Constituted as 57th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940.
Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Trained with P-40's. Served as part of the
defense force on the east coast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Redesignated 57th Fighter Group in May 1942. Moved to the Middle East,
Jul-Aug 1942. Trained with RAF. Began operations in Oct 1942. Took part in
the Battle of El Alamein and, as part of Ninth AF, supported British
Eighth Army's drive across Egypt and Libya, escorting bombers and flying
strafing and dive-bombing missions against airfields, communications, and
troop concentrations until the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia in May
1943. Received a DUC for performance on 18 Apr 1943 when the group
destroyed more than 70 of the enemy's transport and fighter planes in an
aerial battle over the Gulf of Tunis. Participated in the reduction of
Pantelleria (May-Jun 1943) and the conquest of Sicily (Jul-Aug 1943).
Received another DUC for front-line operations in direct support of
British Eighth Army from the Battle of El Alamein to the capitulation of
enemy forces in Sicily. Assigned to Twelfth AF in Aug 1943 and continued
operations in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war.
Supported British Eighth Army's landing at Termoli and subsequent
operations in Italy (Oct 1943-Feb 1944) by flying dive-bombing, strafing,
patrol, and escort missions. Converted to P-47's early in 1944 and used
the new aircraft for interdictory operations in Italy, receiving a DUC for
a series of devastating attacks on rail lines, trains, motor vehicles,
bridges, and other targets in the Florence-Arezzo area on 14 Apr 1944.
Participated in the French campaign against Elba in Jun 1944 and in the
invasion of Southern France in Aug. Engaged in interdictory and support
operations in northern Italy from Sep 1944 to May 1945. Returned to the US
in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.
Activated in Alaska on 15 Aug 1946. Assigned to Alaskan Air Command.
Redesignated 57th Fighter-Interceptor Group in Jan 1950. Equipped
successively with P-38, P-51, F-80, and F-94 aircraft. Inactivated in
Alaska on 13 Apr 1953.
Squadrons. 64th: 1941-1945; 1946-1953. 65th: 1941-1945; 1946-1953.
66th: 1941-1945; 1946-1953.
Stations. Mitchel Field, NY, 15 Jan 1941; Windsor Locks, Conn, 19 Aug
1941; Boston, Mass, 8 Dec 1941-. 1 Jul 1942; Muqeibile, Palestine, c. 20
Jul 1942; Egypt, 16 Sep 1942; Libya, 12 Nov 1942; Tunisia, Mar 1943;
Malta, Jun 1943; Sicily, Jul 1943; Southern Italy, Sep 1943; Gioia
Airfield, Italy, c. 25 Sep 1943; Foggia, Italy, Oct 1943; Amendola, Italy,
c. 27 Oct 1943; Cercola, Italy, Mar 1944; Corsica, Mar 1944; Ombrone
Airfield, Italy, Sep 1944; Grosseto, Italy, Sep 1944; Villafranca di
Verona, Italy, 29 Apr 1945; Grosseto, Italy, 7 May 1945; Bagnoli, Italy,
Jul-5 Aug 1945; Drew Field, Fla, 21 Aug-7 Nov 1945. Shemya, Alaska, 15 Aug
1946; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Mar 1947-13 Apr 1953.
Commanders. Maj Reuben C Moffat, c. 15 Jan 1941; Maj Clayton B Hughes,
unkn; Maj Minthorne W Reed, 12 Dec 1941; Lt Col Frank H Mears, 1942; Col
Arthur G Salisbury, 20 Dec 1942; Col Archibald J Knight, 23 Apr 1944; Lt
Col William J Yates, 23 May 1945-unkn. Maj Benjamin H King, 15 Aug 1946;
Lt Col Gilmore V Norris, 26 Dec 1946; Lt Col Harry L Downing Jr, 10 Jan
1947; Col Morton D Magoffin, 14 Nov 1947; Col Bingham T Kleine, 22 Jan
1949; Col John W Mitchell, c. Nov 1950; Lt Col Ollie O Simpson, 19 Nov
1951; Col Thomas H Beeson, 21 Nov 1951; unkn, 1 Jul 1952-13 Apr 1953.
Campaigns. Air Combat, EAME Theater; Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily;
Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa and Sicily, 24
Oct 1942-17 Aug 1943; Tunis and Cape Bon Area, 18 Apr 1943; Italy, 14 Apr
1944.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, on a chevron embattled or, between three
pyramids of the last, as many mullets gules. Motto: First In The Blue.
(Approved 2 Feb 1950.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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