Constituted as 373d Fighter Group on May 1943. Activated on 15 Aug
1943. Trained for combat with P-47's. Moved to England, Mar-Apr 1944.
Assigned to Ninth AF. Flew first combat mission, a fighter sweep over
Normandy, on 8 May 1944, and then took part in preinvasion activities by
escorting B-26's to attack airdromes, bridges, and railroads in France.
Patrolled the air over the beachhead when the Allies launched the Normandy
invasion on 6 Jun 1944, and hit troops, tanks, roads, fuel depots, and
other targets in the assault area until the end of the month. Moved to the
Continent in Jul 1944; struck railroads, hangars, boxcars, warehouses, and
other objectives to prevent enemy reinforcements from reaching the front
at St Lo, where the Allies broke through on 25 Jul 1944. Bombed such
targets as troops, gun emplacements, and armored vehicles to aid ground
troops in the Falaise-Argentan area in Aug 1944. During the Battle of the
Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, concentrated on the destruction of bridges,
marshalling yards, and highways. Flew armed reconnaissance missions to
support ground operations in the Rhine Valley in Mar 1945, hitting
airfields, motor transports, and other objectives. Received a DUC for a
mission, 20 Mar 1945, that greatly facilitated the crossing of the Rhine
by Allied ground forces: without losing any planes, the group repeatedly
dived through barrages of antiaircraft fire to bomb vital airfields east
of the river; also attacked rail lines and highways leading to the Rhine,
hitting rolling stock, motor transports, and other objectives. Continued
tactical air operations until 4 May 1945. Returned to the US, Jul-Aug
1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.
Redesignated 146th Fighter Group. Allotted to ANG (Calif) on 24 May
1946. Extended federal recognition on 14 Sep 1946. Redesignated 146th
Composite Group in Nov 1950, and 146th Fighter Group in Feb 1951. Ordered
into active service on 1 Apr 1951 and assigned to Strategic Air Command.
Redesignated 146th Fighter-Bomber Group in Jun 1951. Assigned to Tactical
Air Command in Nov 1951. Trained with F-51's. Relieved from active duty on
1 Jan 1953 and returned, without personnel and equipment, to ANG
(Calif).
Squadrons. 178th: 1951-1953. 186th: 1951-1953. 190th: 1951-1953. 410th:
1943-1945. 411th: 1943-1945. 412th: 1943-1945.
Stations. Westover Field, Mass, 15 Aug 1943; Norfolk, Va, 23 Oct 1943;
Richmond AAB, Va, 15 Feb-15 Mar 1944; Woodchurch, England, 4 Apr-4 Jul
1944; Tour-en-Bassin, France, 19 Jul 1944; St-James, France, 19 Aug 1944;
Reims, France, 19 Sep 1944; Le Culot, Belgium, 22 Oct 1944; Venlo,
Holland, 11 Mar 1945; Lippstadt, Germany, 20 Apr 1945; Illesheim, Germany,
20 May-Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 4 Aug 1945; Seymour Johnson Field,
NC, 20 Aug 1945; Mitchel Field, NY, 28 Sep-7 Nov 1945. Lockheed Air
Terminal, Calif, 1 Apr 1951; Moody AFB, Ga, 10 May 1951; George AFB,
Calif, 25 Oct 1951-1 Jan 1953.
Commanders. Maj Ansel J Wheeler, 23 Aug 1943; Col William H Schwartz
Jr, 25 Aug 1943; Col James C McGehee, 17 Nov 1944; Lt Col James F
McCarthy, May 1945-unkn. Lt Col Jack D Blanchard, 1 Apr 1951; Col Cecil
EWest, Jun 1951; Col Earl H Dunham, 22 Jun 1951; Lt Col Jack D Blanahard,
7 Jan 1952; Col Amos F Riha, 4 Apr 1952; Col Paul P Douglas, 27 Oct 1952-1
Jan 1953.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;
Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Rhine River, 20 Mar 1945.
French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Aug 1944. Cited in the Order of the Day,
Belgian Army: 1 Oct 1944-; 18 Dec 1944-15 Jan 1945. Belgian
Fourragere.
Insigne. Shield: Azure (light blue), on a pale or, a futuristic
interceptor aircraft sable, highlighted white, overall in saltire a sword
piercing a vultures wing both argent, detailed and outlined of the third.
(Approved 21 Jun 1957.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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