Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.0 inch-77mm
354th OPERATIONS GROUP
Lineage. Established as 354 Fighter Group on 12 Nov 1942. Activated on 15 Nov 1942. Redesignated as 354 Fighter Group, Single Engine, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946. Redesignated as 354 Fighter-Day Group on 28 Sep 1956. Activated on 19 Nov 1956. Inactivated on 25 Sep 1957. Redesignated as: 354 Tactical Fighter Group on 31 Jul 1985; 354 Operations Group on 1 Aug 1993. Activated on 20 Aug 1993.
Assignments. IV Fighter Command, 15 Nov 1942; Ninth Air Force, c. 3 Nov 1943; IX Fighter Command, Nov 1943; 100 Fighter Wing, 27 Nov 1943; 70 Fighter Wing, 2 Dec 1943; 100 Fighter Wing, 15 Apr 1944 (under operational control of 70 Fighter Wing, c. 22 Jun-19 Aug 1944); XII Tactical Air Command, 4 Jul 1945; Continental Air Forces, 15 Feb 1946; Strategic Air Command, 21-31 Mar 1946. 354 Fighter-Day Wing, 19 Nov 1956-25 Sep 1957. 354 Fighter Wing, 20 Aug 1993-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 18 Fighter (later, 18 Aggressor): 20 Aug 1993-. 353 Fighter (later, 353 Fighter-Day; 353 Fighter; 353 Combat Training): 15 Nov 1942-31 Mar 1946; 19 Nov 1956-25 Sep 1957; 20 Aug 1993-4 Sep 2003; 27 Oct 2006-. 355 Fighter (later, 355 Fighter-Day; 355 Fighter): 15 Nov 1942-31 Mar 1946; 19 Nov 1956-25 Sep 1957; 20 Aug 1993-1 Oct 2008. 356 Fighter (later, 356 Fighter-Day): 15 Nov 1942-31 Mar 1946; 19 Nov 1956-25 Sep 1957.
Stations. Hamilton Field, CA, 15 Nov 1942; Tonapah, NV, 19 Jan 1943; Santa Rosa AAfld, CA, 2 Mar 1943; Portland AAB, OR, 2 Jun-5 Oct 1943; Greenham Common, England, 4 Nov 1943; Boxted , England, 13 Nov 1943; Lashenden, England, 17 Apr 1944; Criqueville, France, c. 22 Jun 1944; Gael, France, 13 Aug 1944; Orconte, France, 17 Sep 1944; Rosieres en Haye, France, c. 1 Dec 1944; Ober Olm, Germany, 8 Apr 1945; Ansbach, Germany, 30 Apr 1945; Herzogenaurach, Germany, 18 May 1945-15 Feb 1946; Bolling Field, DC, 15 Feb-31 Mar 1946. Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 19 Nov 1956-25 Sep 1957. Eielson AFB, AK, 20 Aug 1993-.
Aircraft. P-39, 1943; P-51, 1943-1944, 1945-1946; P-47, 1944-1945. F-100, 1957. F-16, 1993-; OA-10, 1993-2007; A-10, 1994-2007.
Operations. Activated in the US in Nov 1942, the 354 Fighter Group received P-39s in early 1943. While training for combat, it served as part of the air defense force on the West Coast. It moved to England, Oct-Nov 1943, where it was equipped with P-51 Mustangs and assigned to Ninth Air Force. The Group flew its first combat mission on 1 Dec 1943. It received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for its activities up to mid-May 1944, a period in which the 354th was instrumental in the development and execution of long-range missions to escort heavy bombers on raids deep into enemy territory. In addition to its escort work, the group began fighter-bomber operations, strafing and dive-bombing enemy airfields, gun positions, marshalling yards, and vehicles in France, Belgium, and Holland. It supported the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944 by escorting gliders on D-Day and dive-bombing and strafing bridges and railways near the front lines for the next few days. Moving to the Continent in Jun, it assisted the Allied drive across France by flying close support, armed reconnaissance, fighter sweep, dive bombing, strafing, and escort missions, receiving a second DUC for a series of fighter sweeps in which the group destroyed a large number of enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground on 25 Aug 1944. In Sep 1944, it supported the airborne attack on Holland, attacking and destroying many enemy barges, locomotives, vehicles, buildings, and troops to assist the Allied assault on the Siegfried Line. In Nov 1944, the group transitioned to P-47 aircraft, and from Dec 1944-Jan 1945, participated in the Battle of the Bulge, by supporting ground forces and conducting armed reconnaissance operations to destroy enemy troops, tanks, artillery, and rail lines. Reequipping with P-51s in Feb 1945, it assisted ground forces in the advance to and across the Rhine, Feb-May 1945. After the conclusion of the war in Europe, it served with the army of occupation. The group was active for a brief period as part of the 354 Fighter-Day Wing, 19 Nov 1956-25 Sep 1957, training in fighter operations. On 20 Aug 1993, it became part of the 354 Fighter Wing under the objective wing structure and trained for close air support, battlefield air interdiction, and anti-maritime operations. Operated Alaskan training ranges; coordinated or took part in service, joint, and multi-national regional exercises, 2005-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: European Theater of Operations (ETO), [Dec] 1943-15 May 1944; France, 25 Aug 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 11 Sep 2000-10 Sep 2002; 17 Sep 2003-16 Sep 2005; 17 Sep 2005-20 Oct 2006. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 1 Dec 1943-31 Dec 1944.
Emblem. Group will use the wing emblem with group designation in the scroll.