370th Fighter Squadron explained

Unit Name:370th Fighter Squadron
Dates:1942–1945
Role:Fighter
Battles:European theater of World War II
Decorations:Distinguished Unit Citation
Identification Symbol Label:370th Fighter Squadron Emblem (approved 6 July 1943)[1]
Identification Symbol 2:CR then CS
Blue
Identification Symbol 2 Label:ETO Fuselage Code and squadron color[2] [3]

The 370th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. The squadron was activated in early 1943 and assigned to the 359th Fighter Group. After training in the United States, it deployed to England and participated in combat in the European Theater of Operations, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for its action. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it was inactivated on 10 November 1945.

History

The 370th Fighter Squadron was activated in early 1943 as one of the original three squadrons of the 359th Fighter Group.[1] The squadron trained in New England during 1943.

The squadron moved to England in October 1943, where it became part of VIII Fighter Command. It entered combat in mid-December 1943, using the callsign "Wheeler"[2] supported the invasion of Normandy during June 1944 by patrolling the English Channel, escorting bombardment formations to the French coast, and dive-bombing and strafing bridges, locomotives, and rail lines near the battle area. After D-Day, engaged chiefly in escorting bombers to oil refineries, marshalling yards, and other targets in such cities as Ludwigshafen, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Merseburg, and Brux. Continued combat operations until the German capitulation in May 1945. The unit returned to the United States and was inactivated in November 1945.[1]

Lineage

Activated on 15 January 1943

Inactivated on 10 November 1945[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Manual campaign table

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Air Offensive, Europe
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
Air Combat, EAME Theater

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
Citations

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 458-459
  2. Watkins, pp. 78–79.
  3. The 370th appears to be the only Eighth Air Force unit other than the squadrons of the 4th Fighter Group to have changed its fuselage code. Watkins, pp.78-79.
  4. Station number in Anderson.