318th Fighter Group
Encyclopedia
The 318th Fighter Group was a World War II
United States Army Air Forces
combat organization. It served primarily in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
.
In March 1943 the 44th was transferred out of the group and was replaced by the 19th Fighter Squadron. The group was equipped with P-4OKs, P-4ONs, and Douglas A-24s
, but in June 1943 the Bell P-39Q Airacobras began to arrive at Bellows Field and the 72nd Fighter Squadron traded their P-40s for the Flying Cannon, the Bell Airacobra.
In December 1943 the 72nd Fighter Squadron in their P-39s were catapulted from the deck of the Escort aircraft carrier
USS Nassau (CVE-16)
and landed at Makin atoll on the island of Butaritari
. At the completion of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign
the 72nd FS was transferred to the newly activated 21st Fighter Group to prepare for the job of escorting the Boeing B-29 Superfortresses over Japan.
During 1944 the 318th was equipped with Republic P-47D Thunderbolts and during the Marianas campaign, working closely with Marine ground forces
, pioneered close infantry support and employed the first use of napalm
. On Saipan
the 318th had the dubious distinction along with the 21st Fighter Group on Iwo Jima
of being the only Army Air Force units to engage in ground combat. The squadrons of the 318th Fighter Group were attacked by Japanese ground forces in June 1944 on Aslito Airfield soon renamed Isley Field, Saipan, sustaining modest casualties. The 6th Night Fighter Squadron was attached to the 318th on Siapan, and scored several night time victories flying P-61s.Eventually, as they outranged most of their targets, they acquired some P-38 lightnings and flew them as well. However, in the 7th Air Force's heaviest losses since 7 December 1941, the 21st Fighter Group was besieged in their tent camp on Iwo Jima before dawn on 26 March 1945. Pilots and ground personnel took a crash course in infantry tactics and finally destroyed the superior enemy force but suffered 15 dead and 50 wounded.
The 318th was the first unit to receive the new long range P-47Ns in early 1945, before moving next door to Okinawa on Ie Shima.
Army fighter planes flew from aircraft carriers no less than seven times in the Pacific. P-36s to Hawaii in February 1941, the 73d FS to Midway in P-40s in June 1942, the 45th FS to Kanton Island
and 72nd FS to Makin
in P-39s in December 1943, the 19th, 73d and 333d F.S. to Saipan in P-47s in June 1944. The Makin and Saipan operations were catapult shots. From November 1944 to January 1945 the 318th Fighter Group helped counter the Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands
.
Most notably, the Seventh's airmen pioneered Very Long Range (VLR) fighter operations across the Pacific with missions of historic length and duration: Kauai
to Midway Atoll
, Midway to Kaneohe and Makin to Jaluit and Maloelap. By late 1944 Lockheed P-38s of the 318th were routinely flying missions to Truk and Iwo Jima
from Saipan—1500 miles (2,414 km), 8-hour trips. And by 1945, with new long range P-47Ns, VLR sorties were the rule rather than the exception for the Seventh's fighters.
In April 1945 the 15th and 21st Fighter Groups began flying 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) escorts and sweeps from Iwo Jima to Honshu- in the North American P-51 Mustang
(the 318th Group never flew P-51s) . In May 1945 the 318th Group advanced to le Shima where they reached out to Japanese targets in Kyu-shu- and China.
During the summer of 1945, the 318th Fighter Group (along with the 15th
and 21st
from the VII Fighter Command) was reassigned to the Twentieth Air Force
and continued its fighter sweeps against Japanese airfields and other targets, in addition to flying long-range B-29 escort missions to Japanese cities, until the end of the war. On 13 August 1945 the 318th flew from le Shirna to Tokyo— 1680 smi, 8½ hours of non-stop flight.
The 318th Group was officially credited with 164 air combat victories by the 15 August cease fire, with less than 6 pilots shot down by enemy planes.
The 318th was assigned to Eighth Air Force
in August 1945, shortly after V-J Day. Moved to the US, December 1945 – January 1946. Inactivated on 12 January 1946.
After the war, it was redesignated the 102d Fighter Group in May, 1946.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
combat organization. It served primarily in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
.
