Constituted as 339th Bombardment Group (Dive) on 3 Aug 1942 and
activated on 10 Aug. Equipped with A-24's and A-25's; converted to P-39's
in Jul 1943. Redesignated 339th Fighter-Bomber Group in Aug 1943. Trained
and participated in maneuvers. Moved to England, Mar-Apr 1944. Assigned to
Eighth AF and equipped with P-51's. Began operations with a fighter sweep
on 30 Apr. Redesignated 339th Fighter Group in May 1944. Engaged primarily
in escort duties during its first five weeks of operations, and afterwards
flew many escort missions to cover the operations of medium and heavy
bombers that struck strategic objectives, interdicted the enemy's
communications, or supported operations on the ground. Frequently strafed
airdromes and other targets of opportunity while on escort missions.
Received a DUC for operations on 10 and 11 Sep 1944. On the first of those
days, when it escorted bombers to a target in Germany and then attacked an
airdrome near Erding, the group destroyed or damaged many enemy planes
despite the intense fire it encountered from antiaircraft guns and small
arms. The following day the bomber formation being escorted to Munich was
attacked by enemy fighters, but members of the 339th group destroyed a
number of the interceptors and drove off the others; at the same time,
other members of the 339th were attacking an airdrome near Karlsruhe,
where they encountered heavy fire but were able to destroy or damage many
of the aircraft parked on the field. The group provided fighter cover over
the Channel and the coast of Normandy during the invasion of France in Jun
1944. Strafed and dive-bombed vehicles, locomotives, marshalling yards,
antiaircraft batteries, and troops while Allied forces fought to break out
of the beachhead in France. Attacked transportation targets as Allied
armies drove across France after the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul. Flew
area patrols during the airborne attack on Holland in Sep. Escorted
bombers to, and flew patrols over the battle area during the German
counterattack in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Dec 1944-Jan 1945.
Provided area patrols during the assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945.
Among all these varied activities, the outstanding feature of this group's
combat record is the large number of enemy aircraft it destroyed in the
air or on the ground during its one year of operations. Returned to the US
in Oct. Inactivated on 18 Oct 1945.
Redesignated 107th Fighter Group. Allotted to ANG (NY) on 24 May 1946.
Extended federal recognition on 8 Dec 1948. Redesignated 107th
Fighter-Interceptor Group in Sep 1952.
Squadrons. 485th: 1942-1943. 503d (formerly 482d): 1942-1945. 504th
(formerly 483d): 1942-1945. 505th (formerly 484th): 1942-1945.
Stations. Hunter Field, Ga, 10 Aug 1942; Drew Field, Fla, Feb 1943;
Walterboro AAFld, SC, Jul 1943; Rice AAFld, Calif, Sep 1943-Mar 1944;
Fowlmere, England, 4 Apr 1944-Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, c. 16-18 Oct
1945.
Commanders. 2d Lt Harold Garret, c. 18 Aug 1942-unkn; Lt Col Marvin S
Zipp, Feb 1943; Maj Harry L Galusha, 19 Feb 1943; Col John B Henry Jr, Aug
1943; Lt Col Harold W Scruggs, c. 1 Oct 1944; Lt Col Carl T Goldenberg, 24
Dec 1944; Col John B Henry Jr, 29 Dec 1944; Lt Col William C Clark, 14 Apr
1945-unkn.
Campaigns. American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern
France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 1-11 Sep 1944.
Insigne. Shield: Per fess enhanced embattled light blue and azure (dark
blue) fimbriated argent in sinister base a mailed fist proper grasping a
lance bendwise or, enfiling a cockatrice proper (light green) armed,
combed, wattled, and scaled or, all between two clouds of the third.
Crest: A dexter hand proper, grasping a winged torch or, flamed proper,
above a wreath of the colors, argent and arzure. Motto: Strength Through
Alertness. (Approved 30 Jul 1954.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 |
