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356th Fighter Group

Group

  • Ground crew of the 356th Fighter Group congratulate the pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed

    Ground crew of the 356th Fighter Group congratulate the pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Zombie" at Martlesham Heath air base. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'ZOMBIE yellow, black outline. [illegible text] black white common practice of 361st FS.'

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  • Ground crew and a pilot of the 356th Fighter Group admire a Dornier 17 painted beaneath the cockpit of a P-47 Thunderbolt.

    Ground crew and a pilot of the 356th Fighter Group admire a Dornier 17 painted beaneath the cockpit of a P-47 Thunderbolt.

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  • Two P-47 Thunderbolts of the 356th Fighter Group take to the air. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Two P-47's just after take-off, landing gear folding up. Covered all over with invasion stripes, carrying a 165 gal belly tank and a 500 pound bomb under each wing.'

    Two P-47 Thunderbolts of the 356th Fighter Group take to the air. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Two P-47's just after take-off, landing gear folding up. Covered all over with invasion stripes, carrying a 165 gal belly tank and a 500 pound bomb under each wing.'

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  • P-51 Mustangs nicknamed

    P-51 Mustangs nicknamed "Jersey Jerk" and "Jet Job" fly in formation with fellow Mustangs of the 356th Fighter Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'P-51 Mustangs of the 8th AF return from an escort mission to Lutzkendorf, Germany 9 February 1945.'

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  • P-47 Thunderbolts of the 356th Fighter Group fly in formation over English countryside.

    P-47 Thunderbolts of the 356th Fighter Group fly in formation over English countryside.

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  • A P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-28919) nicknamed

    A P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-28919) nicknamed "Florida Gator" of the 356th Fighter Group at Martlesham Heath.

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  • Damaged remains of a P-47 Thunderbolt of the 356th Fighter Group in a wreckage area at Martlesham Heath.

    Damaged remains of a P-47 Thunderbolt of the 356th Fighter Group in a wreckage area at Martlesham Heath.

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  • Ground crew of the 356th Fighter Group attend to a damaged P-47 Thunderbolt following a crash landing at Martlesham Heath. Official caption printed on image: '85SG4GA5?-2 (Crash Landing).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '26/2/44 276211 Lt Cotter (K) making landing.'

    Ground crew of the 356th Fighter Group attend to a damaged P-47 Thunderbolt following a crash landing at Martlesham Heath. Official caption printed on image: '85SG4GA5?-2 (Crash Landing).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '26/2/44 276211 Lt Cotter (K) making landing.'

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  • A P-47 Thunderbolt of 361st Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group sits on hardstanding at Martlesham Heath air base.

    A P-47 Thunderbolt of 361st Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group sits on hardstanding at Martlesham Heath air base.

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  • Sergeant Elwin D. Phillips, Lieutenant Sidney Hewitt, Staff Sergeant Michael Yahawk and a colleague, of the 361st Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group stand with Hewitt's P-47 Thunderbolt (QI-F, serial number 42-74702) nicknamed

    Sergeant Elwin D. Phillips, Lieutenant Sidney Hewitt, Staff Sergeant Michael Yahawk and a colleague, of the 361st Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group stand with Hewitt's P-47 Thunderbolt (QI-F, serial number 42-74702) nicknamed "Clarkie" at Goxhill. Handwritten caption on reverse: '"CLARIE" [sic] 361st Fighter Squadron, Pilot: Sid Hewitt. Standing (L-R) Sgt Elwin D Phillips (arm/ aut C/C) Pilot: lt Sidney Hewitt ? S/Sgt Michael Yahawk- eng (Crew Chief).'

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The 356th Fighter Group flew 413 missions between 15 October 1943 and 7 May 1945 and suffered the highest ratio of losses to enemy aircraft claims of any Eighth Air Force Group. This gave the Group the reputation of being the 'hard luck' outfit. The Group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its support of the airborne invasion of Holland in mid September 1944.

Commanding officers

  • Philip Tukey

    Military | Colonel | Group Commander | 356th Fighter Group
    Philip Tukey served as a pilot with the 56th Fighter Group. ...

Structure

Part of
  • 1st Air Division

    1st Air Division

    Division
    In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.

