58th Fighter Group

Constituted as 58th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 58th Fighter Group in May 1942. Used P-35, P-36, P-39, and P-40 aircraft while serving as a replacement training unit for pilots until 1943. Prepared for combat with P-47's. Moved to New Guinea, via Australia, Oct-Dec 1943. Assigned to Fifth AF. Began operations in Feb 1944, flying protective patrols over US bases and escorting transports. After that, covered bombers on raids over New Guinea, attacked Japanese airfields and installations, and escorted convoys to the Admiralty Islands. Moved to Noemfoor in Aug 1944, and until Nov bombed and strafed enemy airfields and installations on Ceram, Halmahera, and the Kai Islands. After moving to the Philippines in Nov 1944, conducted fighter sweeps against enemy airfields, supported ground forces, and flew patrols over convoy and transport routes. Received a DUC for strafing a Japanese naval force off Mindoro on 26 Dec 1944 to prevent destruction of the American base on that island. Moved to Okinawa in Jul 1945 and attacked railways, airfields, and installations in Korea and Kyushu before V-J Day. Remained in the theater after the war as part of Far East Air Forces. Flew some reconnaissance and surveillance missions over Japan. Moved to Japan in Oct and returned to the Philippines in Dec 1945. Inactivated on 27 Jan 1946.

Redesignated 58th Fighter-Bomber Group. Activated in Korea on 10 Jul 1952. Assigned to Tactical Air Command but attached to Far East Air Forces for operations in the Korean War. Using F-84's, bombed and strafed enemy airfields and installations and supported UN ground forces. Remained in Korea after the armistice. Equipped with F-86's in 1954.

Squadrons. 67th: 1941-1942. 68th: 1941-1942. 69th: 1941-1946; 1952-. 310th: 1942-1946; 1952-. 311th: 1942-1946; 1952-.

Stations. Selfridge Field, Mich, 15 Jan 1941; Baton Rouge, La, 5 Oct 1941; Dale Mabry Field, Fla, 4 Mar 1942; Richmond AAB, Va, 16 Oct 1942; Philadelphia Mun Aprt, Pa, 24 Oct 1942; Bradley Field, Conn, c. 3 Mar 1943; Green Field, RI, 28 Apr 1943; Grenier Field, NH, 16 Sep-22 Oct 1943; Sydney, Australia, 19 Nov 1943; Brisbane, Australia, 21 Nov 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, 28 Dec 1943; Saidor, New Guinea, c. 3 Apr 1944; Noemfoor, 30 Aug 1944; San Roque, Leyte, 18 Nov 1944; San Jose, Mindoro, c. 30 Dec 1944; Mangaldan, Luzon, 5 Apr 1945; Porac, Luzon, 18 Apr 1945; Okinawa, 10 Jul 1945; Japan, 26 Oct 1945; Ft William McKinley, Luzon, 28 Dec 1945-27 Jan 1946. Taegu, Korea, 10 Jul 1952; Osan-Ni, Korea, 15 Mar 1955-.

Commanders. Capt John M Sterling, 15 Jan 1941-unkn; Maj Louis W Chick, Jr, unkn; Col Gwen G Atkinson, 8 Dec 1942; Lt Col Edward F Roddy, 12 Mar 1945-unkn. Col Charles E Jordan, 1952; Col Frederick Nelander, 1953; Col George V Williams, 1954; Col William R Brown, 1954; Col Clifford D Nash, 1 Nov 1955-.

Campaigns. World War II: American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; China Offensive. Korean War: Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippines, 26 Dec 1944; Korea, 1 May-27 Jul 1953. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 10 Jul 1952-31 Mar 1953.

Insigne. Shield: Azure, on clouds in base a representation of the Greek mythological goddess Artemis with quiver and bow, in her chariot drawn by the two deer, all or. Motto: Non Revertar Inultus - I Will Not Return Unavenged. (Approved 10 Aug 1942.)

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986