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The 364th Fighter Group (USAAF) entered combat as a fighter escort unit, protecting the Eighth Air Force's heavy bombers, but later added ground attack duties to its role.
The group was activated in the United States on 1 June 1943 and moved to Britain to join the Eighth Air Force in January-February 1944. The group began operations in March 1944 as a bomber escort unit, supporting the strategic bombing campaign. It continued to perform this role for the rest of the war, and was awarded a Distinguishd Unit Citiation for helping to protect a bomber forces heading to Frankfurt on 27 Decenber 1944.
As the war went on the group flew an increasing number of tactical missions, including dive-bombing and strafing attacks on German targets and fighter sweeps.
During the D-Day landings the group flew patrols over the Channel. It carried out ground attack missions in support of the fighting in Normandy, before converting to the P-51 Mustang. The tactical missions continued, and the group took part in Operation Market Garden in September 1944, the battle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945) and the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945.
The group returned to the United States in November and was inactivated on 10 November 1945.
1943-Summer 1944: Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Summer 1944 onwards: North American P-51 Mustang
25 May 1943 | Constititued as 364th Fighter Group |
1 June 1943 | Activated |
Jan-Feb 1944 | To England and Eighth Air Force |
March 1944 | Combat debut |
November 1945 | To United States |
10 November 1945 | Inactivated |
Lt. Col Frederick C
Grambo: 12 Jun 1943
Col Roy W Osborn: Mar 1944
Lt Col Joseph B McManus: c.
9 Sep 1944
Lt Col John W Lowell: c. 23
Oct 1944
Col Roy W Osborn; 2 Nov 1944
Lt Col Eugene P Roberts: 3 Jan-Nov 1945
Glendale, Calif: 1 Jun 1943
Van Nuys, Calif: 12 Aug 1943
Ontario
AAFld, Calif: 11 Oct 1943
Santa Maria
AAFld, Calif: c. 7 Dec 1943-c. 11 Jan 1944
Honington, England: Feb 1944-c. Nov
1945
Camp Kilmer: NJ, 9-10 Nov 1945
383rd Fighter Squadron: 1943-45
384th Fighter Squadron: 1943-45
385th Fighter Squadron: 1943-45
1943-44: Los Angeles Fighter Wing; IV Fighter Command; Fourth Air Force
1944-September 1944: 67th Fighter Wing; VIII Fighter Command; Eighth Air Force
September 1944-1945: 67th Fighter Wing; 1st Air Division; Eighth Air Force