318th Fighter Group - USAAF ciel de gloire - histoire des as de l\'aviation de 1914 à nos jours



 


 

 

318th
FIGHTER GROUP


(Version provisoire - en construction)
142 victoires

 

 

19 Fighter Squadron
(70 vict)

Nom Grade Unité Date Ennemi Avion d'arme TOP Nbr Vict
ANDERSON RICHARD H 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 5
BARRETT HOWARD H 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
COX LEON A 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 3
CUNEO WILLIAM J 2nd Lt 19FTR 08-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
DANYLO MICHAEL 2nd Lt 19FTR 01-02-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
DONOHUE JOHN R 2nd Lt 19FTR 02-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
DUNN JOHN F 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
GIBSON JESSE F 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
GRAY EDWARD E 1st Lt 19FTR 06-07-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
JACKSON CHARLES W 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
JACOBSON ROY A 1st Lt 19FTR 11-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
JACOBSON ROY A Captain 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
JACOBSON ROY A Captain 19FTR 06-06-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
JACOBSON ROY A Captain 19FTR 06-09-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
KENNEDY DONALD E 2nd Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 3
KENNEDY DONALD E 2nd Lt 19FTR 06-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
LAROCHELLE PHILLIP 2nd Lt 19FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
LEFFORGE LEE G Captain 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
LOFLIN WILLIAM A 1st Lt 19FTR 11-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
LOFLIN WILLIAM A Captain 19FTR 06-10-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
LUSTIC STANLEY J 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 3
LUSTIC STANLEY J 1st Lt 19FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
LUSTIC STANLEY J 2nd Lt 19FTR 11-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
MARCINKO CHARLES S 1st Lt 19FTR 06-07-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
MATHIS WILLIAM H 1st Lt 19FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 3
MATHIS WILLIAM H 1st Lt 19FTR 06-22-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
MORRIS ROBERT A 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
RUFF BOONE N 1st Lt 19FTR 11-22-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
RUFF BOONE N Captain 19FTR 06-07-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
SITTON KENNETH S 1st Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
SLEPECKY MICHAEL JR Captain 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
SLEPECKY MICHAEL JR Captain 19FTR 06-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
SPAULDING JAMES E 2nd Lt 19FTR 06-07-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
STAMPE HENRY M 1st Lt 19FTR 12-19-1944 - - Central Pacific 0.5
STAMPE HENRY M 1st Lt 19FTR 02-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
STAMPE HENRY M 1st Lt 19FTR 06-07-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
TENNANT CHARLES W Captain 19FTR 10-21-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
TENNANT CHARLES W Captain 19FTR 12-19-1944 - - Central Pacific 0.5
TENNANT CHARLES W Major 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
TENNANT CHARLES W Major 19FTR 06-22-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
THURSTON ROBERT J 2nd Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
TRUMBOUR GEORGE W 2nd Lt 19FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
VOGT JOHN E Captain 19FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 5
WEIR JAMES G 2nd Lt 19FTR 06-06-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
WILLIAMS DE JACK Major 19FTR 11-22-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
WILLIAMS DE JACK Major 19FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
WISCHER VERNON A 2nd Lt 19FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
WISCHER VERNON A 2nd Lt 19FTR 06-10-1945 - - Central Pacific 1

 

73 Fighter Squadron
(18.99 vict)

Nom Grade Unité Date Ennemi Avion d'arme TOP Nbr Vict
ANDERSON GLENN L 2nd Lt 73FTR 11-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 0.33
BENNETT HORACE D 2nd Lt 73FTR 01-05-1945 - - Central Pacific 0.5
CAMPBELL JAMES E 2nd Lt 73FTR 06-03-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
HARBOUR EARL H 1st Lt 73FTR 04-30-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
HEAGNEY GERALD J 2nd Lt 73FTR 01-05-1945 - - Central Pacific 0.5
HUSSEY JOHN J JR Major 73FTR 11-22-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
HUSSEY JOHN J JR Major 73FTR 06-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
JOHNSON FREDERICK S 2nd Lt 73FTR 08-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
KANE DONALD C 1st Lt 73FTR 11-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 0.33
MARTIN THOMAS R JR 2nd Lt 73FTR 06-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
MCCAUL OWEN R 1st Lt 73FTR 11-24-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
MCCOWN WILMER M Captain 73FTR 01-15-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
MILLER ROBERT B 2nd Lt 73FTR 11-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 0.33
MILLET LLOYD R 1st Lt 73FTR 06-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
PACK KARL A 2nd Lt 73FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
REDFIELD ROBERT W 1st Lt 73FTR 08-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
RESER ROBERT H 2nd Lt 73FTR 12-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
SHEPARD ROBERT L 1st Lt 73FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
SPENCER WILLIAM B 1st Lt 73FTR 05-24-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
SPIVEY J T 1st Lt 73FTR 06-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
YAEGER HENRY J 1st Lt 73FTR 05-25-1945 - - Central Pacific 1

