The 354th Fighter Group was an element of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Ninth Air Force during World War II.[1][2][3] The unit was known as the Pioneer Mustang Group and was the first to fly the P-51B Mustang in combat. The group served as bomber escort in the European theater of operations until D-Day, then moved to France to support the drive to Germany.
Jack T. Bradley, triple ace and commander of the 353rd Fighter Squadron
The Group moved to RAF Boxted in England between October and November 1943 and was attached to the Ninth Air Force. The group was issued the new P-51B Mustang aircraft and was the first to use them in combat. These aircraft were used by the group throughout the war except for the period between November 1944 and February 1945 when they used the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
Although the group was intended for ground attack as the P51B had the high altitude performance Merlin, the 354th was ordered to fly as escort for long-range heavy bombers of the Eighth Air Force while remaining within 9th AF command structure.[5] The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its activities up to May 1944.
The Group supported the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944 by escorting gliders on D-Day and attacking ground targets such as bridges, railways, and German gun positions in northern France
The 354th received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for destroying a large number of enemy aircraft on the ground and in the air in support of the airborne attack on Holland in September 1944.
Wau Kau Kong of the 353rd Fighter Squadron was the first Chinese American fighter pilot
Glenn T. Eagleston was the leading ace of the 354th Fighter Group and a commander of the 353rd Fighter Squadron.[2] Eagleston was credited with 18.5 aerial victories, two probable, seven damaged, and five aircraft destroyed on the ground.[6]
Don M. Beerbower was the second leading ace with 15.5 victories. He was shot down and killed on 9 August 1944. near Reims, France.
James H. Howard was the commander of 356th Fighter Squadron. As a Flying Tiger, he scored 6 kills in the Pacific Theater before joining the Army Air Corps in 1943. He received the Medal of Honor for single-handedly defending a bomber formation from more than 30 attackers for more than 30 minutes, confirmedly shooting down 2 and probably shooting down 2 more. He damaged an additional 2. He was transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 1947, and retired in 1965 as a brigadier general.[7]
Kenneth H. Dahlberg of the 353rd Fighter Squadron was credited with 14 aerial victories.[8] Dahlberg was shot down three times and was able to return to the 354th twice. On 14 February 1945, Dahlberg was downed for the third time, near Bitburg, and became a prisoner of war until May 1945.[8]
Wallace N. Emmer was credited with 14 aerial victories. He was shot down on 9 August 1944, and later died in a German prisoner of war camp on 18 February 1945.
Charles F. Gumm Jr. was a pilot with 355th Fighter Squadron. He became the first pilot to shoot down an enemy plane in the P-51 Mustang and was the first flying ace of the 354th Fighter Group.
Mike Rogers was a pilot with the 353rd Fighter Squadron, with claims of 12 enemy aircraft destroyed. He remained in the Air Force and retired in 1978 in the grade of general and commander of Air Force Logistics Command.
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