324th Fighter Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 324th Fighter Group


caption= 324th Fighter Group Insignia
dates= 1942 - 1945
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Army Air Forces
type=
role= Fighter
size=
command_structure= Twelfth Air Force
current_commander=
garrison= Mediterranean theatre of World War II
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=The 324th Fighter Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It served primarily in the Mediterranean, African, and The Middle East Theatres of World War II.

History

Operational Units

* 314th Fighter Squadron 1942-1945
* 315th Fighter Squadron 1942-1945
* 316th Fighter Squadron 1942-1945

Aircraft Flown

* Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
* Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Stations assigned

* Mitchel Field, NY 6 Jul 1942
* Baltimore Mun Aprt, MD 6 Jul-8 Oct 1942
* El Amiriya, Egypt Dec 1942
* El Kabrit, Egypt 2 Feb 1943
* Kairouan, Tunisia 2 Jun 1943
* El Haouaria, Tunisia c. 18 Jun 1943
* Menzel Heurr, Tunisia 3 Oct 1943
* Cercola, Italy 25 Oct 1943
* Pignataro Maggiore 6 May 1944
* Le Banca Airfield, Italy 6 Jun 1944
* Montalto Di Castro, Italy 14 Jun 1944
* Corsica 19 Jul 1944
* Le Luc, France 25 Aug 1944
* Istres, France 2 Sep 1944
* Amberieu, France 6 Sep 1944
* Tavaux, France 20 Sep 1944
* Luneville, France 4 Jan 1945
* Stuttgart, Germany 8 May-20 Oct 1945

Operational history

Constituted as 324th Fighter Group on 24 Jun 1942. Activated on 6 Jul 1942. Moved to the Middle East, Oct-Dec 1942, for operations with Ninth Air Force. Trained for several weeks with P-40 aircraft. While headquarters remained in Egypt, squadrons of the group began operating with other organizations against the enemy in Tunisia. Reunited in Jun 1943, the 324th group engaged primarily in escort and patrol missions between Tunisia and Sicily until Jul 1943. Received a DUC for action against the enemy from Mar 1943 to the invasion of Sicily.

Trained during Jul-Oct 1943 for operations with Twelfth Air Force. Resumed combat on 30 Oct 1943 and directed most of its attacks against roads, bridges, motor transports, supply areas, rolling stock, gun positions, troop concentrations, and rail facilities in Italy until Aug 1944. Patrolled the beach and protected convoys during the assault on Anzio in Jan 1944. Aided the Allied offensive in Italy during May 1944, receiving another DUC for action from 12 to 14 May when the group bombed an enemy position on Monastery Hill (Cassino), attacked troops massing on the hill for counterattack, and hit a nearby stronghold to force the surrender of an enemy garrison.

Continued to give close support to ground forces until the fall of Rome in Jun 1944. Converted to P-47's in Jul and supported the assault on southern France in Aug by dive-bombing gun position, bridges, and radar facilities, and by patrolling the combat zone. Attacked such targets as motor transports, rolling stock, rail lines, troops, bridges, gun emplacements, and supply depots after the invasion, giving tactical support to Allied forces advancing through France. Aided the reduction of the Colmar bridgehead Jan-Feb 1945, and supported Seventh Army's drive through the Siegfried defenses in Mar. Received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for supporting French forces during the campaigns for Italy and France, 1944-1945.

Moved to the US, Oct-Nov 1945. Inactivated on Nov 1945.

See also

* Ninth Air Force
* Twelfth Air Force

References

* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.

External links