 

333 Fighter Squadron
(46 vict)

Nom Grade Unité Date Ennemi Avion d'arme TOP Nbr Vict
BALKUM EVERETT L 1st Lt 333FTR 02-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
BENNETT OTIS W 1st Lt 333FTR 06-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
BERRY CARLTON O 1st Lt 333FTR 05-26-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
BRUNNER JOHN D K 1st Lt 333FTR 06-10-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
CURREY DOUGLAS V Captain 333FTR 08-14-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
DEYONKER JAMES A 1st Lt 333FTR 11-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
DOOLING JOHN A 1st Lt 333FTR 05-26-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
DUERSCHMIDT WAYNE A 1st Lt 333FTR 02-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
DUERSCHMIDT WAYNE A 1st Lt 333FTR 06-06-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
DUPUY MARSDEN J 1st Lt 333FTR 01-14-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
FANCHER WILLIAM D 1st Lt 333FTR 11-27-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
FREEDMAN EDWARD M 1st Lt 333FTR 08-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
HUSSEY JOHN J JR Major 333FTR 07-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
JAMES HARRY W F/O 333FTR 02-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
KEETON KENNETH M 1st Lt 333FTR 06-10-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
OSNER JOSEPH G 2nd Lt 333FTR 06-06-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
OTTENSTEIN JOHN J Captain 333FTR 01-14-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
OWEN DANIEL C 2nd Lt 333FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
PARK WINSTON H Captain 333FTR 11-22-1944 - - Central Pacific 1
PECKHAM WALTER L 2nd Lt 333FTR 06-07-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
RIVAS DAYTON F JR 1st Lt 333FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
RIVAS DAYTON F JR 2nd Lt 333FTR 01-04-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
SADLER ROBERT R 1st Lt 333FTR 06-03-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
STEPHENSON FRED J JR Captain 333FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
STONE ROBERT J 2nd Lt 333FTR 05-31-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
STONE ROBERT J 2nd Lt 333FTR 06-06-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
STONE ROBERT J 2nd Lt 333FTR 06-10-1945 - - Central Pacific 5
VAUGHAN HARRY B 1st Lt 333FTR 06-06-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
VAUGHAN HARRY B 1st Lt 333FTR 06-08-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
WENZEL ALBERT B 2nd Lt 333FTR 06-10-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
WILLIAMS DURWOOD B 1st Lt 333FTR 06-07-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
WILLIAMS DURWOOD B 1st Lt 333FTR 06-10-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
WOLFE JUDGE E Captain 333FTR 02-11-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
WOLFE JUDGE E Captain 333FTR 05-28-1945 - - Central Pacific 1
WOLFE JUDGE E Captain 333FTR 06-06-1945 - - Central Pacific 2
WOLFE JUDGE E Captain 333FTR 06-10-1945 - - Central Pacific 4

 

Veterans of the War with Japan, the 318th Fighter Group was in the 7th Fighter Command, known as the Pineapple Air Force. The 7th Fighter Command was the first American Fighters to engage the enemy and the last to engage the enemy during WW 11. The 7th Fighter Command was composed, during the attack on Pearl Harbor, of the 15th Fighter Group and the 18th Fighter Group. The 19th, 44th, 72nd, and 73rd Fighter Squadrons that later served in the 318th were in those two groups. During the attack on Oahu, described by Franklin D. Roosevelt as "The day of infamy," many of the flyable P40s and P36s that were assigned to the defense of the Hawaiian Islands were easy targets, lined up along the runways of the Army Air Corps fields, and were destroyed on the ground. Several P40 pilots were killed as they entered the cockpit, as they taxied or were in the process of taking off. A very few got air home and although greatly outnumbered they bravely fought the attacking force.

