354th Fighter Group | |
---|---|
Active | 15 November 1942 – 31 March 1946 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
Type | Fighter group |
Part of | 100th Fighter Wing Ninth Air Force |
Nickname(s) | Pioneer Mustang Group |
Motto(s) | Valor in Combat |
Engagements | Air Offensive, Europe Normandy Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Invasion of Germany |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation (2) Croix de Guerre with Palm |
Insignia | |
354th Fighter Group Emblem | |
353rd Fighter Squadron | FT |
355th Fighter Squadron | GQ |
356th Fighter Squadron | AJ |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | Republic P-47 Thunderbolt 1944–1945 North American P-51 Mustang 1943–1945 |
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.