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The 370th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. The squadron was activated in early 1943 and assigned to the 359th Fighter Group. After training in the United States, it deployed to England and participated in combat in the European Theater of Operations, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for its action. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it was inactivated on 10 November 1945.
| 370th Fighter Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1942–1945 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter |
| Engagements | European theater of World War II |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation |
| Insignia | |
| 370th Fighter Squadron Emblem (approved 6 July 1943)[1] |  |
| ETO Fuselage Code and squadron color[2][note 1] | CR then CS Blue |
History
editThe 370th Fighter Squadron was activated in early 1943 as one of the original three squadrons of the 359th Fighter Group.[1] The squadron trained in New England during 1943.
The squadron moved to England in October 1943, where it became part of VIII Fighter Command. It entered combat in mid-December 1943, using the callsign "Wheeler"[2] supported the invasion of Normandy during June 1944 by patrolling the English Channel, escorting bombardment formations to the French coast, and dive-bombing and strafing bridges, locomotives, and rail lines near the battle area. After D-Day, engaged chiefly in escorting bombers to oil refineries, marshalling yards, and other targets in such cities as Ludwigshafen, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Merseburg, and Brux. Continued combat operations until the German capitulation in May 1945. The unit returned to the United States and was inactivated in November 1945.[1]
Lineage
edit- Constituted as the 370th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 20 December 1942
- Activated on 15 January 1943
- Inactivated on 10 November 1945[1]
Assignments
edit- 359th Fighter Group, 15 January 1943 – 10 November 1945[1]
Stations
edit- Westover Field, Massachusetts, 15 January 1943
- Bedford Army Air Field, Massachusetts, 5 April 1943
- Mitchel Field, New York, 24 May 1943
- Westover Field, Massachusetts, 22 August 1943 – 2 October 1943
- RAF East Wretham (Station 133),[3] England, ca. 18 October 1943 – ca. 4 November 1945
- Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 9 November 1945 – 10 November 1945[1]
Aircraft
edit- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944
- North American P-51 Mustang, 1944–1945
Awards and campaigns
edit| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distinguished Unit Citation | 11 September 1944 | Germany[1] |
Manual campaign table
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Offensive, Europe | [1] | ||
| Normandy | [1] | ||
| Northern France | [1] | ||
| Rhineland | [1] | ||
| Ardennes-Alsace | [1] | ||
| Central Europe | [1] | ||
| Air Combat, EAME Theater | [1] |
References
editNotes
edit- Explanatory notes
- ^ The 370th appears to be the only Eighth Air Force unit other than the squadrons of the 4th Fighter Group to have changed its fuselage code. Watkins, pp.78-79.
- Citations
Bibliography
editThis article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. Vol. II (VIII) Fighter Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2535-9.