Philadelphia Fighter Wing Explained

Unit Name:	Philadelphia Fighter Wing
Dates:	1942–1946
Branch:	United States Army Air Force
Role:	Air defense and training fighter units
Battles:	World War II

The Philadelphia Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the I Fighter Command, stationed at Philadelphia Airport, Pennsylvania, where it was inactivated on 3 April 1946.

History

The wing was a World War II air defense organization, reporting to First Air Force, responsible for the air defense of the Philadelphia area. The wing was also a training organization for fighter groups and personnel, with assigned groups subsequently deploying to overseas theaters. Not manned after July 1944, and inactivated at the end of the war.

Lineage

• Constituted as the Philadelphia Air Defense Wing on 6 August 1942

Activated on 11 August 1942

Redesignated Philadelphia Fighter Wing c. 2 July 1943

Inactivated on 3 April 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948^[1]

Assignments

• I Fighter Command, 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946

Components

• 33d Fighter Group: 11 August – November 1942
• 58th Fighter Group: 24 October 1942 – c. 3 March 1943
• 83d Fighter Group: 22 November 1943 – 10 April 1944
• 87th Fighter Group: 1943 (dates undetermined)
• 324th Fighter Group: 6 July – 8 October 1942
• 327th Fighter Group: 27 August – 22 September 1942
• 353d Fighter Group: c. 26 October 1942 – c. 27 May 1943

• 355th Fighter Group: 4 March – 16 June 1943
• 358th Fighter Group: 28 April – September 1943
• 361st Fighter Group: 28 August – 20 September 1943
• 365th Fighter Group: 19 July – 4 December 1943
• 366th Fighter Group: attached 1 June 1943 – 20 November 1943^[2]
• 371st Fighter Group: 30 September 1943 – 14 February 1944

Stations

• Philadelphia Airport, Pennsylvania, 11 August 1942 – April 1946

References

Bibliography

• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. 1961. December 17, 2016. reprint. 1983. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-912799-02-1. 61060979.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. December 17, 2016. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 72556. 70605402.

Notes and References

1. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 428
2. Web site: Factsheet 366 Operations Group (ACC). Dollman. TSG David.. October 18, 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 13, 2022.