Constituted as 324th Fighter Group on 24 Jun 1942. Activated
on 6 Jul 1942. Moved to the Middle East,
Oct-Dec 1942, for operations
with Ninth AF. Trained
for several weeks with P-40 aircraft. While
headquarters remained in Egypt, squadrons of the group began
operating
with other organizations against the enemy inTunisia.
Reunited in Jun 1943, the 324th group
engaged primarily in escort and patrol missions between Tunisia and Sicily
until Jul 1943. Received a DUC for action against the enemy from Mar 1943
to the invasion of Sicily. Trained during Jul-Oct 1943 for operations with
Twelfth AF.
Resumed combat
on 30 Oct 1943 and directed most of its attacks against roads, bridges,
motor transports, supply areas, rolling stock, gun positions, troop
concentrations, and rail facilities in Italy until Aug 1944. Patrolled the
beach and protected convoys during the assault on Anzio in Jan 1944. Aided
the Allied offensive in Italy during May 1944, receiving another DUC for
action from 12 to 14 May when the group bombed an enemy position on
Monastery Hill (Cassino), attacked
troops massing on the hill for counterattack, and hit a nearby stronghold
to force the surrender of an enemy garrison.
Continued to give close support to
ground forces until the fall of Rome in Jun 1944. Converted to P-47's in
Jul and supported the assault on southern France in Aug by dive-bombing
gun position, bridges, and radar facilities, and by patrolling the combat
zone. Attacked such targets as motor transports, rolling stock, rail
lines, troops, bridges, gun emplacements, and supply depots after the
invasion, giving tactical support to Allied forces advancing through
France. Aided the reduction of the Colmar bridgehead Jan-Feb 1945, and
supported Seventh Army's drive through the Siegfried defenses in
Mar.
Received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for supporting
French forces during the campaigns for Italy and France, 1944-1945. Moved
to the US, Oct-Nov 1945. Inactivated on Nov 1945.
Redesignated 103d Fighter Group.
Allotted to ANG (Conn) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 7
Aug 1946. Ordered to active duty on 1 Mar 1951. Assigned to Air Defense
Command. Redesignated 103d Fighter-Interceptor Group in Mar 1951. Used
F-47 aircraft. Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952. Returned to the control of ANG
(Conn) on 1 Dec
1952.
Squadrons. 118th: 1951-1952.
314th: 1942-1945. 315th: 1942-1945. 316th: 1942-1945.
Stations. Mitchel Field, NY, 6
Jul 1942; Baltimore Mun Aprt, Md, 6 Jul-8 Oct 1942; El Amiriya, Egypt, Dec
1942; El Kabrit, Egypt, 2 Feb 1943; Kairouan, Tunisia, 2 Jun 1943; El
Haouaria, Tunisia, c. 18 Jun 1943; Menzel Heurr, Tunisia, 3 Oct 1943;
Cercola, Italy, 25 Oct 1943; Pignataro Maggiore, Italy, 6 May 1944; Le
Banca Airfield, Italy, 6 Jun 1944; Montalto Di Castro, Italy, 14 Jun 1944;
Corsica, 19 Jul 1944; Le Luc, France, 25 Aug 1944; Istres, France, 2 Sep
1944; Amberieu, France, 6 Sep 1944; Tavaux, France, 20 Sep 1944;
Luneville, France, 4 Jan 1945; Stuttgart, Germany, 8 May-20 Oct 1945; Camp
Shanks, NY, Nov 1945. Bradley Field, Conn, 1 Mar 1951; Suffolk County
Aprt, NY, 1 Jun 1951-6 Feb 1952 |
Campaigns.
Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Northern France;
Southern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.
Decorations.
Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa and Sicily, Mar-[Jul] 1943;
Cassino, 12-14 May 1944. French Croix de Guerre with
Palm.
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Commanders
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Col William K McNown,
c. Jul 1942
Col Leonard C Lydon,
25 Dec 1943 ;
Lt Col Franklin W Horton,
23 May-Nov 1945.
Insignia  
Shield:
Azure on a pile or triangular shaped figure between two cresents, from
which red flames spring and a martlet gules, the figure of a swallow in
red coloring.
The ultramarine blue represents the Air Forces, while the
golden pile or triangular shaped wedge represents the wedge driven into
enemy territory.
The cresents symbolize the early crusades, the 324th
fighting with the same valor and spirit, while the fire errupting from the
cresents represents the zeal with which missions are undertaken and the
deadly effect with which they are accomplished.
Numerical designation is
indicated by the three symbols, the two cresents, and the martlet, the
later being the heraldic representation of cadency for the fourth son.
The
motto, "Audeo" is Latin for "I Dare". |
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