370th Fighter Group
The 370th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Forces fighter unit that served with the Ninth Air Force in the European Theater during World War II.
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Overview
The 370th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Forces unit formed during World War II and assigned to the Ninth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations. It was constituted on 25 May 1943 and activated on 1 July 1943. The group initially trained in the United States with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, moving from Westover Field in Massachusetts to Groton Army Air Field in Connecticut in October 1943 and then to Bradley Field in January 1944. The group deployed to England in January and February 1944, arriving at RAF Aldermaston before moving to RAF Andover at the end of February. There it transitioned to Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft and trained for combat until May. Its early operational work included dive-bombing radar installations and flak towers, escorting bomber formations, and attacking bridges and railway marshalling yards in France during the Allied preparations for the Normandy invasion. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the group helped protect Allied forces crossing the English Channel. During the remainder of June it conducted armed reconnaissance over the Cotentin Peninsula. It moved to France in July and supported the Allied advance through Normandy and across France, striking artillery positions, troops, supply dumps, tanks, and other tactical targets during the Battle of Saint-Lô and the fighting around the Falaise Pocket. The group followed the advancing Allied armies through a succession of bases in France and Belgium. It provided aircraft and pilots for operations connected with the airborne assault in the Netherlands in September 1944, then supported the First Army during the Battle of Aachen by attacking pillboxes and troop concentrations. Subsequent missions in the Aachen region targeted railways, bridges, viaducts, and tunnels. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, the group conducted armed reconnaissance against warehouses, roads, rail lines, motor transport, and other military infrastructure. One of the unit’s most notable actions occurred on 2 December 1944 in support of ground forces in the Hürtgen Forest area. Despite poor weather and intense anti-aircraft and small-arms fire, its aircraft attacked a strongly defended position at Bergstein with napalm. The action contributed to the group receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation. Beginning in February 1945, the group converted from the P-38 Lightning to the North American P-51 Mustang. It supported the Allied advance into Germany, including attacks on bridges and docks near Wesel before the Rhine crossing and patrols covering the airborne operation on 24 March 1945. In April it supported the 2nd Armored Division in the Ruhr Valley. The group flew its final combat mission, a sweep over Dessau and Wittenberg, on 4 May 1945. After Victory in Europe Day, the unit moved through bases in Germany before returning to the United States between September and November 1945. It was inactivated at Camp Myles Standish on 7 November 1945. The group was later associated with the Colorado Air National Guard and was redesignated the 140th Fighter Group on 24 May 1946. It was a military organization rather than a commercial consumer brand, and it has no known commercial products, public-company listing, or current operating business.
History
The 370th Fighter Group was constituted on 25 May 1943 and activated on 1 July of that year. Its initial training took place at Westover Field, Massachusetts, using Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. The unit relocated to Groton Army Air Field, Connecticut, in October 1943 and to Bradley Field in January 1944. The group moved to England during January and February 1944 and joined the Ninth Air Force. At RAF Aldermaston and later RAF Andover, it exchanged the P-47 training role for operations with Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft. After several months of preparation, it entered combat in May 1944. Its missions included attacks on German radar sites and flak towers, bomber escort, and strikes against bridges and railway facilities in France. The group supported the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 by covering Allied forces crossing the Channel. It then flew armed reconnaissance over the Cotentin Peninsula. On 24 July it moved to Cardonville, France, supporting the Allied breakout and subsequent advance. Its aircraft attacked German gun positions, troop concentrations, supply depots, and armored vehicles during the Battle of Saint-Lô and the fighting that culminated in the Falaise Pocket. It moved to La Vieille Airfield on 15 August and subsequently operated from Lonrai, Roye-Amy, and Florennes as the front moved eastward. In September 1944, the group supplied aircraft and pilots for missions supporting Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. It later aided the First Army during the Battle of Aachen, attacking pillboxes and troops before shifting attention to railroads, bridges, viaducts, and tunnels. On 2 December, in the Hürtgen Forest sector, it conducted a difficult attack against a defended position at Bergstein. The use of napalm under adverse weather and heavy ground fire led to recognition with a Distinguished Unit Citation. The group operated from Belgium during the winter campaign and flew armed reconnaissance throughout the Battle of the Bulge. Targets included storage facilities, highways, railway lines, vehicles, and other logistical assets. It moved to Zwartberg on 27 January 1945 and began converting to North American P-51 Mustang fighters in February. In preparation for the Allied crossing of the Rhine, the group attacked bridges and docks around Wesel. On 24 March it patrolled the area while Allied paratroopers landed on the eastern bank. During April it supported the 2nd Armored Division in the Ruhr Valley. The group reached Gütersloh on 20 April, and its final mission was a fighter sweep over Dessau and Wittenberg on 4 May 1945. Following the German surrender, the unit relocated to Sandhofen on 27 June and then to Fritzlar from 6 August until September. It returned to the United States through Camp Myles Standish during September to November and was inactivated there on 7 November 1945. In the postwar reorganization of the force, it was allotted to the Colorado Air National Guard and redesignated the 140th Fighter Group on 24 May 1946.
