479th Fighter Group 434th FS P-51 44-15086 “Cactus Jack” L2-R In Flight, pilot Lt Morrow
The 479th Fighter Group, famously known as “Riddle’s Raiders,” was the last fighter group to join the Eighth Air Force during World War II. Here’s an overview of the group’s history, operations, aircraft, and distinctive markings:
Assignments:
- Eighth Air Force: Assigned on 14 May 1944.
- Wing & Command Assignments:
- VIII Fighter Command, 65th Fighter Wing, 15 May 1944.
- 2nd Bombardment Division, 65th Fighter Wing, 15 September 1944.
- 2nd Air Division, 65th Fighter Wing, 1 January 1945.
Component Squadrons:
- 434th Fighter Squadron
- 435th Fighter Squadron
- 436th Fighter Squadron
Combat Aircraft:
- P-38J Lightnings: (Blocks 10-25) in use from May 1944 to 27 September 1944.
- P-51D/K Mustangs: (From Block 10) in use from 13 September 1944 to September 1945.
Station:
- Wattisham: 15 May 1944 – 22 November 1945.
Group Commanders:
- Lt Col Kyle L. Riddle: 25 December 1943 – 10 August 1944 (MIA, evaded capture).
- Col Hubert A. Zemke: 12 August 1944 – 30 October 1944 (POW).
- Col Kyle L. Riddle: 1 November 1944 – late 1945.
Missions:
- First Mission: 26 May 1944.
- Last Mission: 25 April 1945.
- Total Missions: 351.
- Aircraft MIA: 69.
- Enemy Aircraft Claims: 155 in air; 279 on the ground.
Major Awards:
- Distinguished Unit Citation: Awarded for missions on 18 August, 5 and 26 September 1944, particularly for strafing airfields and air combat near Münster on 26 September.
Claims to Fame:
- Last Fighter Group to join the Eighth Air Force.
- First Combat with Jet Aircraft: Captain Jeffrey on 29 July 1944.
- Last Enemy Aircraft Claimed by the Eighth Air Force: Lt Hilton Thompson on 25 April 1945.
History:
- Activation and Early Training: Activated on 15 October 1943 at Glendale GCAT, California. The group trained with P-38s, moving through several bases in California before commencing overseas deployment in mid-April 1944. They arrived in the UK via the USS Argentina on 14 May 1944.
- Post-War: After VE Day, the group saw many personnel transfers, and aircraft were sent to depots in September 1945. The 479th Fighter Group was the last to return to the U.S., sailing from the UK around 23 November 1945 and arriving in New York on 29 November 1945. The group was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, NJ, on 1 December 1945.
Aircraft Markings:
P-38J Lightnings (May – September 1944):
- Standard Finish: Approximately one-third of the original aircraft were in Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray, with others in natural metal finish. Some metal-finish aircraft received field-applied dark green camouflage on upper surfaces during June and July 1944.
- Squadron Codes:
- 434th Fighter Squadron: L2
- 435th Fighter Squadron: J2
- 436th Fighter Squadron: 9B
- Codes were painted on the fuselage booms in standard size, color, and positioning for P-38s.
- Geometric Tail Markings:
- 434th Fighter Squadron: Circle
- 435th Fighter Squadron: Triangle
- 436th Fighter Squadron: Square
- The markings were 30 inches in maximum dimension, with colors being black on natural metal and white on olive drab.
- Group Markings: Officially “no color,” which appears to have meant removing camouflage paint from the spinners and a 12-inch section of the adjacent engine cowling.
- Colonel Zemke’s Changes: Upon taking command in August 1944, Zemke removed the geometric tail markings and introduced bright rudder colors—red for the 434th, yellow for the 435th, and no color for the 436th, following a similar scheme from his previous command of the 56th Fighter Group. Some P-38s transferred from other units retained yellow and white cowling bands.
P-51D/K Mustangs (August 1944 – September 1945):
- Standard Finish: All original combat P-51s were in natural metal finish with black identity markings removed upon receipt.
- Squadron Codes:
- 434th Fighter Squadron: L2
- 435th Fighter Squadron: J2
- 436th Fighter Squadron: 9B
- Codes were applied in standard color, size, and positioning for P-51s.
- Rudder Markings:
- 434th Fighter Squadron: Red rudder.
- 435th Fighter Squadron: Yellow rudder.
- 436th Fighter Squadron: Initially, a black and white checkerboard pattern of 12-inch squares, but this was replaced by solid black rudders in November 1944.
- Tail Numbers: Typically removed when rudders were painted, though some later replacements retained or repainted the tail numbers in black over the red or yellow rudders.