339th Fighter Group
GroupUpdated a/c information.
In the years before deployment to the UK, the Group had been designated as a Bombardment Group (Dive) and trained in A-24 and A-25 dive-bombers and P-39 Airacobras. When, in April 1944, they joined the Eighth Air Force in Britain though, the pilots were expected to fly P-51 Mustangs, an aircraft they had no or little experience flying. The Group learnt fast and recorded the highest claims of air and ground enemy aircraft victories in the space of one year. The 339th was also the only Group to claim over 100 ground strafing victories on two occasions: 105 on 4 April 1935 and 118 on 11 April 1945.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 45th Combat Bomb Wing 339th Fighter Group Headquarters (339th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-24107
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (339th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: 33068952 / O-22475
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot; Group Commander
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based |
Fowlmere | 5 April 1944 - 10 October 1945 |
Encompassing
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 1042nd Signal Company
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-811946
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Little Liquidator
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron 504th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
Mission
- Date: 3 May 1944
- Date: 2 May 1944
- Date: 1 May 1944
- Date: 30 April 1944
Revisions
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)