History
The 318th Fighter Group was activated in October 1942 when the remainders of the 72d and 44th Fighter Squadrons were transferred from the 15th and 18th Groups after their former groups were deployed to the Central Pacific. They were part of the 7th Air Force until summer of 1945. The initial mission of the 318th was air protection of the Hawaiian Islands. The 73d and 333d Fighter Squadrons were transferred in November 1942 and January 1943.In March 1943 the 44th was transferred out of the group and was replaced by the 19th Fighter Squadron. The group was equipped with P-4OKs, P-4ONs, and Douglas A-24s
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval dive bomber made by Douglas during World War II. The SBD was the United States Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was largely replaced by the SB2C Helldiver...
, but in June 1943 the Bell P-39Q Airacobras began to arrive at Bellows Field and the 72nd Fighter Squadron traded their P-40s for the Flying Cannon, the Bell Airacobra.
In December 1943 the 72nd Fighter Squadron in their P-39s were catapulted from the deck of the Escort aircraft carrier
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...
USS Nassau (CVE-16)
USS Nassau (CVE-16)
The USS Nassau was laid down 27 November 1941 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation of Tacoma, Washington, as M.C. Hull No. 234; launched 4 April 1942; sponsored by Mrs. G. H...
and landed at Makin atoll on the island of Butaritari
Butaritari
Butaritari is an atoll located in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati.-Geography:...
. At the completion of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign
Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign
In the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, from November 1943 through February 1944, were key strategic operations of the United States Pacific Fleet and Marine Corps in the Central Pacific. The campaign was preceded by a raid on Makin Island by U.S...
the 72nd FS was transferred to the newly activated 21st Fighter Group to prepare for the job of escorting the Boeing B-29 Superfortresses over Japan.
During 1944 the 318th was equipped with Republic P-47D Thunderbolts and during the Marianas campaign, working closely with Marine ground forces
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, pioneered close infantry support and employed the first use of napalm
Napalm
Napalm is a thickening/gelling agent generally mixed with gasoline or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device, primarily as an anti-personnel weapon...
. On Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
the 318th had the dubious distinction along with the 21st Fighter Group on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
of being the only Army Air Force units to engage in ground combat. The squadrons of the 318th Fighter Group were attacked by Japanese ground forces in June 1944 on Aslito Airfield soon renamed Isley Field, Saipan, sustaining modest casualties. The 6th Night Fighter Squadron was attached to the 318th on Siapan, and scored several night time victories flying P-61s.Eventually, as they outranged most of their targets, they acquired some P-38 lightnings and flew them as well. However, in the 7th Air Force's heaviest losses since 7 December 1941, the 21st Fighter Group was besieged in their tent camp on Iwo Jima before dawn on 26 March 1945. Pilots and ground personnel took a crash course in infantry tactics and finally destroyed the superior enemy force but suffered 15 dead and 50 wounded.
The 318th was the first unit to receive the new long range P-47Ns in early 1945, before moving next door to Okinawa on Ie Shima.
Army fighter planes flew from aircraft carriers no less than seven times in the Pacific. P-36s to Hawaii in February 1941, the 73d FS to Midway in P-40s in June 1942, the 45th FS to Kanton Island
Kanton Island
Kanton Island , alternatively known as "Mary Island", "Mary Balcout's Island" or "Swallow Island", is the largest, northernmost, and as of 2007, the sole inhabited island of the Phoenix Islands, in the Republic of Kiribati. It is an atoll located in the South Pacific Ocean roughly halfway between...
and 72nd FS to Makin
Butaritari
Butaritari is an atoll located in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati.-Geography:...
in P-39s in December 1943, the 19th, 73d and 333d F.S. to Saipan in P-47s in June 1944. The Makin and Saipan operations were catapult shots. From November 1944 to January 1945 the 318th Fighter Group helped counter the Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands
Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands
During World War II, a series of Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands took place between November 1944 and January 1945. These raids targeted United States Army Air Forces bases and sought to disrupt the bombing of Japan by B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers operating from the islands...
.
Most notably, the Seventh's airmen pioneered Very Long Range (VLR) fighter operations across the Pacific with missions of historic length and duration: Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
to Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
, Midway to Kaneohe and Makin to Jaluit and Maloelap. By late 1944 Lockheed P-38s of the 318th were routinely flying missions to Truk and Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
from Saipan—1500 miles (2,414 km), 8-hour trips. And by 1945, with new long range P-47Ns, VLR sorties were the rule rather than the exception for the Seventh's fighters.
