The 356th Fighter Group in World War II: In Action Over Europe with the P-47 and P-51 (Schiffer Military History Book)

here For The First Time Is The Story Of The 356th Fighter Group Which Flew In The European Theater Of Operations During The Second World War. This 9th Air Force Unit Spent Over Two Years In England, Occupying The Airfield At Martlesham Heath, In The County Of Suffolk. Originally Entering Combat Flying P-47 Thunderbolts, And Later Switching To P-51 Mustangs, The 356th Dispatched Its Aircraft On 407 Missions Across The Channel. Between The Time Of The First, On October 15, 1943, And The Final Mission On May 7, 1945, The 356th Was Credited With Destroying 277 Enemy Planes. As The Principle Of Bomber Escort Was Strictly Adhered To By The 356ths Leaders, Pilots Of The Group Often Had To Pass Up Opportunities To Engage Enemy Fighters And Increase Their Scores. While This Fact Helped Earn The 356th A Reputation As Being A Hard Luck Outfit, Due To Their Low Victory To Loss Ratio, The Gratitude And Praise From The Bomber Crews More Than Offset This Misnomer. Om 8th Air Force 356th Fighter Group operationer i perioden 15 oktober 1943 til 7 maj 1945. Stationeret på Martlesham Heath i Suffolk, udførte 356th Fighter Group 407 missioner med deres Thunderbolts og Mustangs over Kanalområdet og nedskød 277 tyske fly