339th Fighter Group

The 339th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Forces unit formed during World War II and later assigned to the Eighth Air Force in the European theatre. It began as the 339th Bombardment Group (Dive), constituted on 3 August 1942 at Hunter Field, Georgia, as a Third Air Force operational training unit. Its original equipment included the A-24 Banshee and A-25 Shrike dive bombers. The group comprised the 503rd, 504th, and 505th squadrons, and its early training moved through several American stations as the unit prepared for overseas service. After relocating to Drew Field in Florida, Walterboro Army Airfield in South Carolina, and Rice Army Airfield in California, the group converted to Bell P-39 Airacobra aircraft in 1943. In April 1944 it was assigned to the 66th Fighter Wing of VIII Fighter Command and moved to RAF Fowlmere in England. It was redesignated the 339th Fighter Group in May 1944 and transitioned to the North American P-51 Mustang. Its first combat operation took place on 30 April 1944. During its first weeks in combat, the group primarily escorted B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers. It subsequently performed a broad range of missions, including escorting bombing formations against strategic targets, attacking rail and transportation networks, disrupting German communications, patrolling forward areas, and supporting Allied ground operations. While escorting bombers, its pilots also attacked airfields and other targets of opportunity. The group provided fighter cover over the English Channel and Normandy during the Allied invasion of France in June 1944, then struck vehicles, locomotives, marshalling yards, anti-aircraft positions, and troop concentrations during the campaign in France. The unit continued to operate as Allied forces advanced after the breakthrough at Saint-Lô. It attacked transportation targets, flew area patrols during the airborne operation in the Netherlands in September 1944, escorted bombers and conducted patrols during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 through January 1945, and supported the assault across the Rhine in March 1945. On 10 and 11 September 1944, its operations included attacks on German airfields near Erding and Karlsruhe while also defending bomber formations from German fighter interception. These actions earned the group a Distinguished Unit Citation. The 339th became particularly notable for its claimed ground victories. It was credited with the highest combined number of air and ground enemy aircraft victories in a single year and was described as the only group to claim more than 100 ground-strafing victories on two separate occasions: 105 on 4 April 1945 and 118 on 16 April 1945. One of the unit's documented aces was Lieutenant Colonel Dale E. Shafer, who had already recorded four aerial victories with the 31st Fighter Group in the Mediterranean and added three while serving with the 339th, for seven wartime victories in total. After the war in Europe, the group returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 18 October 1945. On 24 May 1946, the organization was redesignated the 107th Fighter Group and allotted to the New York National Guard. The 339th Fighter Group therefore exists primarily as a historical military identity rather than an active commercial brand.

The organization was constituted on 3 August 1942 at Hunter Field, Georgia, as the 339th Bombardment Group (Dive). It served initially as a Third Air Force operational training unit and operated A-24 Banshee and A-25 Shrike dive bombers. The group moved to Drew Field, Florida, in February 1943, to Walterboro Army Airfield, South Carolina, in July, and to Rice Army Airfield, California, in September. Rice was associated with the Desert Training Center in the Mojave region. During 1943 the group converted to Bell P-39 Airacobra aircraft. In April 1944, the unit was reassigned to the 66th Fighter Wing of VIII Fighter Command and sent to RAF Fowlmere in England. It received the 339th Fighter Group designation in May and was equipped with P-51 Mustangs. The first combat mission occurred on 30 April 1944. Initial operations concentrated on escorting B-17 and B-24 bombers, but the group's duties soon expanded to include strategic escort, attacks on enemy communications and transportation, airfield strikes, patrols, and close support of Allied forces. The group flew over the English Channel and the Normandy coast during the invasion of France in June 1944. It attacked road traffic, locomotives, railway yards, anti-aircraft installations, and troop positions as the Allied armies expanded their foothold. Following the Saint-Lô breakthrough, it continued transportation interdiction and flew area patrols during the airborne assault in the Netherlands. It also escorted bombers and patrolled during the Battle of the Bulge and the Allied crossing of the Rhine. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations on 10 and 11 September 1944. On the first day, after escorting bombers to Germany, members attacked an airfield near Erding despite heavy anti-aircraft and small-arms fire. On the next day, the group protected bombers approaching Munich from German fighters while other aircraft attacked an airfield near Karlsruhe. The group was also noted for its reported ground-strafing record, including claims of 105 ground victories on 4 April 1945 and 118 on 16 April 1945. After the end of the war, it returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 18 October 1945. The organization was redesignated the 107th Fighter Group and allotted to the New York National Guard on 24 May 1946.

