362d Fighter Group
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362d Fighter Group
| 362d Fighter Group | |
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 Emblem of the 362nd Fighter Group |
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| Active | 1943–1946 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Force |
| Type | Fighter |
The 362d Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, stationed at Biggs Field, Texas. It was inactivated on 3 August 1946.
During World War II, the unit was assigned to Eighth and Ninth Air Forces, entering combat on 8 February 1944. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a mission against the harbor at Brest, France on 25 August 1944 when, in spite of heavy overcast and intense enemy fire, the group attacked at low altitude, hitting naval installations, cruisers, troop transports, merchant vessels, and other objectives. It flew its last combat mission on 30 April 1945.
The 362d was one of the original groups of the postwar Tactical Air Command when the command was activated on 21 March 1946, however the unit was inactivated as an active Air Force unit on 1 August due to budget restrictions. It was immediately reassigned to the reconstituted Air National Guard, being allocated to the Wisconsin ANG on 2 August 1946 and was redesignated as the 128th Fighter Group.
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Contents
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History
Trained for combat with P-47's. Moved to England in November 1943. Assigned to Eighth Air Force. flew first mission, escorting B-24's that attacked V-weapon launching sites near Pas de Calais, on 8 February 1944. Until April 1944, engaged chiefly in escorting bombers that struck factories, railroads, airfields, and other targets on the Continent.
Reassigned to Ninth Air Force on 13 April 1944 and repeatedly attacked communications in northern France and in Belgium during Apr and May, in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
Escorted C-47's that dropped paratroops over Normandy on 6 and 7 June Afterward, engaged primarily in interdictory and close-support activities, flying strafing and dive-bombing missions designed to assist the operations of ground forces. Moved to the Continent early in July 1944 and bombed enemy troops to aid the Allied breakthrough at St Lo later that month. Supported the subsequent advance of ground forces toward the Rhine by attacking railroads, trucks, bridges, power stations, fuel dumps, and other facilities.
Received a DUC for a mission against the harbor at Brest on 25 August 1944 when, in spite of heavy overcast and intense enemy fire, the group attacked at low altitude, hitting naval installations, cruisers, troop transports, merchant vessels, and other objectives. Bombed and strafed such targets as flak positions, armored vehicles, and troop concentrations during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944– January 1945.
Received second DUC for action over the Moselle-Rhine River triangle despite the intense antiaircraft fire encountered while flying armed reconnaissance in close cooperation with infantry forces in that area on 16 March 1945, the group hit enemy forces, equipment, and facilities, its targets including motor transports, armored vehicles, railroads, railway cars, and gun emplacements. Continued operations until May 1945 then was assigned to occupation duty.
The group was reassigned back to the United States in August–September 1945, and assigned to First Air Force at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, being programmed for deployment to Okinawa to take part in the planned Invasion of Japan. As a result of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the sudden end of the Pacific War, the deployment plans were canceled, however the unit was retained as part of the Second Air Force under Continental Air Forces and reassigned to Biggs Field, Texas, being equipped with P-51 Mustangs.
The 362d became one of the original groups of the postwar Tactical Air Command when the command was activated on 21 March 1946, however was inactivated on 1 August due to postwar budget restrictions. It was immediately allocated to the reconstituted Air National Guard, being allocated to the Wisconsin ANG and was redesignated as the 128th Fighter Group.
Lineage
- Constituted as 362d Fighter Group on 11 February 1943
- Activated on 1 March 1943
- Inactivated on 1 August 1946
Assignments
- I Fighter Command, 1 March 1943
- Attached to: Boston Air Defense Wing, 22 June – 19 October 1943
- Attached to: New York Fighter Wing, 19 October – 12 November 1943
- 66th Fighter Wing, 30 November 1943
- 70th Fighter Wing
- Attached to: IX Air Support Command, 13 April 1944
- Attached to: XIX Tactical Air Command, 1 August 1944, August 1945
- First Air Force, 5 September 1945
- Second Air Force, 3 December 1945
- Tactical Air Command, 21 March – 2 August 1946
Stations
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Components
- 377th Fighter Squadron (E4): 10 February 1943 – 1 August 1946
- 378th Fighter Squadron (G8): 10 February 1943 – 1 August 1946
- 379th Fighter Squadron (B8): 10 February 1943 – 1 August 1946
Aircraft
- P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1945
- P-51 Mustang, 1945–1946
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
External links
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