353rd Fighter Group

The 353rd Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Forces combat formation active during World War II. Constituted on 29 September 1942 and activated two days later, it was organized around the 350th, 351st, and 352nd Fighter Squadrons. The group initially trained in the United States with Curtiss P-40 aircraft before moving to England in June 1943 for service with the Eighth Air Force. The formation became associated with the nickname “Slybird Group” and with distinctive aircraft markings consisting of alternating black and yellow elements, including a checker band around the engine cowling and yellow-and-black spinners. After arriving in England, it was assigned to the 66th Fighter Wing of VIII Fighter Command. The group first operated from RAF Goxhill and then moved to RAF Metfield in August 1943. It began combat operations on 12 August 1943 as the fourth P-47 Thunderbolt unit to join the Eighth Air Force. Its early operations combined bomber escort with counter-air sweeps and attacks against ground targets. The group helped develop and demonstrate the use of the P-47 as a dive-bomber and close-support aircraft, a method later adopted more broadly by both the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. Missions included escorting bomber formations attacking targets in western Europe, conducting sweeps over France and the Low Countries, and dive-bombing rail, airfield, transportation, and other military targets. In April 1944, the group relocated to RAF Raydon. During the Normandy campaign it supported Allied operations around the Saint-Lô breakthrough in July 1944. It also took part in Operation Market Garden from 17 to 23 September 1944, escorting bombers and troop carriers and attacking German ground positions. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its contribution to that operation. In October 1944, it transitioned from the P-47D Thunderbolt to the North American P-51 Mustang, while continuing escort, fighter-bomber, and counter-air duties. The 353rd Fighter Group operated through the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945 and supported the Allied airborne crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. It flew combat missions until the end of April 1945. After Germany’s surrender, the group prepared for a possible transfer to the Pacific Theater, but Japan’s surrender ended that requirement. The unit returned to the United States through Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and was inactivated on 18 October 1945. Across its operational period, the group flew 447 combat missions and was credited with destroying 330 aircraft in the air and 414 aircraft or other aircraft on the ground, according to the cited historical account. On 24 May 1946, the former group was allotted to the Georgia Air National Guard as the 116th Fighter Group, linking its wartime lineage to a later Air National Guard formation. The 353rd Fighter Group itself is therefore a defunct military unit rather than a current commercial brand.

The 353rd Fighter Group was created as part of the wartime expansion of the United States Army Air Forces. It was constituted on 29 September 1942 and activated on 1 October at a time when American air forces were rapidly forming new fighter units for overseas deployment. The group trained at Baltimore Army Airfield from October 1942 through May 1943, initially using P-40 aircraft and preparing its personnel for combat in the European Theater. The group moved to England in June 1943 and joined the Eighth Air Force under the 66th Fighter Wing of VIII Fighter Command. It was first based at Sawston Hall and RAF Goxhill before relocating to RAF Metfield in August. The 353rd began combat operations on 12 August 1943 with P-47D Thunderbolts. As one of the early P-47 units in the Eighth Air Force, it performed bomber escort, counter-air, and attack missions over occupied western Europe. The group’s operational identity was shaped by its use of the Thunderbolt as both an escort fighter and a fighter-bomber. Its crews conducted counter-air sweeps over France and the Low Countries, escorted bombers to targets, and carried out dive-bombing attacks against ground installations. The group helped establish techniques for using the P-47 in a dive-bombing and close-support role, practices that influenced later Eighth and Ninth Air Force operations. In April 1944, the group moved to RAF Raydon. During the Normandy campaign, it provided air support for Allied ground forces, including operations connected with the breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July. In September, the group participated in Operation Market Garden, protecting bomber and troop-carrier formations while also strafing and dive-bombing German positions. Its performance during the operation earned the group a Distinguished Unit Citation. The 353rd converted to P-51 Mustang aircraft in October 1944. The change expanded its suitability for long-range escort and maintained its ability to perform fighter-bomber and counter-air missions. It continued operations during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 into January 1945 and supported the Allied airborne operation across the Rhine in March 1945. Combat flying continued through the end of April. After the end of hostilities in Europe, the group prepared for possible redeployment to the Pacific. The surrender of Japan made that transfer unnecessary. The unit returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 18 October 1945. On 24 May 1946, its lineage was allotted to the Georgia Air National Guard as the 116th Fighter Group. The wartime group was credited with 447 combat missions, 330 aerial aircraft destroyed, and 414 aircraft destroyed on the ground. Several pilots associated with the group became notable for their combat records. Glenn E. Duncan, the group’s commanding officer, was credited with 19.5 aerial victories and later escaped capture after being shot down in Germany, working with the Dutch resistance. Walter C. Beckham was a leading P-47 ace before being shot down and becoming a prisoner of war. Harrison B. Tordoff served two tours with the group and was credited with shooting down a German Me 262 during his second tour. These individual careers illustrate the range of combat, evasion, and captivity experiences connected with the formation.