- 1946
Postwar redesignation
[1]The unit was allotted to the Colorado Air National Guard and redesignated the 140th Fighter Group on 24 May.
- 1945
Conversion to P-51 Mustangs
[1]The group began converting from P-38 Lightning aircraft to North American P-51 Mustang fighters in February.
- 1945
Final combat mission
[1]Its last mission was a fighter sweep over Dessau and Wittenberg on 4 May, shortly before the end of the European war.
- 1945
Inactivation
[1]After returning to the United States, the group was inactivated at Camp Myles Standish on 7 November.
- 1944
Deployment to England
[1]The group moved to England, joined the Ninth Air Force, and transitioned to Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft before entering combat.
- 1944
Normandy operations
[1]It covered the Allied Channel crossing on D-Day and supported the Normandy campaign through armed reconnaissance and attacks on tactical targets.
- 1944
Distinguished Unit Citation action
[1]The group attacked a defended position at Bergstein on 2 December during operations in the Hürtgen Forest area and received a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1943
Constitution and activation
[1]The 370th Fighter Group was constituted on 25 May and activated on 1 July at the beginning of its U.S.-based training period.
Products and positioning
A tactical fighter and ground-support unit of the United States Army Air Forces, focused on air support, armed reconnaissance, bomber escort, interdiction, and battlefield attack during the European campaign of World War II.
Training aircraft
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The group used Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters during its initial training in the United States. The aircraft prepared personnel for fighter, escort, and ground-attack operations before the group deployed overseas.
Combat aircraft · 1944
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
The P-38 Lightning became the group’s principal combat aircraft during its early operations in the European theater. The group used it for armed reconnaissance, bomber escort, dive-bombing, and attacks on tactical and transport targets from the Normandy campaign through the winter of 1944–1945.
Combat aircraft · 1945
North American P-51 Mustang
Beginning in February 1945, the group converted to the P-51 Mustang. It used the aircraft during the final phase of the European war, including operations connected with the Rhine crossing and attacks supporting the advance into the Ruhr Valley.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Rhine crossing and Ruhr operations
Germany
The group attacked bridges and docks near Wesel, patrolled during the airborne crossing of the Rhine, and supported the 2nd Armored Division in the Ruhr Valley.
Outcome. The unit completed its final combat sweep in early May 1945.
- 1944Normandy campaign
France · English Channel
The group covered the Allied Channel crossing on D-Day, conducted reconnaissance over the Cotentin Peninsula, and attacked German positions, supplies, vehicles, and transport infrastructure during the Allied advance from Normandy.
Outcome. The unit continued eastward with the advancing Allied armies and contributed tactical air support during the breakout from Normandy.
- 1944Operation Market Garden
Netherlands
The group sent aircraft and pilots to England to provide air cover for the Allied airborne assault in the Netherlands.
Outcome. The group subsequently returned to tactical support operations on the continental front.
- 1944Battle of the Bulge
Belgium · Germany
The group flew armed reconnaissance and attacked German logistical and transport targets during the German winter offensive.
Outcome. Operations continued into January 1945 as Allied forces regained the initiative.
Brand decisions
1945
Conversion from P-38 Lightning to P-51 MustangGeneration changeBackground
The group entered the final phase of the European war as Allied air operations evolved and the front moved into Germany.
Action taken
Beginning in February, it converted its aircraft fleet from Lockheed P-38 Lightnings to North American P-51 Mustangs.
Aftermath
The P-51-equipped group supported operations around the Rhine and Ruhr until the end of its combat service.
1944
Transition from training to European combat operationsStrategyBackground
After deployment to England, the group prepared for the Allied invasion of Western Europe and the subsequent ground advance.
Action taken
It adopted missions including bomber escort, armed reconnaissance, dive-bombing, and close tactical support.
Aftermath
The group operated across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany in support of Allied land forces.
Sources2 sources
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