• 1946

  Redesignated for the New York National Guard

  [1]339th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated the 107th Fighter Group and allotted to the New York National Guard on 24 May.

• 1945

  Recorded major ground-strafing claims

  [1]339th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group claimed 105 ground victories on 4 April and 118 on 16 April, figures cited as distinctive within the Eighth Air Force's fighter operations.

• 1945

  Inactivated after returning to the United States

  [1]339th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group returned to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and was inactivated on 18 October.

• 1944

  Moved to England and became a fighter group

  [1]339th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit joined VIII Fighter Command at RAF Fowlmere in April, was redesignated the 339th Fighter Group in May, and began combat operations with P-51 Mustangs on 30 April.

• 1944

  Distinguished Unit Citation operations

  [1]339th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Operations on 10 and 11 September included bomber escort, fighter defense, and attacks on German airfields near Erding and Karlsruhe, leading to a Distinguished Unit Citation.

• 1943

  Converted to P-39 aircraft

  [1]339th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  During training at Rice Army Airfield in California, the group converted from dive-bomber equipment to Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters.

• 1942

  Constituted as a dive-bombardment group

  [1]339th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was constituted on 3 August as the 339th Bombardment Group (Dive) at Hunter Field, Georgia.

A World War II fighter group identified with long-range fighter escort, offensive counter-air, ground attack, and tactical support operations in the Eighth Air Force.

• Fighter aircraft · 1944

  North American P-51 Mustang

  The P-51 Mustang was the group's principal combat aircraft after its arrival in England. It enabled long-range bomber escort and also supported airfield attacks, armed reconnaissance, patrol, and ground-attack missions across occupied Europe.

• Training and operational fighter aircraft · 1943

  Bell P-39 Airacobra

  The group converted to P-39 Airacobra aircraft during its American training period in 1943, before its later overseas transition to the P-51 Mustang.

• Dive bombers · 1942

  A-24 Banshee and A-25 Shrike

  These dive bombers equipped the organization when it was formed as the 339th Bombardment Group (Dive) and served during its initial operational-training phase.

• 1945Rhine crossing support

  Germany

  The group provided area patrols during the Allied assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

  Outcome. Its operations supported the final Allied advance into Germany.

  Source
• 1944Normandy invasion support

  France · English Channel

  The group provided fighter cover over the Channel and Normandy coast during the Allied invasion and attacked transport, rail, anti-aircraft, and troop targets during the subsequent ground campaign.

  Outcome. The unit continued tactical support as Allied forces expanded beyond the beachhead.

  Source
• 1944Operation Market Garden area patrols

  Netherlands

  The group flew area patrols during the Allied airborne operation in the Netherlands in September.

  Outcome. The patrols formed part of the group's wider air-support role during the western European advance.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge support

  Belgium · Luxembourg · Germany

  From December 1944 through January 1945, the group escorted bombers and conducted patrols during the German Ardennes offensive.

  Outcome. The group remained engaged in air cover and tactical operations during the winter campaign.

  Source

• 1944

  Transitioned to P-51 Mustang operationsGeneration change

  Background

  After moving from the United States to England, the group required a fighter suited to long-range escort and offensive operations.

  Action taken

  The group was equipped with P-51 Mustangs and began combat operations in the European theatre.

  Aftermath

  The transition supported its subsequent bomber-escort, patrol, and ground-attack missions.

  Source

1. 1339th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2339th Fighter Groupamericanairmuseum.com
3. 3339th Fighter Group8af.org