In April 1945 the 15th and 21st Fighter Groups began flying 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) escorts and sweeps from Iwo Jima to Honshu- in the North American P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(the 318th Group never flew P-51s) . In May 1945 the 318th Group advanced to le Shima where they reached out to Japanese targets in Kyu-shu- and China.
During the summer of 1945, the 318th Fighter Group (along with the 15th
15th Airlift Wing
The 15th Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. It is the airlift arm of Pacific Air Forces and United States Pacific Command and reports directly to the commander, Pacific Air Forces.-Mission:...
and 21st
21st Space Wing
The 21st Space Wing is a unit of the Air Force Space Command based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The unit is tasked with the operation of early missile warning and space object detection equipment around the world in support of NORAD and USSTRATCOM through a network of command and control...
from the VII Fighter Command) was reassigned to the Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
and continued its fighter sweeps against Japanese airfields and other targets, in addition to flying long-range B-29 escort missions to Japanese cities, until the end of the war. On 13 August 1945 the 318th flew from le Shirna to Tokyo— 1680 smi, 8½ hours of non-stop flight.
The 318th Group was officially credited with 164 air combat victories by the 15 August cease fire, with less than 6 pilots shot down by enemy planes.
The 318th was assigned to Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in August 1945, shortly after V-J Day. Moved to the US, December 1945 – January 1946. Inactivated on 12 January 1946.
After the war, it was redesignated the 102d Fighter Group in May, 1946.
Lineage
- Constituted as 318th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 2 February 1942
- Redesignated 318th Fighter Group in May 1942
- Activated in Hawaii on 15 October 1942
- Inactivated on 12 January 1946
- Redesignated as 102d Fighter Group. Allocated to Massachusetts ANG on 24 May 1946
Assignments
- VII Fighter Command, 15 October 1942
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 31 July 1945 - Army Service ForcesArmy Service ForcesThe Army Service Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces. They were created on February 28, 1942 by Executive Order Number 9082 "Reorganizing the Army and the War Department"...
, 29 November 1945 – 12 January 1946
Components
- 19th Fighter Squadron19th Fighter SquadronThe 19th Fighter Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.-Mission:The 19th FS operates the F-22 Raptor aircraft conducting strategic attack, interdiction, offensive counterair , suppression of enemy air defenses, as well as offensive and defensive counterair ...
, 16 March 1943 – 12 January 1946 - 44th Fighter Squadron44th Fighter SquadronThe 44th Fighter Squadron is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan.-Mission:The 44 FS operates operates the F-15 Eagle aircraft conducting air superiority missions.-History:...
, 20 October – 1 December 1942 - 72d Fighter Squadron, 15 October 1942 – 15 June 1944
- 73d Fighter Squadron73d Bombardment SquadronThe 73d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 4241st Strategic Wing, based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina...
, 15 October 1942 – 12 January 1946 - 333d Fighter Squadron131st Fighter SquadronThe 131st Fighter Squadron flies the F-15C Eagle. It is a unit of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 104th Fighter Wing.-History:Patrols over the Pacific, September 1942-July 1943. Replacement training, July 1943-June 1944...
, 11 January 1943 – 12 January 1946 - 318th fighter Group6th Night Fighter SquadronThe 6th Night Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Seventh Air Force, being inactivated at Wheeler Field, Hawaii on February 20, 1947....
August 1944– March? 1945
Aircraft flown
- P-36 HawkP-36 HawkThe Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
- Lockheed P-38 Lighting
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
- P-39 Airacobra
- Douglas A-24
- Republic P-47D and P-47N
- Northrop P-61 Black Widow
Stations
- Hickam Field, Hawaii (Territory), 15 October 1942
- Bellows Field, Hawaii (Territory), 9 February 1943
- East FieldEast Field (Saipan)East Field is a former World War II airfield on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.-History:Saipan had been occupied by the Japanese since World War I, and by mid-1944, the Americans had advanced inside the Japanese ring of defense in the Pacific Theater...
, SaipanSaipanSaipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Mariana IslandsMariana IslandsThe Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
, June 1944 - Ie Shima AirfieldIe Shima Airfieldis a gunnery and training facility, managed by the United States Marine Corps and a former World War II airfield complex on Ie Shima, an island located off the northwest coast of Okinawa Island in the East China Sea...
, Okinawa, c. 30 April 1945 - Okinawa, November–December 1945
See also
- 301st Fighter Wing301st Fighter WingThe 301st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve fighter wing, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth Carswell Field, Texas. It is equipped with the F-16C+ Fighting Falcon...