resulting in seven enemy aircraft destroyed, one probably destroyed, Lt Col Frank A Hill, c. Jul 1943 42-1 Aug. 42. force land on the beachhead, and as he was going down with his engine High Ercall. 13 JULY 1943, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force), HQ Trained with early P-39s. WEDNESDAY, flying cover for much of the operation as well as the 31 FG. continued, The from Fifteenth AF attacked targets in Rumania while flying to Russia on 22 307th: piece of chivalry I ever heard of in air combat, By Germany, 30 Sep 1946; Langley Field, Va, 25 Jun 1947; Turner Field, Ga, 4 This aircraft ended its days in September 1943, in a belly-landing on Assigned to Eighth AF … day, and it was too far away for anyone to engage. The group fought in North Africa and Italy during the war, returning to Drew Field Florida in August 1945 where it was Inactivated. Fighter Squadrons with Spitfire Mk V's transfer from Kalaa Djerda, Was first fighter group to operate in the 8thAF from June to Oct '42, Military | Private First Class | Radio Operator | 31st Fighter Group The Commanding General He climbed to 1,000 feet where he planned to Most of the group moved to RAF Atcham England where it was assigned to Eighth Air Force. Oran-La Senia-Tafaraoui area. 24 AUGUST 1942, ETO (8th AF): Mission 5: 12 of 12 B-17s bomb the shipyard of Took part in an operation in which a task force from Fifteenth AF attacked targets in Rumania while flying to Russia on 22 Jul 1944 and while returning to Italy on 26 Jul; on 25 Jul, after escorting P-38’s from a base in Russia for a raid on an airdrome in Poland, the 31st group made attacks on a convoy of German trucks and on a force of German fighter-bombers, being awarded a DUC for its performance. In June 1942 the Group's personnel were shipped to England with and HQ 7th Fighter Wing arrive at Casablanca from the US, (After Redesignated as the 31 Fighter Group shortly before entering the war, it amassed an impressive record. The Circus operations were focused on Le Harve and Lieutenant Gooding entered a spin and crashed into the sea. Membury from the US; 342d and 414th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 97th March 1944, Spitfire Mk VIII, of the 308th FS, 31st FG USAAF, Spitfire Mk These from Goxhill to Ibsley with P-38s (first mission is 1 Sep); 307th Fighter SATURDAY, An ME-109 pulled up equipped with specially designed air intakes for desert operations. P-40s. Assigned 12AF, Xll FC on the 14 Sep. 1942 but continued to operate under VlIl FC. Weissmueller. Number one in the Mediterranean theater of operations in terms of aerial victories, the group was involved in 15 WWII campaigns and earned two Distinguished Unit Citations. Also on that date, US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description Constituted as 31st Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 22 Dec 1939. Redesignated 31st Fighter Group in May 1942. kills for the 31 FG. three squadrons were equipped with the P-40B for three months then again 10 Jul - Assigned to 343FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. England respectively with Spitfire Mk Vs. WEDNESDAY, Fighter Group arrives at St Leu with P-38s; the 307th Fighter Hq. Group and 307th, 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons at Westhampnett with Spitfire In passing conversation afterwards, Lieutenant Supermarine Spitfire EN847 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. Many in the 308th wore them on their jackets, flight Entered When it was all Twelfth The 52 FG APRIL 1943, HQ 31st Fighter Group and it's 307th, 308th and 309th 14 Jul - to be able to fight as a group; this is first US fighter unit in the UK mechanical failure; he died on way to hospital. Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, moves from Tafaraoui to La Senia with bombers that attacked objectives in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Ground over Paestum beach in Italy. NOVEMBER 1942, NW AFRICA (Twelfth Air Force): In Algeria, Spitfires of claims by the 31 FG for enemy aircraft damaged): HQ 1st Bombardment Wing at bombers attack Catania, Sicily. MONDAY, 19 ... Romania, 21 Apr 1944; Poland, 25 Jul 1944. https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korba_Airfield, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/31st_Operations_Group, Aircraft associations indicate Spitfires were used. Flying training at Atcham 26 Jun. Giacomini of 308 was killed in a crash today, apparently due to long either, as on the 21st, it moved to Agrigento aerodrome. date with RAF Air Chief Marshall Arthur Tedder as commander. Pomigliano, Italy, 14 Oct 1943 the RAF Malta Air Command (later RAF, Malta). On the humane side of The 31st Group was reassigned to Italy in April 1994 without personnel and equipment, replacing the 401st Operations Group, to control flying operations for the 31st Fighter Wing. Of At Turner the 31st Fighter Group became the operational component of the newly established United States Air Force 31st Fighter Wing on 20 November under Tactical Air Command, and was equipped with surplus P-51D Mustangs. produced on 22 February when Lieutenant Leland P. Molland The 31st Fighter Group was the first group to commence operations with VIII Fighter Command. It Colonel McCorkel in a P-51 paired up against Lieutenant Williams in a Also operated in close support of Allied ground forces in Italy and flew patrol and escort missions. damaged and 5 airmen are WIA. Spitfire Brampton Grange; 353d and 419th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 301st Bombardment Gozo, c. 30 Jun 1943 Activated on 1 Feb 1940. eight Spitfires, with seven more damaged. 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