Ground crew man of the 358th Fighter Group guides a taxying P-47 Thunderbolt 42-75102
The 358th Fighter Group within Eighth Air Force.
Assignments:
- Eighth Air Force: Assigned on 20 October 1943.
- VIII Fighter Command (VIII FC): From 21 October 1943.
- VIII FC, 66th Fighter Wing (66 FW): From November 1943 to 31 January 1944.
Component Squadrons:
- 365th Fighter Squadron
- 366th Fighter Squadron
- 367th Fighter Squadron
Combat Aircraft:
- P-47D Thunderbolt (Blocks 5 and 10)
Stations:
- Goxhill: 21 October 1943 – 29 November 1943.
- Leiston: 29 November 1943 – 1 February 1944 (367th Fighter Squadron moved in on 31 January 1944).
Group Commanding Officer (CO):
- Lt Col Cecil L. Wells: 1 January 1943 – 13 September 1944 (Killed in Action).
Mission History:
- First Mission: 20 December 1943.
- Last Mission with Eighth Air Force: 30 January 1944.
- Total Missions: 17.
- Aircraft Missing in Action (MIA): 4.
- Enemy Aircraft Claims: 1 air victory, 5 probables, 6 damaged.
History:
- Activated: 1 January 1943 at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia.
- Training: The group trained with P-47s at several locations:
- Baltimore Municipal Airport, Maryland: From 28 April 1943.
- Camp Springs Army Air Field, Maryland: A month later.
- Philadelphia Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania: From 16 June 1943.
- Richmond Army Air Base: Returned in August 1943.
- Overseas Deployment: The group sailed on the SS Monterey on 8 October 1943, arriving in Liverpool on 20 October 1943. Some elements might have traveled on another ship in the convoy.
- Transfer to Ninth Air Force: The group was transferred to the Ninth Air Force on 1 February 1944, exchanging bases with the 357th Fighter Group at Raydon. The group later moved to airstrips on the south coast of England and, after D-Day, deployed to France. The 358th Fighter Group was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
Aircraft Markings:
- P-47D Thunderbolts (November 1943 – February 1944):
- The aircraft were originally finished in Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray, with white type identity markings.
- Squadron Codes:
- 365th Fighter Squadron: CH
- 366th Fighter Squadron: IA
- 367th Fighter Squadron: CP
- The squadron codes were applied in December 1943, in standard locations, size, and color for P-47s. The individual letter was also carried on the under lip of the nose cowling of several aircraft, approximately 9 inches high and in black.
- No other unit markings were carried before the group was transferred to the Ninth Air Force at the end of January 1944.