS, OS - 357FS, YF - 358FS
Aircraft used
  • P-47 Thunderbolt
  • P-51 Mustang

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
09 March 2018 15:49:52 2nd Air Division Memorial Library Changes to description
Sources

2nd Air Division Memorial Library
Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 06:55:23 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to mission associations and media associations
Sources

my photo
Date Contributor Update
19 March 2015 11:38:27 rossingtonj Changes to citations, description, mission associations and stations
Sources

Dates at Steeple Morden added (source: unit history highlights), DUC moved to citations.
Date Contributor Update
15 February 2015 22:35:34 Drgondog Changes to mission associations
Sources

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
Date Contributor Update
15 February 2015 22:18:00 Drgondog Changes to type, nicknames, motto, insignia, aircraft types and mission associations
Sources

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.
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)

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