Constituted as 311th Bombardment Group (Light) on 28 Jan 1942.
Activated on 2 Mar 1942. Redesignated 311th Bombardment Group (Dive) in
Jul 1942, 311th Fighter-Bomber Group in Sep 1943, and 311th Fighter Group
in May 1944. Trained with V-72 aircraft. Moved to India, via Australia,
Jul-Sep 1943. Assigned to Tenth AF. Operating from India and using A-36's
and P-51's, the group supported Allied ground forces in northern Burma;
covered bombers that attacked Rangoon, Insein, and other targets; bombed
enemy airfields at Myitkyina and Bhamo; and conducted patrol and
reconnaissance missions to help protect transport planes that flew the
Hump route between India and China. Moved to Burma in Jul 1944 and
continued to support ground forces, including Merrill's Marauders; also
flew numerous sweeps over enemy airfields in central and southern Burma.
Moved to China in Aug 1944 and assigned to Fourteenth AF. Escorted
bombers, flew interception missions, struck the enemy's communications,
and supported ground operations, serving in combat until the end of the
war. Ferried P-51's from India for Chinese Air Force in Nov 1945. Returned
to the US in Dec 1945. Inactivated on 6 Jan 1946.
Redesignated 101st Fighter Group. Allotted to ANG (Maine) on 24 May
1946. Extended federal recognition on 4 Apr 1947. Ordered to active
service on 1 Feb 1951. Assigned to Air Defense Command. Redesignated 101st
Fighter-Interceptor Group in Feb 1951. Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952. Relieved
from active service, returned to ANG (Maine), and activated, on 1 Nov
1952. ANG allotment changed in 1954 (withdrawn from Maine on 30 Apr and
allotted to Vt on 1 Jun). Extended federal recognition on 1 Jun 1954.
Squadrons. 136th: 1951-1952. 385th: 1942-1943. 528th (formerly 382nd,
later 132nd): 1942-1946; 1951-1952. 529th (formerly 383rd, later 133rd):
1942-1946; 1951-1952. 530th (formerly 384th, later 134th): 1942-1946;
1951-1952.
Stations. Will Rogers Field, Okla, 2 Mar 1942; Hunter Field, Ga, 4 Jul
1942; Waycross, Ga, 22 Oct 1942-18 Jul 1943; Nawadih, India, 14 Sep 1943;
Dinjan, India, 11 Oct 1943; Tingkawk Sakan, Burma, 6 Jul 1944;
Pungchacheng, China, 28 Aug 1944-14 Dec 1945; Ft Lawton, Wash, 5-6 Jan
1946. Dow AFB, Maine, 1 Feb 1951; Grenier AFB, NH, 23 Apr 1951; Larson
AFB, Wash, 2 Aug 1951-6 Feb 1952.
Commanders. Lt Col Clinton U True, 1942; Lt Col John R Kelly, 10 Aug
1942; Col Harry R Melton Jr, 26 Nov 1942; Col Charles G Chandler Jr, 25
Nov 1943; Col John S Chennault, 12 Feb 1945; Col Gabriel P Disosway, 24
May 1945; Col Allen R Springer, 5 Aug 1945-unkn. Col George Labreche,
1951-1952.
Campaigns. American Theater; India-Burma; China Defensive; China
Offensive.
Decorations. None.
Insigne. Shield: Or a tornado issuant from base throughout azure, a
demi-Indian issuant from chief proper, with war bonnet of the like and
shooting from a bow sable a drop bomb gules. Motto: Fulminat - It (He)
Strikes as Lightning. (Approved 13 Nov 1942.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
|
