318th Fighter Group: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 20:15, 15 October 2007
| 318th Fighter Group | |
|---|---|
 318th Fighter Group Insignia (Modern) | |
| Active | 1942 - 1946 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Role | Fighter |
| Part of | Twentieth Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II |
The 318th Fighter Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It served primarily in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II.
History
Operational Units
- 19th Fighter Squadron 1943-1946
- 44th Fighter Squadron 1942-1943
- 72nd Fighter Squadron 1942-1944
- 73rd Fighter Squadron 1942-1946
- 333rd Fighter Squadron 1943-1946
Aircraft Flown
Stations Assigned
- Hickam Field, TH 15 Oct 1942
- Bellows Field, TH 9 Feb 1943
- Saipan Jun 1944
- Ie Shima c. 30 Apr 1945
- Okinawa Nov-Dec 1945
Operational History
Constituted as 318th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 2 Feb 1942. Redesignated 318th Fighter Group in May 1942. Activated in Hawaii on 15 Oct 1942. Assigned to Seventh AF. Trained and flew patrols, using P-39, P-40, and P-47 aircraft.
Moved to the Marianas in Jun 1944. Supported ground forces on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam; attacked enemy airfields; flew protective patrols over US bases; and, using some P-38's acquired in Nov 1944, flew missions to the Volcano and Truk Islands to escort bombers and to attack Japanese bases. Moved to the Ryukyu Islands in Apr 1945. Used P-47's to bomb and strafe airfields, railroad bridges, and industrial plants in Japan, escort bombers to China, and provide air defense for US bases in the Ryukyus.
Assigned to Eighth AF in Aug 1945, shortly after V-J Day. Moved to the US, Dec 1945-Jan 1946. Inactivated on 12 Jan 1946.
See Also
References
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.