  • 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

  • 67th Fighter Wing

    67th Fighter Wing

    Wing

Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-157 FIGHTER SWEEPS

    15 October 1943
    This mission is composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a formation of 36 P-38s despatched from 55FG to fly fighter sweeps over the Dutch Islands. This is the first mission for 55 FG and the first to use the P-38 "Lightning" from England...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-159 FIGHTER SWEEPS

    16 October 1943
    This mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a force of 39 P-38s despatched to fly fighter sweeps over the Dutch islands. There are no losses or claims. ...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-161 FIGHTER SWEEPS

    17 October 1943
    This mission consisted of two fighter elements. This first element was a force of 35 P38s despatched from 55FG to fly fighter sweeps over Northern Feance. There are no losses or claims. ...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-162 BOMBER ESCORT

    18 October 1943
    This mission was composed of two fighter elements. The first element was a force of 33 P-38s from 55FG despatched to accompany bomber formations headed for Duren, Germany. Weather conditions prevented rendevous with the bomber stream and both the...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-163 BOMBER ESCORT.

    20 October 1943
    This mission was composed of two fighter elements. The first element was a force of 39 P-38s from 55FG despatched to escort B-17 formations attacking at Duren, Germany. There wer no losses or claims. ...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-165 BOMBER ESCORT

    22 October 1943
    This mission was composed of two fighter elements. The first element was a force of 45 P-38s from 55FG despatched to provide escort to B-26s of 9th Air Force. 1 aircraft was damaged. There are no losses or claims. ...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-166

    24 October 1943
    This missionis composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a force of 48 P-38s from 55FG despatched to provide escort for a formation of B-26 bombers from 9th Air Force. There are no losses or claims. ...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-168 BOMBER ESCORT

    3 November 1943
    This mission is composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a force of 45 P-38s from 55FG despatched to provide escort, to and from the target, of B-17 bomber formations attacking at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. There are NO losses and the...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-170 BOMBER ESCORT

    5 November 1943
    THis mission is composed of two fighter elements. The forst element is a force of 47 P-38s from 55FG despatched to provide escort to the B-17 formations attacking at Gelsenkirchen. While not as nimble as the German fighters, the four .50cal nose...

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-172 BOMBER ESCORT

    7 November 1943
    A combined force of 283 P-47s from 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 356FG are despatched to escort the B-17 formations attacking at Wesel and Duren, Germany. The 78FG flew the first double-group mission composed of two formations 'A' and 'B. 1 aircraft...

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Stations

Station Location Date
Based Goxhill 27 August 1943 – 5 October 1943
Based Martlesham Heath 5 October 1943 – 2 November 1945

Connections

People

  • Paul Abner

    Military | Corporal | Radio Operator | 356th Fighter Group

  • Charles Adams

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 356th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 360FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF, 59 missions, flew P-47D 'Frances' Favorite', Named for mother Frances Adams. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). Awards: WWII Victory.

  • James Adams

    Military | 356th Fighter Group

  • Stanley Albanowski

    Military | Sergeant | 356th Fighter Group

  • Thomas Alden

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 356th Fighter Group
    P-51 44-15149 'Virgy' Crashed at Gilmerdingen due to flak

  • Robert Alexander

    Military | Flight Officer | Fighter Pilot | 356th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 495FTG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 361FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 3rd Gunnery & Tow Target Flight. Transferred to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

  • Norman Allard

    Military | Corporal | Armament | 356th Fighter Group

  • John Allen

    Military | Corporal | 356th Fighter Group

  • William Almen

    Military | Staff Sergeant | 356th Fighter Group

  • Louis Alphonse

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 356th Fighter Group
    Assigned to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. ...

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Aircraft

  • 42-22469

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-22520

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-22525

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-22535 Kathleen Ann

    P-47 Thunderbolt
    Due to too heavy cloud cover, Maupin and wingman Lt William Johnson had to fly back to base. As it was flying at about 4000ft over Belgium, Maupin's Thunderbolt #42-22535 was hit by Flak from the battery at Brustem near Liège, Belgium. With the radio...

  • 42-22542

    P-47 Thunderbolt
    Assigned to 360FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort Reims - Lost in mid air collision with P-47 42-8662 over Soissons, France 30-Dec-43 F/O Everett L Brock KIA MACR 1971.

  • 42-22766

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-25508

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-25513

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-25524

    P-47 Thunderbolt

  • 42-25751

    P-47 Thunderbolt

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Fighter
Nicknames

The Blue Diamonds
The Martlesham Playboys

Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
06 February 2018 10:38:47 PEP.1956 Changes to nicknames
Sources

littlefriends.co.uk and several other sources
Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 15:13:22 rossingtonj Changes to type and mission associations
Sources

Type added.
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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