The 318th was activated in October 1942 when the 72nd and 44th Fighter Squadrons were transferred from the 15th and 18th Groups. The 73rd and 333rd Fighter Squadrons were transferred in November 1942 and January 1943. In March of 1943 the 44th was transferred out of the group and was replaced by the 19th Fighter Squadron. The group was equipped with P4OKs, P4ONs, and A24s, but in June of 1943 the P39Qs began to arrive at Bellows Field and the 72nd Fighter Squadron traded their P40s for the Flying Cannon, the Bell Airacobra.. In December 1943 the 72nd Fighter Squadron in their P39s were catapulted from the deck of the jeep aircraft carrier Nassau and landed at Makin atoll on the little island of Butaritari. At the completion of the Gilberts/Marshalls Campaign the 72nd F. S. was transferred to the newly activated 21st Fighter Group to prepare for the job of escorting the B29s over Japan.

During 1944 the 318th was equipped with P38s and during the Marianas campaign, working closely with Marine ground forces, pioneered close infantry support and employed the first use of napalm. On Saipan they 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 in WW 11 . The squadrons of the 318th Fighter Group were attacked by Japanese ground forces in June 1944 on Aslito Airfield, Saipan, sustaining modest casualties. However, in the Seventh's heaviest losses since December 7, 1941, the 21st Fighter Group was besieged in their tent camp on Iwo Jima before dawn on March 26, 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.

Army fighter planes flew off of aircraft carriers no less than seven times in the Pacific. P36s to Hawaii in February 1941, the 73rd F.S. to Midway in P40s in June 1942, the 45th F. S. to Canton and 72nd F. S. to Makin in P39s in December 1943, the 19th, 73rd and 333rd F.S. to Saipan in P47s in June 1944. The Makin and Saipan operations were catapult shots.

Most notably, the Seventh's airmen pioneered Very Long Range fighter operations across the Pacific with missions of historic length and duration: Kauai to Midway, Midway to Kaneohe and Makin to Jaluit and Maloelap. By late 1944 Lockheed P38s of the 318th were routinely flying missions to Truk and Iwo Jima from Saipan - 1,500 mile 8 hour trips. And by 1945, with new aircraft, 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 mile escorts and sweeps from Iwo Jima to Honshu in the P51 Mustang. In May 1945 the 318th Group advanced to le Shima where they reached out to Japanese targets in Kyushu and China. On August 13, 1945 the 318th flew from le Shirna to Tokyo - 1680 statute miles, 8 1/2 hours of non-stop flight.

When at last the war ended on August 14, 1945, airmen from Iwo Jima and le Shima were in the sky over Japan. Several members of the old Pineapple Air Force who had witnessed the December 7, 1941 attack, were still on duty in the Pacific - the first and the last.

 

Air Forced Assigned To :

7th AF (Oct '42)

Stations Flown From :

Saipan (June '44 - April '45)
Ie Shima (April '45 - end WWII)

Campaigns Flown in :

Air Offensive, Japan
Eastern Madates
Western Pacific
Ryukyus
China Offensive

Awards Won :

none

Commanding Officers of the 318th FG

Col. LORRY N. TINDAL - 20 Oct. 1942 to 2 March 1943
Lt. Col. CHARLES B. STEWART - 3 March 1943 to 20 Aug. 1943
Col. LEWIS IA. SANDERS - 21 Aug. 1943 to 30 July 1945
Lt. Col. HARRY E. McAFEE - 31 July 1945 to

Total Aircraft Claims in Air :

Destroyed 142

Probable 6

Damaged 16

Aces were :

(scores in the group only- some scored victories while flying in other groups or squadrons)

HQ : Ø
19th FS
73rd FS : Ø
333rd FS :
S.J. Lustic (6)
J.E. Wolfe (9)
R.H. Anderson (5)
R.J. Stone (7)
W.H. Mathis (5)
J.E. Vogt (5)

 



Source :

STARS & BARS - Frank Olynyk - Grub Street Editions
http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/index.asp
http://www.web-birds.com/