• 1946

  Allotment to the Georgia Air National Guard

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group’s lineage was allotted to the Georgia Air National Guard as the 116th Fighter Group on 24 May.

• 1945

  Final combat operations

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group continued missions through the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhine airborne operation, and the end of April 1945.

• 1945

  Inactivation

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Following its return to the United States, the 353rd Fighter Group was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 18 October.

• 1944

  Move to RAF Raydon

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group relocated to RAF Raydon in April and continued operations over the European continent.

• 1944

  Normandy support

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group supported Allied forces during the Normandy campaign, including the breakthrough at Saint-Lô.

• 1944

  Distinguished Unit Citation for Market Garden

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  From 17 to 23 September, the group supported Operation Market Garden by escorting aircraft and attacking ground targets. It received a Distinguished Unit Citation.

• 1944

  Conversion to P-51 Mustangs

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group changed from P-47 Thunderbolts to P-51 Mustang aircraft in October.

• 1943

  Training and deployment to England

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After training with P-40 aircraft in the United States, the group moved to England in June and joined the Eighth Air Force.

• 1943

  First combat operations

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group began operations on 12 August from RAF Metfield with P-47D Thunderbolts, conducting escort, counter-air, and ground-attack missions.

• 1942

  Constitution and activation

  [1]353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 353rd Fighter Group was constituted on 29 September and activated on 1 October as a United States Army Air Forces fighter formation.

A World War II United States Army Air Forces fighter group distinguished by its P-47 ground-attack tactics, later P-51 escort operations, black-and-yellow aircraft markings, and extensive combat service in the European Theater.

• Fighter-bomber aircraft · 1943

  P-47D Thunderbolt

  The P-47D was the group’s principal combat aircraft from the beginning of its operations in August 1943 until its conversion in October 1944. The group used the Thunderbolt for bomber escort, counter-air sweeps, strafing, and dive-bombing. Its operations helped demonstrate the aircraft’s effectiveness in a fighter-bomber and ground-attack role.

• Fighter and escort aircraft · 1944

  P-51 Mustang

  The group converted to the P-51 Mustang in October 1944. The Mustang supported the group’s later escort, counter-air, and fighter-bomber missions, including operations during the Battle of the Bulge and the Allied advance into Germany.

• 1945Rhine airborne operation

  Germany

  The group supported the Allied airborne attack across the Rhine in March 1945 through escort and attacks against German positions.

  Outcome. The operation formed part of the final Allied advance into Germany.

  Source
• 1944Normandy campaign

  France

  The group supported Allied ground operations in Normandy and contributed to air activity associated with the breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July 1944.

  Outcome. The group continued operations as Allied forces broke out of the Normandy beachhead.

  Source
• 1944Operation Market Garden

  Netherlands

  From 17 to 23 September, the 353rd protected bomber and troop-carrier formations involved in the airborne assault on the Netherlands and attacked German ground targets by strafing and dive-bombing.

  Outcome. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its contribution.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge

  Belgium · Luxembourg · eastern France

  The group performed fighter-bomber, escort, and counter-air missions during the German winter offensive and the Allied response from December 1944 into January 1945.

  Outcome. The group remained operational throughout the campaign and continued supporting Allied ground forces.

  Source

• 1945

  Preparation for possible Pacific redeploymentStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of fighting in Europe, the group was prepared for a possible transfer to the Pacific Theater.

  Action taken

  The group trained and prepared for redeployment, but the end of World War II in September made the move unnecessary.

  Aftermath

  The unit returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer on 18 October 1945.

  Source

• 1944

  Conversion from P-47 Thunderbolts to P-51 MustangsGeneration change

  Background

  After more than a year of P-47 operations, the group required an aircraft better suited to long-range escort while retaining fighter and ground-attack capabilities.

  Action taken

  The group converted to North American P-51 Mustang aircraft in October 1944.

  Aftermath

  The group continued escort, fighter-bomber, and counter-air missions through the final months of the European war.

  Source

1. 1353rd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Air Museum in Britain: 353rd Fighter Groupamericanairmuseum.com